MeitY Secretary Shri S. Krishnan Launches ‘Param Shakti’ Supercomputing Facility at IIT Madras
On January 3, 2026, Shri S. Krishnan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), inaugurated the ‘Param Shakti’ supercomputing facility at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). This facility hosts the indigenous PARAM RUDRA supercomputing system, which is a significant step towards enhancing India’s computational capabilities.
Overview of the PARAM RUDRA Supercomputing System
The PARAM RUDRA supercomputing system boasts a remarkable performance capability of 3.1 petaflops, meaning it can perform over 3.1 quadrillion calculations per second. This makes it one of the most powerful computing facilities available in Indian academia. The system is entirely developed and manufactured in India, utilizing C-DAC’s RUDRA series of servers and running on open-source software, including AlmaLinux.
Significance of the PARAM RUDRA System
The introduction of the PARAM RUDRA supercomputing system is crucial for researchers and institutions across India. Its high-performance capabilities will enable scientists and engineers to solve complex problems more efficiently, thereby reducing the time required for experimental work. This advancement is expected to enhance India’s competitiveness in various fields, including:
- Aerospace
- Materials Science
- Climate Modelling
- Drug Discovery
- Advanced Manufacturing
Infrastructure and Design
The PARAM Shakti facility is designed to support round-the-clock operations with integrated infrastructure for power, advanced cooling, and data center management. The system was developed and implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and is funded under the National Supercomputing Mission, which is jointly led by MeitY and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony was attended by notable figures, including:
- Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras
- Shri E. Magesh, Director General of C-DAC
- Senior officials from MeitY
- Faculty members and students of IIT Madras
During the event, Shri S. Krishnan expressed his long-standing association with IIT Madras and emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the research being conducted at the institute. He remarked, “It is encouraging to see faculty and researchers from diverse departments coming together to use this facility and contribute meaningfully in their respective domains.”
Support for Research and Innovation
Shri S. Krishnan highlighted the importance of the National Supercomputing Mission in supporting a wide range of application-driven projects with dedicated funding. He noted that there are already 37 supercomputers installed across various institutions in India, with more planned, including the largest system scheduled for Bengaluru. These efforts are aimed at strengthening India’s research and innovation ecosystem.
Focus on Diverse Technologies
Under the IndiaAI Mission, the government is promoting a diverse range of technologies rather than focusing on a single type of GPU. Shri S. Krishnan stated, “By enabling access to multiple GPU architectures, we want our innovators, scientists, and researchers to gain broad exposure and develop the capability to master diverse platforms.” This approach aims to enhance resilience and ensure that India’s AI ecosystem does not become overly dependent on any one solution.
Impact on Various Research Domains
The PARAM Shakti facility is expected to significantly enhance computational capabilities across multiple research domains. Some of the key areas that will benefit from this high-performance computing facility include:
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Aerospace Engineering
- Materials Science
- Combustion Studies
- Molecular Dynamics
- Nuclear Sciences
- Drug Discovery
In these fields, large-scale simulations can replace a substantial portion of experimental trial-and-error processes, leading to faster, more cost-effective, and globally competitive research outcomes.
Conclusion
The launch of the ‘Param Shakti’ supercomputing facility at IIT Madras marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards technological self-reliance and innovation. With the PARAM RUDRA supercomputing system, researchers will have access to unprecedented computational power, enabling them to tackle complex challenges and contribute to advancements in various scientific fields.
Note: The information provided in this article is based on the press release from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and other official sources.
