The launch of PARAM Rudra supercomputers by Modi spotlights India's strides in computational power

India’s technological aspirations took another step forward with the development of its domestically manufactured supercomputer as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched three indigenous 'PARAM Rudra supercomputers' developed under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).

Designed and developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), PARAM Rudra represents the latest evolution in India's series of PARAM (Parallel Machine) supercomputers.

This new addition to the PARAM family marks a crucial advancement in the country’s quest for self-reliance in high-performance computing (HPC), critical for tackling complex scientific, engineering, and industrial problems.

According to reports, these three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers worth around Rs 130 crore (approximately $1.56 million) have been deployed in Pune, Delhi and Kolkata to facilitate pioneering scientific research.

Meanwhile, the PM also unveiled ‘Arka’ and ‘Arunika’ — a High-Performance Computing (HPC) system tailored for weather and climate research.

While inaugurating the supercomputers, PM Modi said the launch of PARAM Rudrea supercomputers marks a huge achievement in the field of science and technology for India and it is a reflection of the nation's progress by prioritizing research and development.

“Today’s India is carving new opportunities in the endless horizon of possibilities”, the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi said these supercomputers will play a crucial role towards making state-of-the-art technologies available to young scientists in the country, highlighting its usage in aiding advanced research in the fields of physics, earth sciences and cosmology.

"In the era of digital revolution, computing capacity is becoming synonymous with national capability," he noted.

The journey of India's supercomputing prowess began with the launch of PARAM 8000 in 1991, which signalled India’s entry into the global HPC arena.

Since then, several iterations of the PARAM series have been rolled out, each more powerful and efficient than the last.

These supercomputers have not only accelerated India’s scientific research but also positioned the nation as a key player in the global HPC ecosystem.

The "PARAM Rudra" is the latest chapter in this saga, with capabilities that set it apart as a game-changer in numerous fields.

PARAM Rudra is designed as an indigenous supercomputer, making significant strides toward reducing dependency on foreign technology.

It is equipped with cutting-edge processors, advanced networking components, and innovative cooling technologies to optimize performance while maintaining energy efficiency.

Its architecture is modular, allowing for scalability depending on the requirements of various tasks, making it adaptable to a wide range of scientific, industrial, and military applications.

The system boasts "petascale performance", capable of processing "quadrillions of calculations per second", which makes it a powerful tool for various computational workloads, such as climate modeling, genomics, artificial intelligence, and deep learning.

PARAM Rudra features a hybrid architecture, combining general-purpose processors with specialized units like GPUs and accelerators to handle diverse computing tasks efficiently, and it offers a petaflop-class performance, putting it among the fastest supercomputers in the world.

This supercomputer's large-scale, high-speed storage systems ensure quick access to vast datasets, which is critical for data-intensive tasks.

Employing innovative cooling systems, such as liquid cooling and advanced air circulation, PARAM Rudra is built with energy efficiency in mind, making it environmentally sustainable in the long run.

Some key uses of PARAM Rudra supercomputers:

Climate Modeling and Weather Forecasting: One of the most critical uses of PARAM Rudra is in climate science.

Its immense computational power allows for more accurate climate predictions and better modeling of climate change impacts, which can aid policymakers in environmental planning and disaster management.

Genomics and Bioinformatics: PARAM Rudra plays a vital role in analyzing genetic data, speeding up research in areas such as drug discovery, personalized medicine, and understanding diseases like cancer.

This capability is particularly important given India’s growing role in global healthcare research.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: With AI and ML increasingly driving innovation, PARAM Rudra's capacity for parallel processing is indispensable in training large neural networks, performing deep learning tasks, and pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence (AI) research in India.

Aerospace and Defense: The supercomputer’s high processing speed and security features make it essential for simulating complex aerospace systems, contributing to advancements in defense technology.

Materials Science: PARAM Rudra aids in simulating and designing new materials at the molecular level, contributing to innovations in industries ranging from electronics to energy storage.

PARAM Rudra is not just a technological achievement, it is a symbol of India’s growing self-reliance in advanced technology, a key component of the Indian government’s "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative.

“India’s mantra is Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) through research, Science for Self-Reliance”, PM Modi said during the inauguration, highlighting his brainchild campaigns like Digital India, Startup India and Make In India.

By developing such a powerful and sophisticated system domestically, India reduces its dependence on foreign hardware and software, ensuring better national security and control over critical technologies.

C-DAC, the primary developer behind PARAM Rudra, continues to collaborate with various government bodies, research institutions, and industry partners to drive the supercomputing mission forward.

The deployment of PARAM Rudra also comes under the larger "National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)", an initiative by the Indian government to meet the growing computational demands of the country.

The PM said India's supercomputing landscape is set to grow rapidly with PARAM Rudra’s deployment, and its future involves not only developing more powerful machines but also building the necessary human resources to utilize these technologies effectively.

PARAM Rudra will play a central role in academic and industrial research, fostering collaboration between Indian universities, research institutions, and the global scientific community.

As the world moves toward data-driven decision-making and innovation, supercomputing will remain at the heart of future technological advancements, and India's homegrown PARAM Rudra represents a leap forward in the quest for technological sovereignty, cementing the country's position in the global HPC ecosystem.