Microprocessor Development in India and Dhruv64

Context

• Recently, India achieved a historic milestone in the field of indigenous semiconductor technology by launching the DHRUV64 microprocessor. This processor was developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP).
• Designed entirely in-house, the DHRUV64 provides India with a reliable and self-reliant processor technology capable of meeting strategic as well as commercial requirements. This achievement demonstrates India's commitment to becoming self-reliant in advanced chip design.

About Microprocessors

• Microprocessors currently form the backbone of modern electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, automobiles, medical devices, defense systems, and satellites.
• For a rapidly growing digital and electronics market like India, it is crucial to avoid dependence on foreign suppliers for these core technologies. The DHRUV64 is a decisive step in this direction.

Technical Features of the DHRUV64

• The DHRUV64 has been developed with cutting-edge architectures. This processor delivers high efficiency, superior multitasking capability, and enhanced reliability.
• Its modern design enables seamless integration with various external hardware systems.
• By leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques used in high-performance chips, the DHRUV64 is ideally suited for areas such as 5G infrastructure, automotive systems, consumer electronics, industrial automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Strategic and Economic Importance for India

• The DHRUV64 is a significant milestone towards building a secure and self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem in India. It not only strengthens the country's indigenous capabilities in advanced processor development but also reduces long-term dependence on imported microprocessors, supporting critical digital infrastructure.
• India currently consumes approximately 20% of microprocessors manufactured globally. The development of the DHRUV64 provides a new direction to the country's semiconductor ecosystem by combining India's vast technical talent base with modern processor platforms.

The Continuing Journey of Indigenous Processor Development

• Even before the DHRUV64, India has made significant progress in the field of indigenous microprocessor development. Prominent among these are:
  • Shakti (2018, IIT Madras): Developed for strategic, space, and defense applications
  • Ajit (2018, IIT Bombay): Designed for industrial and robotics applications
  • Vikram (2025, ISRO-SCL): For space tasks such as navigation, guidance, and mission operations, and capable of operating in extreme space conditions
  • Tejas 64 (2025, C-DAC): Processor developed for industrial automation
• In fact, processors like Shakti, Ajit, Vikram, Tejas, and now the DHRUV64 are laying the foundation for a strong and self-reliant processor ecosystem in India, which is of vital national importance.

Research, Innovation, and Future Prospects

• The DHRUV64 provides startups, academic institutions, and industries with the opportunity to develop, test, and scale indigenous computing products without relying on foreign processors.
• It also helps develop prototypes of new system architectures at low cost. India already has approximately 20% of the world's chip design engineers.
• The DHRUV64 will further empower this talent pool, contributing to the creation of a strong pipeline of skilled semiconductor professionals. Furthermore, its success paves the way for the development of future Dhanush and Dhanush+ processors, which are currently in development.