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Introduction 

1980, marked as year when India started developing supercomputers on its own, with the help of organizations like BARC, C-DAC, and C-DOT, among others. The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) start in 2015 has expedited the work. Today, India hosts 27 supercomputers that function primarily in the fields of science and engineering which requires supercomputing performance up to 10 times faster than conventional computations.   

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India’s Progress in Developing Indigenous Supercomputers

• PARAM Series: The PARAM 8000, developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in 1991, marked India’s entry into the world of supercomputing. It has seen several upgrades, with the PARAM Yuva II being the latest, enhancing India’s computational capabilities manifold.
• National Supercomputing Mission: Launched in 2015 by the Indian government, this ambitious mission aims to set up 70 plus indigenous supercomputers across academic and research institutions in India, thereby democratising supercomputing power and making it accessible for various scientific endeavours.
• Pratyush and Mihir: Launched in 2018, these supercomputers serve as the cornerstone for India’s weather and climate research. Ranked among the fastest supercomputers globally, they play a vital role in more accurate weather predictions and climate modelling.
• Anupam Series: Developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the Anupam Series focuses on atomic energy simulations, thereby aiding India’s nuclear energy research and contributing to its national security framework.
• R&D Collaboration: Collaborations with prestigious academic institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and partnerships with international organisations like IBM and NVIDIA have significantly sped up the development of next-gen supercomputers in India.
• EKA: Built by Computational Research Laboratories, a Tata Sons subsidiary, EKA was the world’s 8th fastest supercomputer at the time of its launch. It set a precedent for private sector involvement in India’s supercomputing initiatives.
• ISRO’s SAGA-220: Developed by the Indian Space Research Organization, SAGA-220 focuses on aerospace engineering simulations. It has been instrumental in conducting complex simulations for various ISRO missions, making it a cornerstone in India’s space endeavours.

Significance of Developing Indigenous Supercomputers in Scientific Research and National Development

Scientific Research:

• Climate Modelling: Supercomputers like Pratyush and Mihir help in advanced climate modelling. These systems have been critical in projects like the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Monsoon Mission, aiming to improve monsoon forecasts.
• Pharmaceutical Research: During the COVID-19 pandemic, supercomputers facilitated the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in drug discovery and vaccine development, speeding up the computational phases of research.
• Space Missions: ISRO’s SAGA-220 has been instrumental for missions like Mangalyaan, conducting simulations that helped to optimise trajectory and reduce mission costs.
• Material Science: The Anupam Series by BARC has been used to research materials for fast breeder reactors, part of India’s three-stage nuclear power program.
• Quantum Computing Research: Indian institutions like IISc Bangalore are using supercomputers to simulate quantum algorithms, which is a critical step toward building a quantum computer.

National Development:

• National Security: Supercomputers are vital for defence applications, including simulations related to India’s ballistic missile defence program.
• Disaster Management: During cyclone Amphan, supercomputer-enabled forecasts helped in the timely evacuation of nearly half a million people in West Bengal and Odisha.
• Agriculture: Agro-met advisories, generated using supercomputing capabilities, have helped farmers in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka to better plan their agricultural activities, leading to increased yields.
• Economic Competitiveness: The National Supercomputing Mission, which aims to install more than 70 plus supercomputers across India, is expected to significantly attract foreign R&D investments and collaborations.

Conclusion

India’s advancements in indigenous supercomputing technology mark a significant stride in both scientific research and national development. These supercomputers are essential tools for solving complex problems, boosting India’s global standing, and paving the way for a brighter, more self-reliant future.

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