The world's largest software company, facing challenges from the free, "open-source" Linux platform, may distribute the technology in India under its "Shared Source" programme.

Microsoft began the Shared Source Initiative last year in an effort to counter the image that it zealously guards its products.

The programme is running in more than 30 countries where the source code has been shared with software developers, governments and specific academic institutions.

"In line with this approach, Microsoft is constantly assessing key markets where this initiative would be best suited," Sanjiv Mathur, group marketing manager at Microsoft's Indian unit said in a statement.

"In India, too, we are currently evaluating the prospect of introducing this initiative," he said.

While the Shared Source plan has not yet arrived in India, part of the Windows CE code that runs in handheld devices is available to Indian developers, Mathur said.

Microsoft's statement on its Shared Source follows a four-day visit to India in November by Chairman Bill Gates who announced a three-year investment plan in the country.

India's Economic Times daily reported last Friday that Microsoft planned to share its code with a government agency.

Analysts view India's booming software industry, fast becoming one of the biggest in the world, as a key territory in the tussle between the Windows and the Linux operating systems.

Officials expect the number of local developers to grow to 1.3 million in four years from 400,000 now, which would make India home to more software programmers than any other country.

Unlike Microsoft, Linux's creators allow their system to be freely copied, used and modified. An increasing number of technology giants, such as International Business Machines, have switched to Linux.

India's cost-conscious market has seen growing corporate use of Linux while a debate is also raging on what platform state governments should use in their march towards e-governance.