Indian Indigenous Processors: India’s Journey Toward Semiconductor Self-Reliance

Introduction

In the digital age, microprocessors are the backbone of every modern technology — from smartphones and laptops to satellites, missiles, automobiles, power grids, and communication networks. Countries that design and control their own processors enjoy strategic autonomy, economic resilience, and national security advantages.

For decades, India remained largely dependent on foreign processor architectures and imported chips, despite having one of the world’s largest pools of semiconductor design engineers. However, this reality has begun to change. Over the last two decades, India has steadily developed a growing portfolio of indigenous processors — designed within the country for strategic, scientific, industrial, and commercial applications.

Today, Indian indigenous processors represent a strategic transformation: from being a consumer of global chip technology to becoming a creator of sovereign computing platforms.

What Are Indigenous Processors?

Indigenous processors are microprocessors that are:

Designed and architected in India
Developed by Indian institutions or companies
Controlled at the IP (intellectual property) level
Customisable for national, strategic, or industrial needs

They may be fabricated in domestic or foreign fabs, but the design ownership and architectural control remain Indian, which is the most critical aspect of semiconductor sovereignty.

Why Indigenous Processors Matter for India

1. Strategic & National Security Importance

Modern defense systems, satellites, encrypted communications, and command-and-control infrastructure rely on processors. Using foreign chips creates:

Supply chain risks
Security vulnerabilities
Dependence during geopolitical tensions

Indigenous processors ensure trusted hardware for critical missions.

2. Economic & Technological Sovereignty

Processor IP is among the highest-value intellectual property in the world. Owning it:

Retains value within the country
Reduces royalty payments to foreign firms
Builds a domestic innovation economy

3. Customisation & Long-Term Availability

Foreign commercial chips are designed for mass markets. Indigenous processors can be:

Custom-built for Indian conditions
Supported for decades (important for defense & space)
Modified without vendor restrictions

Evolution of Indian Indigenous Processor Development

India’s processor journey did not happen overnight. It evolved through academic research, government programmes, and strategic missions.

Early Foundations

Semiconductor research in IITs
VLSI design capabilities developed in the 1990s
C-DAC’s experience in supercomputing (PARAM series)

This foundation enabled India to gradually move into CPU and SoC design.

Major Indian Indigenous Processors

1. SHAKTI Processor (IIT Madras)

SHAKTI is one of India’s most well-known indigenous processor initiatives.

Key Highlights

Based on RISC-V open architecture
Developed by IIT Madras
Multiple variants: E-class, C-class, I-class, M-class
Designed for embedded, industrial, and strategic systems

Significance

First large-scale academic-to-industrial processor initiative in India
Demonstrated that India can design scalable CPU architectures
Forms the backbone of several indigenous computing projects

2. AJIT Processor (IIT Bombay)

AJIT is another indigenous processor developed by IIT Bombay.

Key Characteristics

Based on SPARC architecture
Designed for real-time and embedded applications
Used in robotics, control systems, and research platforms

Strategic Value

Focus on deterministic performance
Useful in aerospace and industrial automation
Strong academic-industry collaboration model

3. VIKRAM Processor (ISRO & SCL)

VIKRAM processors are developed specifically for space applications.

Features

Radiation-hardened design
High reliability in extreme environments
Long mission life support

Importance

Used in Indian satellites and space missions
Eliminates reliance on imported space-grade chips
Ensures mission continuity even under sanctions or export restrictions

4. THEJAS Processor Series (C-DAC)

The THEJAS family represents C-DAC’s indigenous processor development efforts.

Variants

THEJAS32
THEJAS64

Applications

Industrial automation
Embedded systems
Research and prototyping

THEJAS processors laid the groundwork for more advanced designs like DHRUV64.

5. DHRUV64 Processor (C-DAC)

DHRUV64 marks a major milestone in India’s indigenous processor journey.

Key Specifications

64-bit architecture
Dual-core
1.0 GHz clock speed
Based on RISC-V
Designed under the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Programme

Why DHRUV64 Matters

First commercially viable general-purpose indigenous CPU
Suitable for:
- 5G infrastructure
- Industrial IoT
- Automotive electronics
- Secure computing systems
Demonstrates India’s readiness to move beyond experimental chips

6. Dhanush & Dhanush+ (Upcoming)

Following DHRUV64, India is developing next-generation processors:

Dhanush
Dhanush+

These aim to deliver:

Higher performance
Improved multicore scalability
Enhanced security and reliability features

Role of RISC-V in India’s Indigenous Processor Strategy

A defining feature of India’s modern processor initiatives is the adoption of RISC-V.

Why RISC-V?

Open-source and royalty-free
No geopolitical licensing risks
Full architectural control
Strong global ecosystem support

Strategic Advantage for India

RISC-V allows India to:

Build sovereign processors without foreign IP lock-in
Encourage startups and academia to innovate
Create custom extensions for security, AI, and networking

Government Programmes Supporting Indigenous Processors

India’s processor ecosystem is backed by coordinated national initiatives:

1. Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V)

Develops a full range of RISC-V processors
Encourages ecosystem participation

2. Chips to Startup (C2S)

Builds semiconductor talent
Supports academic and startup innovation

3. Design Linked Incentive (DLI)

Financial support for chip design companies
Encourages private sector participation

4. India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)

Focuses on fabs, packaging, and supply chain
Complements processor design efforts

Applications of Indian Indigenous Processors

Indian processors are increasingly relevant across sectors:

Defense & Strategic Systems

Secure communications
Radar and missile systems
Command & control platforms

Space & Aerospace

Satellites
Launch vehicles
Deep-space missions

Telecom & 5G

Network infrastructure
Edge computing
Secure base stations

Industrial & IoT

Smart factories
Power systems
Critical infrastructure control

Education & Research

Indigenous computing platforms
Processor design training
Academic experimentation

Challenges Ahead

Despite progress, challenges remain:

Limited domestic fabrication capacity
Need for stronger commercial adoption
Software ecosystem maturity
Global competition in high-performance CPUs

However, India’s strategy focuses on sovereign, secure, and application-specific computing, not direct competition with consumer PC processors.

Conclusion

Indian indigenous processors represent a strategic shift in India’s technological identity. From SHAKTI and AJIT to VIKRAM and DHRUV64, India has built a credible foundation in processor design — driven by open architectures, academic excellence, and government support.

As semiconductor geopolitics reshape the world, India’s commitment to indigenous processors ensures:

National security
Economic resilience
Long-term technological independence

The journey is ongoing, but the direction is clear: India is no longer just designing chips for others — it is designing chips for itself and the future.

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