IIT Patna Launches PARAM Rudra Supercomputer
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna has recently launched the PARAM Rudra supercomputer, marking a significant milestone as it is the first supercomputer established in the state of Bihar. This state-of-the-art High-Performance Computing (HPC) system is designed to enhance research capabilities and support various advanced scientific studies.
Launch Ceremony
The launch event was chaired by Amitesh Kumar Sinha, the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The ceremony highlighted the importance of this technological advancement for the region and the nation.
Agreement for PARAM Rudra
In May 2023, IIT Patna signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under MeitY. This agreement facilitated the installation of the PARAM Rudra supercomputer, which operates at a remarkable capacity of 838 teraflops. The system utilizes indigenously developed components and software, assembled in alignment with the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).
Research Capabilities
The PARAM Rudra supercomputer is expected to significantly enhance research capabilities at IIT Patna, benefiting approximately 60 faculty members and 400 students across 10 departments. It will support research in several advanced fields, including:
- Computational Astrobiology and Astrochemistry
- Material Design and Molecular Electronics
- Computational Fluid Mechanics and Nano-Bio Research
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science
- Quantum Computing
About PARAM Rudra
PARAM Rudra is a high-performance supercomputer developed in India under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). It is constructed using indigenous Rudra servers and a software stack that promotes self-reliance in HPC technology. The name “PARAM” is derived from Sanskrit, meaning “supreme,” while “Rudra” refers to the Vedic name of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva.
The supercomputer is equipped with high-end Intel Xeon Central Processing Units (CPUs) and NVIDIA A100 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), tailored for AI, Machine Learning (ML), and simulation workloads. Additionally, it boasts large Random Access Memory (RAM) with parallel Lustre storage and high-speed InfiniBand interconnects, achieving petaflop-scale computing performance (1015 floating point operations per second).
Previous Deployments
Before the launch at IIT Patna, the PARAM Rudra supercomputer was deployed at several prominent institutions in India, including:
- Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), Pune
- Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), Delhi
- S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata
About the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)
The National Supercomputing Mission is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, launched in 2015 with a total outlay of ₹4,500 crore. As of December 2025, the mission has successfully deployed 37 supercomputers with a total capacity of 39 petaflops, supporting more than 12,000 researchers across the country.
Top Supercomputers in India (as of 2025)
By the end of 2025, the following are the top supercomputers in India based on their performance:
- AIRAWAT-PSAI – C-DAC, Pune: 13.17 petaflops
- Arka/Arunika – Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)/National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF): 7.40 petaflops
- PARAM Siddhi-AI – C-DAC, Pune: 5.27 petaflops
- Pratyush – IITM, Pune: 4.01 petaflops
- PARAM Pravega – Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru: 3.3 petaflops
Top Supercomputers in the World (2025)
The following are the leading supercomputers globally as of 2025:
- El Capitan (USA): Located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, achieving 2,746.38 PFlop/s using AMD processors.
- Frontier (USA): Located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, consistently ranked as a top-tier performer.
- Aurora (USA): A leading exascale system located at Argonne National Laboratory.
- Eagle (USA): A high-performance system listed among the top 9 in 2025.
- HPC6 (Italy): A notable high-capacity system recognized in the 2025 rankings.
Conclusion
The launch of the PARAM Rudra supercomputer at IIT Patna is a significant step toward enhancing research capabilities in Bihar and across India. As the first supercomputer in the state, it is set to empower researchers and students alike, fostering advancements in various scientific fields.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on data available up to October 2023 and may be subject to change as new developments occur.
