The Scribblepad

This is a canonical list of Indian websites that do not work on Linux or Firefox. Agreed that the penetration of Firefox is abysmally low in India so these people dont have to worry about it. But yet……One prominent player not mentioned in this list is rediff. You can read the whole story here. If you guys know anymore websites that do not work please do let us know

So here goes.

1. Academic Institutions/Departments

1.1. Vision, ECE, Anna University, Chennai

http://www.annauniv.edu/sece/ecea/vision/

Explicitly states that “Best viewed in Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher”

(Submitted by SridharRatna)

1.2. Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

http://www.iitg.ac.in/

States explicitly, “Website best viewed in IE at 1024×768 resoln”

1.3. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB)

http://www.ccmb.res.in/

States explicitly “Best Viewed in IE 4+ with resolution 800*600 pixels” and has hindi part of it’s website in proprietary fonts not mentioning the font to be used.

(submitted by VivekIyyer)

2. Private Concerns

2.1. vfs-usa.co.in

http:// www.vfs-usa.co.in

These people have been hired by the US embassy to handle visa processing for people in India. At the site you can fill in a visa application for the USA. But, you can’t fill in the forms with firefox or safari – you *have* to use IE due to proprietary extensions – and the site doesn’t tell you that beforehand. Instead it gives you a visual basic error after you are part of the way through. That is sloppy programming.

The alternatives are:

• use a phone number which no one picks up
• go to their office in personally (their hours are a bit short though: 8:00-13:00, 14:00-15:00)
• use MS windows

You cannot download the form in pdf format and send in a paper form. Definitely a hall of shame site.

2.2. BillDesk.com

The site does not state anywhere that their services work only with IE, and there is no way for a prospective user to determine this before subscribing. Once you subscribe, you will find that you cannot operate the services with any browser other than IE. When asked about this, they say that their FAQ states this – it does not, it simply says “best viewed with IE and netscape”, which is completely different from “services can only be used with IE or netscape”. They have no intention of fixing the problem.

2.3. Air Deccan

I tried to book air deccan tickets online ( http://www.airdeccan.net/airdeccan/home.asp) using a firefox version 0.8 browser. I failed submitting data. Calling up their office I was told that I have to use Microsoft Internet Explorer to book tickets via the Internet. However I could still book tickets using their telephone service for which they charge 5% extra fee. There are no intentions for any change on this issue.

2.4. Reliance

https://www.relianceindiacall.com/us/sitemap.asp

States explicitly that site will look best in IE.

2.5. BSNL

2.6 DATAONE

http://dataone.in

States explicitly that site requires IE.

When BSNL Broadband Internet (DataOne) Users try to check their Account usage information,it requires IE.so its unable to check the account usage under Linux….

(Submitted by Sreekanth)

2.7. Tata Steel

http://www.tatasteel.com/

States explicitly that site will look best in IE. Although no major issues were noticed while browsing the site in Mozilla Fire Fox.

(Submitted by NaveenGupta)

2.10. India Today Group

http://www.aajtak.com/

Uses proprietary MSIE only dynamic font technology.

Despite repeated requests, they have not provided the fonts for download as an option

Hindi websites of India today group (Submitted by Vivek Rai)

3. Government Websites / Banks

3.1. MTNL’s New Customer Care Help Site

http://customercare.mtnl.in/ This recently launched site does not allow any browser except Microsoft Internet Explorer. I tried opening the site with Firefox and Opera, neither of them were allowed to open the site.

(Changed by RahulJoshi)

3.2. Ministry of Company Affairs

http://www.mca.gov.in, the website of the Directorate of Company Affairs, is managed/developed by Tata Consultancy Services. The site is a fine example of incompetence, and has several problems.

One of the most important public databases of India is the company directory, which enables you to search for any registered company in India. However, the company database search page ( http://www.mca.gov.in/MinistryWebsite/dca/masterdata/Master_data.html) won’t accept your input if you are using firefox.

