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Vikram-32 Chip
What is Vikram-32 chip, India’s first indigenous space processor?
Context: On September 2, 2025, at the Semicon India 2025 conference, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented India’s first indigenously developed 32-bit processor, the Vikram-32 chip, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
What is the Vikram-32 chip?
- India’s first indigenously developed 32-bit microprocessor, designed by the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) under ISRO.
- Officially named Vikram 3201, it is an upgrade over the earlier Vikram 1601 (16-bit), which powered ISRO’s launch vehicles since 2009.
- Built to withstand extreme conditions—high temperatures, vibrations, and radiation—encountered during space missions.
- Successfully flight-tested on PSLV-C60, confirming its reliability for satellite launches and mission-critical operations.
- Fabricated and packaged at the Semiconductor Hub in Mohali, marking a full-stack domestic achievement.
Why is it significant?
- Strategic Independence: Reduces reliance on imported space-grade chips, which are often subject to export restrictions.
- Cost Efficiency: Lowers the cost of satellite and launch vehicle electronics by using domestically produced components.
- Multi-Sector Utility: Beyond space, it’s suitable for defence, aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors due to its robustness.
- Symbol of Progress: Represents India’s transition from a chip consumer to a chip creator, aligning with the India Semiconductor Mission launched in 2021.
How can it augment India’s chip fab ecosystem?
- Boosts Domestic R&D: Encourages innovation in chip design and embedded systems within Indian institutions and startups.
- Strengthens Fab Infrastructure: Validates the capabilities of existing fabs like SCL and supports the case for expanding commercial fabrication units.
- Attracts Investment: Demonstrates India’s potential to produce high-value chips, drawing global interest in India’s semiconductor ecosystem.
- Supports Policy Goals: Aligns with the ₹76,000 crore incentive under the Semicon India Programme, aimed at building a self-reliant chip manufacturing base.
