Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched three indigenous supercomputers, named Param Rudra, under the National Supercomputing Mission. These advanced systems, developed at a cost of ₹130 crore, will be deployed in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata to drive research in sectors such as science, healthcare, and space exploration.
During the launch, PM Modi hailed the achievement as a major milestone in India’s technological journey, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance in computing. He said, “There is no sector that does not rely on technology and computing capability. Our goal is not just to participate in this revolution, but to lead it, from terabytes to petabytes.”
Param Rudra will play a key role in scientific exploration, with the Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune utilizing it to study Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and other astronomical phenomena. The Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in Delhi will enhance research in material science and atomic physics, while the S N Bose Centre in Kolkata will focus on advanced studies in physics, cosmology, and earth sciences.
In addition to Param Rudra, the Prime Minister also inaugurated two High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems, Arka and Arunika, designed for weather and climate research. These systems, worth ₹850 crore, will be deployed at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune and the National Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) in Noida.
The launch of these supercomputers marks a significant step forward in India’s efforts to achieve leadership in high-performance computing and tackle challenges in areas like climate change, healthcare, and space exploration.
