Param Shakti’s Supercomputing Facility Launched at IIT Madras
On January 3, 2026, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras inaugurated the Param Shakti supercomputing facility, which is set to empower research and development across various disciplines. The facility hosts the indigenous PARAM RUDRA supercomputing system, which was officially launched by S Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Significance of the Facility
The Param Shakti facility represents a significant advancement in India’s high-performance computing ecosystem. It is a part of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), which aims to enhance the country’s technological capabilities and promote self-reliance in computing technologies.
About the PARAM RUDRA System
The PARAM RUDRA supercomputing cluster, developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), boasts a peak performance of 3.1 petaflops. This means it can execute over 3.1 quadrillion calculations per second, positioning it among the most powerful computing systems available in Indian academia.
Key features of the PARAM RUDRA system include:
- Entirely developed in India using C-DAC’s RUDRA series of servers.
- Operates on open-source software, such as AlmaLinux and C-DAC’s proprietary system software stack.
- Advanced cooling systems and round-the-clock power supply.
- High energy efficiency, with a power usage effectiveness (PUE) between 1.2 and 1.4.
Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony was attended by notable figures, including:
- Prof. V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras
- E Magesh, Director General of C-DAC
- Senior officials from MeitY
- Faculty members and students from IIT Madras
During the event, S Krishnan emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of research at IIT Madras and the importance of collaborative efforts made possible by such advanced infrastructure.
Advancements in Supercomputing in India
Under the NSM, a total of 37 supercomputers have been installed across India, with more systems planned for the future, including the largest supercomputer scheduled for Bengaluru. The initiative aims to diversify GPU architectures to ensure resilience and reduce dependence on a single technology, fostering innovation and research capabilities in the country.
Research Applications
The Param Shakti facility is expected to accelerate research in various fields, including:
- Aerospace engineering
- Materials science
- Climate modeling
- Drug discovery
- Combustion studies
- Molecular dynamics
- Nuclear sciences
Large-scale simulations facilitated by the PARAM RUDRA system will significantly reduce the need for experimental trial-and-error, making research faster, more cost-effective, and globally competitive.
Future Directions
Prof. V Kamakoti encouraged students to focus on energy-efficient coding practices and effective sharing of GPU resources. E Magesh also shared insights into C-DAC’s journey in developing the Rudra platform, highlighting its importance in the context of India’s computing landscape.
Additionally, Prof. G Phanikumar introduced MicroSim, a multi-GPU solver suite for microstructure evolution, which has been developed under NSM support. This tool is now open-source and ranks among the fastest globally.
Utilization and Impact
Since its operational launch in May 2025, the Param Shakti facility has achieved over 80% utilization, indicating a strong demand from researchers across various disciplines. The facility’s capabilities are already being leveraged for tasks ranging from sub-atomic electronic structure calculations to large-scale structural simulations.
As India aims to reach exascale computing capacity in the coming years, facilities like Param Shakti will play a crucial role in developing indigenous, globally competitive computational tools and solutions.
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 enhanced research capabilities. With the PARAM RUDRA system at its core, this facility is poised to make substantial contributions to various scientific fields and foster innovation across the nation.
Note: The information provided in this article is based on the latest updates available as of January 2026.
