Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched three PARAM Rudra supercomputers on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in India’s scientific and technological journey under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). Developed indigenously at a cost of ₹130 crore, these supercomputers are stationed in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata, aimed at driving pioneering research across diverse scientific disciplines.
In his address, Modi emphasized the integral role of technology in every sector, stating, “There is no sector which does not rely on technology and computing capability. In this revolution, our share should not be in bits and bytes but in terabytes and petabytes. Therefore, this achievement proves that we are moving in the right direction at the right pace.”
The PARAM Rudra supercomputers are pivotal to India’s ambition for self-reliance in high-performance computing (HPC), facilitating advanced scientific research. Specifically, the Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune will leverage the new system to investigate astronomical phenomena, including Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). In Delhi, the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) will enhance its research capabilities in material science and atomic physics. Meanwhile, the S N Bose Centre in Kolkata will focus on advancing studies in physics, cosmology, and earth sciences.
Modi highlighted the importance of these initiatives on X, stating, “With Param Rudra Supercomputers and HPC system, India takes a significant step towards self-reliance in computing and driving innovation in science and tech.”
The National Supercomputing Mission, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), aims to establish a robust network of advanced computing systems across India, further bolstering the country’s scientific research capabilities and technological innovations.