A second show of idiocy by TCS is shown when you try to apply for a DIN form. It is mandatory for all companies to file their returns over the net, and for that, directors of companies need a number, called DIN. You apply for the DIN online. You can fill in the form just fine in firefox, but after having laboriously done so, the catch is – you can’t submit the form!

Irritated by TCS laziness? They helpfully provide you with a feedback link at the bottom of each page. So you can compose a stinker of a letter, and try to submit it and… guess what? Yup, a simple feedback form like that won’t accept input from firefox.

Too bad if you run an MS-windows-free zone – this government website leaves you no choice. You have to use the OS that Bill “Convicted Monopolist” Gates has hooked India onto.

Notice also that TCS, the sly devils, in a fit of pre-emptive genius, have buried the Monopolies and Restricted Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) part of the site in an obscure corner of the MCA site with no obvious way to contact them, even if you do have IE and can submit a complaint to them.

Impressive.

3.3. Indian Airlines

http://indian-airlines.nic.in/scripts/index.asp

States explicitly that site will look best in IE. Provides even a link to download IE at the bottom of every page!

Uses ActiveX controls (an Internet Explorer/Windows only technology)

3.4. Food Corporation of India

http://fciweb.nic.in/hwelcome.html

The Hindi website uses a proprietary dynamic font technology – Microsoft EOT.

3.5. Ministry of Finance

http://finmin.nic.in/index1.html

States explicitly that site will look best in IE. Weirdly the hindi reports section says that site will look best in Netscape. However they use IE specific proprietary EOT dynamic fonts. Totally useless for users of any other browser or Operating system.

3.6. All India Radio

http://allindiaradio.org/index-h.htm

Uses IE specific proprietary EOT dynamic fonts. Totally useless for users of any other browser or Operating system. Even provides a downloadable Windows only font installer.

3.7. Ministry of Law and Justice

http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/welcome.html

Did you know that you can only see the constitution of India in our national language – Hindi, if you use Internet Explorer? That is right. This law ministry section says so.

3.8. Department of Official Language

http://rajbhasha.nic.in/

Uses proprietary MSIE only dynamic font technology.

Uses activeX MSIE only plugins

GoI site about our official language. Not visible in non-MSIE browsers.

(Submitted by Kapil Sethi)

I can see it in firefox/ubuntu – looks like hindi to me – also loads in konq [lawgon]

3.9. Government of Delhi

http://delhigovt.nic.in/

States explicitly that site will look best in IE.

(Submitted by Kapil Sethi)

3.10. Government of Madhya Pradesh

http://www.mpgovt.nic.in/

States explicitly that site will look best in IE.

3.11. Official site for Prime Minister of India

http://www.pmindia.nic.in/

States explicitly that site will look best in IE

(Submitted by Kapil Sethi)

3.12. Ministry of Coal, Government of India

States that site will look best in IE 4.0 / Netscape 4.0 but uses IE specific proprietary EOT dynamic fonts. Totally useless for users of any other browser or Operating system.

(Submitted by Kapil Sethi)

3.13. Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Government of India

http://dgftcom.nic.in/e_homepage.htm

Uses proprietary Windows-specific driver for USB token

Uses unsigned Java applets and requires to install root certificates for their provider

Uses Windows-specific DLLs with their Java applet (??)

3.14. Indian Railways Train Enquiry

http://trainenquiry.com/indexNS.aspx

uses proprietary hindi fonts.

most javascript menus are unusable.Though it claims it should be work.( Best viewed at 800×600 resolution with Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape Navigator 5.0 and higher.)

3.15. manoramaonline

http://manoramaonline.com is the web site of the top news paper in malayalam.many pages including the picture galleries dont work in firefox.they will work only in IE submitted by snoopktla@gmail.com

3.16. Bank of Baroda

http://www.bankofbaroda.com/default.asp is the web site of Bank of Baroda. The footer states “For optimum view of this site you must have IE 5.0 and 1024 by 768 pixels”. Optimum view??? is this different from “Best viewed..”?