New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on September 26th, dedicated three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers, worth around Rs 130 crore, to the nation via video conferencing. Developed indigenously under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), these supercomputers have been deployed in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata to facilitate pioneering scientific research. The Prime Minister also inaugurated a High-Performance Computing (HPC) system specifically designed for weather and climate research.

The Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune will use the supercomputer to explore Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and other astronomical phenomena. The Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in Delhi will enhance research in fields like material science and atomic physics, while the S.N. Bose Centre in Kolkata will drive advanced research in areas such as physics, cosmology, and earth sciences.

During his address, the Prime Minister discussed the inauguration of ‘Arka’ and ‘Arunika’, two High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems tailored for weather and climate research. He extended his best wishes to the entire scientific community, engineers, and citizens.

“In the era of digital revolution, computing capacity is becoming synonymous with national capability,” the Prime Minister said, highlighting the critical role of science, technology, and computing power in opportunities for research, economic growth, disaster management, and improving the ease of living and doing business. He noted that industries dependent on these technologies form the foundation of India’s development in Industry 4.0, stressing that India’s contribution should expand from bits and bytes to terabytes and petabytes.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the establishment of more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in schools to foster scientific temper among future generations, the increase in scholarships for STEM education, and the allocation of Rs 1 lakh crore for research in this year’s budget. He underscored India’s goal of empowering the world in the 21st century through its innovations.

Emphasizing the nation’s scientific and technological progress, Prime Minister Modi remarked that India's journey from supercomputers to quantum computing reflects its grand vision. He noted that while supercomputers were once the domain of only a few nations, India is now matching global supercomputer leaders following the launch of the National Supercomputing Mission in 2015. He further mentioned that India is also taking the lead in quantum computing, with the National Quantum Mission playing a key role in advancing the country's position in this cutting-edge technology.

Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, also participated virtually in the event.

BI Bureau