What is Param Shakti? Understanding India's Latest Supercomputing Achievement

On January 3, 2026, India achieved a major technological milestone with the official inauguration of Param Shakti, an indigenous supercomputing facility at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. Inaugurated by S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), this facility represents a transformative moment in India's push toward technological self-reliance and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

Param Shakti is built upon the PARAM RUDRA supercomputing cluster, designed and developed entirely by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune. The system operates on open-source software, including AlmaLinux and C-DAC's indigenously developed system software stack, ensuring complete independence from foreign technological dependencies.

Key Specifications: Breaking Down Param Shakti's Computing Power

Computing Capacity and Performance Metrics

Peak Computing Power: 3.1 petaflops (quadrillion floating-point operations per second)

Processing Capacity: Over 3.1 quadrillion calculations per second

Ranking: Among the most powerful computing systems in Indian academic institutions (second only to PARAM Siddhi AI at 5.2 petaflops in C-DAC, Pune)

Operational Status: Fully operational since May 2025 with over 80% utilization rate

Manufacturing: Entirely developed and manufactured within India

Technical Specifications

Host Institution

IIT Madras has been selected as the host institution under the National Supercomputing Mission framework, making it the primary research hub for this cutting-edge computational facility.

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM): The Broader Context

Param Shakti is a flagship project under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), launched in 2015 as a joint initiative of:

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Department of Science and Technology (DST)

Implementation Partners: C-DAC, Pune and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru

Mission Objectives and Achievements

The NSM aims to establish India's indigenous supercomputing infrastructure while connecting academic and research institutions through the National Knowledge Network (NKN). Key accomplishments include:

37 supercomputers already installed nationwide across IITs, NITs, IISER, and IISc

Completion of Phase 1 supercomputer installations with Param Shakti's inauguration

Planned expansion: Multiple new systems in the pipeline, including a 20-petaflop indigenous supercomputer for Bengaluru

Technological focus: Support for multiple GPU architectures to avoid technological dependence

Research Applications: Transforming Indian Science and Innovation

Param Shakti is designed to accelerate breakthroughs across multiple critical research domains:

Primary Research Areas

Aerospace Engineering

Hypersonic vehicle design and aerodynamic simulations

Flight dynamics modeling and optimization

Climate and Environmental Science

Advanced climate modeling for weather prediction

Large-scale atmospheric and oceanic simulations

Environmental impact assessments

Materials Science and Engineering

Advanced materials research and development

Crystal structure analysis and prediction

Nanotechnology applications

Pharmaceutical and Drug Discovery

Molecular dynamics simulations

Drug-target interaction modeling

Accelerated drug development timelines

Genomics and bioinformatics research

Nuclear Science Research

Nuclear reactor simulations

Particle physics computations

Radiation physics applications

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Large-scale AI model training

Deep learning algorithm development

Computer vision and natural language processing research

Operational Impact

Since becoming operational in May 2025, Param Shakti has achieved over 80% utilization, indicating strong demand from the research community across multiple departments at IIT Madras and neighboring research institutions.

Indigenous Development: India's Technological Self-Reliance

One of the most significant aspects of Param Shakti is its entirely indigenous design and manufacturing. This achievement carries strategic importance:

Why Indigenous Supercomputing Matters

Technological Sovereignty: Reduces dependence on foreign suppliers for critical computing infrastructure

Cost Efficiency: Eliminates expensive licensing and import costs

Customization: Allows tailoring of systems to specific national research needs

National Security: Ensures sensitive research isn't dependent on external technology ecosystems

Knowledge Transfer: Builds domestic expertise in high-performance computing systems

Future Scalability: Enables rapid expansion of computing infrastructure nationwide

Comparative Context

While PARAM Siddhi AI (5.2 petaflops) currently holds the title of India's most powerful supercomputer, it is built on NVIDIA's global DGX SuperPOD architecture. Param Shakti stands out as the most powerful entirely indigenous supercomputer, underscoring India's progress toward technological autonomy.

