The Rise of FOSS in India: Empirical Evidence and Insights from Cross-Sectoral Case Studies

The report analyses the adoption of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in India, primarily through case studies across four sectors (healthcare, education, finance, and software and IT services) and different types of organisations (start-ups, non-profits, medium, large, and public sector organisations). The study highlights both the benefits and challenges experienced by organisations using FOSS. The study illustrates that while organisations benefit from increased innovations, cost/ time savings, flexibility, and enhanced security, they also face challenges such as lack of enough skilled personnel and limited community support. Organisations are also seen taking a cautious approach to licensing, favouring permissive licenses over restrictive ones. Based on the diverse empirical findings, the report also recommends some policy reforms including mandating FOSS adoption for government bodies, integrating FOSS in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education, and updating procurement guidelines to mandate FOSS solutions when they are available.