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Supercomputer in India plays a key role in advancing AI, weather forecasting, research, and defence through systems like AIRAWAT and the PARAM series. With initiatives such as the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), India is building a self-reliant and innovative future in high-performance computing.
Supercomputers are very powerful computers that can solve complex problems very fast. They do jobs that normal computers cannot do easily. In India, supercomputers help with scientific research, predicting the weather, exploring space, and developing new technology. Below, we have explained everything about supercomputers in India, including their history, top machines, fastest computers, National Supercomputing Mission, uses, challenges, and future plans.
A supercomputer in India is a very powerful computer that can handle a huge amount of data very quickly. Unlike normal computers, it has many processors that work together at the same time to solve big problems. The speed of a supercomputer is measured in something called FLOPs (Floating Point Operations per Second), which means how many calculations it can do in one second. Supercomputers are used for different purposes, like artificial intelligence, studying climate change, weather prediction, and even understanding human DNA.
Important features of supercomputers in India are as follows:
The history of supercomputers in India began in the late 1980s. At that time, India wanted to buy a powerful computer called Cray X-MP from the USA for research and weather studies. But the USA refused to sell it. This pushed India to start making its own supercomputers. Dr. Vijay Bhatkar is known as the father of the supercomputer in India for his leadership in developing the PARAM series.
| History of Supercomputers in India | ||
| Year/Period | Milestone | Details |
| 1980s | Research Organizations Established | C-DAC, BARC, ANURAG, and C-DOT were set up to develop supercomputing capabilities. |
| 1991 | PARAM 8000 | India’s first supercomputer launched by C-DAC, marking the start of indigenous supercomputing. |
| 1993 | PARAM 9000 | Released with improved speed and performance compared to PARAM 8000. |
| 1998 | PARAM 10000 | Achieved significant performance for scientific applications and research. |
| 2000s onwards | AI Supercomputers | Development of advanced AI supercomputers like PARAM Siddhi and AIRAWAT. |
India has made good progress in supercomputing. These powerful computers are used for research, weather reports, and artificial intelligence. Below, we’ve mentioned the list of the top 5 supercomputers in India based on performance:
| Top 5 Supercomputers in India | ||||
| Rank | Name | Location | Rmax (TFlop/s) | Rpeak (TFlop/s) |
| 75 | AIRAWAT – PSAI | C-DAC Pune | 8.5 | 13.17 |
| 131 | PARAM Siddhi AI | C-DAC Pune | 4.62 | 5.27 |
| 169 | Pratyush (Cray XC40) | Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology | 3.76 | 4.01 |
| 316 | Mihir (Cray XC40) | National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting | 2.57 | 2.81 |
| 350 | PARAM Yuva II | C-DAC Pune | 1.8 | 2.1 |
The fastest supercomputer in India is currently AIRAWAT, which was developed by C-DAC. AIRAWAT is designed for artificial intelligence and scientific research. It helps Indian researchers to handle large datasets, run AI simulations, and conduct climate studies.
| Fastest Supercomputer in India | ||||
| Rank | Name | Location | Peak Speed (TFlop/s) | Purpose |
| 75 | AIRAWAT – PSAI | C-DAC Pune | 13.17 | AI and Research |
| 131 | PARAM Siddhi AI | C-DAC Pune | 5.27 | AI Applications |
| 169 | Pratyush (Cray XC40) | IIT, Pune | 4.01 | Weather Forecasting |
| 316 | Mihir (Cray XC40) | NCMS, Noida | 2.81 | Meteorology |
| 350 | PARAM Yuva II | C-DAC Pune | 2.1 | Scientific Computing |
The Government of India started the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) in 2015. The main goal of this mission is to build powerful Indian-made computers called supercomputers. These computers are being set up in different research centres and colleges so that students and scientists can use them. To connect all these supercomputers, a fast internet system called the National Knowledge Network (NKN) is also being built.
Below, we’ve mentioned the features of NSM:
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| NSM Supercomputers | |||
| Name | Location | Rmax (TFlop/s) | Purpose |
| PARAM Shivay | IIT BHU | 833 | Scientific Research |
| PARAM Pravega | IISc Bangalore | 1,000 | AI and Simulations |
| PARAM Utkarsh | C-DAC Bangalore | 500 | Research Applications |
| PARAM Ananta | IIT Gandhinagar | 250 | Education and Research |
| PARAM Himalaya | IIT Mandi | 200 | AI Research |
| PARAM Siddhi-AI | C-DAC Pune | 5,270 | Artificial Intelligence |
| PARAM Vidya | Various | 150-300 | Academic Research |
Supercomputers in India are used in a wide range of applications. They support research and technology development in different sectors, which makes them indispensable for national and international projects. Some important applications are mentioned below:
| Application of Supercomputers in India | |
| Application Area | Use of Supercomputers in India |
| Weather Forecasting | Predict storms, rainfall, and climate patterns accurately to support government planning and public safety |
| Space Research | Simulate space conditions and assist in planning satellite and exploration missions |
| Artificial Intelligence | Run AI models for research, healthcare, and industrial applications |
| Nuclear Research | Simulate nuclear reactions to enhance safety and optimize energy efficiency |
| Genomics | Analyze DNA and genetic data for medical research and disease diagnosis |
| Oil and Gas Exploration | Process seismic data to identify and develop natural resources |
| Defense | Enable virtual testing of military systems, nuclear simulations, and strategic planning |
Although India has made significant progress, supercomputers in India face certain challenges.
| Challenges of Supercomputers in India | |
| Challenge | Description |
| Physical Size | Supercomputers require very large physical space, which makes installation and setup challenging. |
| Maintenance | They need highly trained professionals for maintenance, troubleshooting, and smooth functioning. |
| Storage | Handling massive datasets requires advanced storage systems with huge capacity. |
| Power Consumption | Running these systems demands a very high amount of electricity, adding to operational costs. |
| Heat Management | Powerful cooling systems are essential to prevent overheating and maintain efficiency. |
The future of supercomputers in India looks promising. Below, we’ve mentioned the focus areas:
| Future of Supercomputers in India | |
| Focus Area | Description |
| Expansion | Establishing more supercomputing centres across universities and research institutes to make high-performance computing widely accessible. |
| AI Integration | Developing AI-based supercomputers that can handle advanced research and support innovation in multiple fields. |
| Indigenous Technology | Focusing on creating all key components locally to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen self-reliance. |
| Energy Efficiency | Designing next-generation supercomputers that consume less power while delivering high computational performance. |
| Global Collaboration | Partnering with international research organisations to work on joint projects and share technological advancements. |
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It is a powerful computer that solves complex problems very quickly.
The fastest supercomputer is AIRAWAT at C-DAC Pune.
India’s first supercomputer was PARAM 8000, launched in 1991.
It is a government project started in 2015 to build Indian supercomputers.
In India, supercomputers are used in weather, space, AI, defence, and research.
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