National Integration: The Supercomputing Grid

Param Shakti connects with the broader National Knowledge Network (NKN), creating an interconnected grid of 70+ high-performance computing facilities. This networking approach offers several advantages:

Distributed Computing Resources: Researchers across India can access Param Shakti's resources remotely

Collaborative Research: Enables multi-institutional research projects leveraging distributed supercomputing power

Resource Optimization: Efficient allocation of computational resources based on research demands

Regional Development: Strengthens research ecosystems in academic institutions across the country

Strategic Implications: Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India

The launch of Param Shakti represents a crucial step in India's broader digital transformation agenda:

Policy Alignment

Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative: Strengthens India's self-reliance in critical digital infrastructure

Digital India Mission: Advances computational capabilities for the digital economy

IndiaAI Mission: Supports AI research through dedicated supercomputing resources

National Technology Platform: Provides infrastructure for India's scientific and industrial advancement

Global Competitiveness

With 37 supercomputers operational and more planned, India is building a computing infrastructure comparable to leading nations, positioning itself for greater participation in global scientific collaboration.

Why This Matters for Your Exam Preparation

For aspirants preparing for UPSC Civil Services and other competitive examinations, Param Shakti holds significant relevance across multiple dimensions:

General Studies Paper-III (Science and Technology, Economic Development)

Supercomputing and Technological Self-Reliance: Questions frequently test understanding of India's indigenous technology projects. Param Shakti exemplifies India's progress in developing high-tech infrastructure without foreign dependency—a key theme in UPSC examinations.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission: The launch directly aligns with government initiatives to promote self-reliance. UPSC often includes questions about flagship government programs and their implementation.

Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and Institutional Development: C-DAC's role and the participation of premier institutes like IIT Madras represent important institutional mechanisms for technological advancement—relevant for GS-III and administrative structure questions.

General Studies Paper-II (Governance and Social Development)

Science and Technology Policy: Understanding India's National Supercomputing Mission reflects knowledge of government policy frameworks and strategic planning—crucial for GS-II discussions on governance structures.

Inter-ministerial Collaboration: NSM's joint governance by MeitY and DST demonstrates institutional collaboration, important for understanding government functioning and policy coordination.

Prelims and Mains Examination Strategy

Key Pointers for Memorization:

3.1 petaflops computing capacity

Inaugurated January 3, 2026 at IIT Madras

Developed by C-DAC, Pune

Entirely indigenous and open-source

Part of NSM (37 supercomputers deployed, Phase-1 complete)

Applications: aerospace, climate science, drug discovery, AI research

Potential Question Types:

Fact-based: "What is the computing capacity of Param Shakti?"

Conceptual: "How does indigenous supercomputing strengthen India's technological autonomy?"

Application-based: "Discuss the role of supercomputing infrastructure in India's research ecosystem."

Related Topics for Broader Context

Prepare interconnected topics that often appear alongside supercomputing in UPSC syllabi:

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM): Complete overview of launch, objectives, and implementation

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC): History, mandate, and major projects

High-Performance Computing (HPC) in India: Other significant systems and their applications

Digital Infrastructure in India: 5G, broadband, data centers, and computing networks

International Space Research: Links to ISRO's computational needs (relevant for sci-tech questions)

Climate Science and Research: Connection to India's climate commitments and COP discussions

Pharmaceutical and Defense Research: Industrial applications of supercomputing

Interview (Personality Test) Relevance

If selected for the interview round, knowledge of Param Shakti demonstrates:

Awareness of Current Affairs: Shows engagement with recent national developments

Understanding of Governance: Reflects knowledge of government decision-making and technology policy

National Pride and Vision: Demonstrates familiarity with India's developmental trajectory

Interdisciplinary Knowledge: Links technology, science, governance, and economics

Interview Discussion Points:

"How do you see projects like Param Shakti contributing to India's development?"

"What challenges does India face in achieving complete technological self-reliance?"

"How can indigenous supercomputing support India's climate and healthcare sectors?"

Internal Resources and Related Articles

For comprehensive preparation on related topics, explore these interconnected subjects on Atharva Examwise:

National Technology Initiatives and Indigenous Innovation

Science and Technology Governance in India

Public Sector Undertakings and Institutional Frameworks

Climate Change and Environmental Research Infrastructure

Digital Infrastructure and National Security

India's Position in Global Technology Rankings

Conclusion: A Milestone in India's Scientific Journey

Param Shakti represents far more than just another supercomputer—it symbolizes India's transition from a technology consumer to a technology creator. By developing indigenous supercomputing capacity, India is:

Reducing strategic technological dependence

Building domestic expertise in critical domains

Accelerating research across vital sectors

Creating a foundation for future innovation

Demonstrating commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat

For UPSC aspirants, understanding Param Shakti's significance, specifications, and implications provides valuable insights into India's contemporary technological trajectory—a crucial component of modern General Studies preparation. Stay updated with developments in this space, as supercomputing infrastructure will likely feature in future UPSC examinations as India progresses toward becoming a technological superpower.