New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated three PARAM Rudra supercomputers, marking a significant milestone in India’s drive for scientific and technological progress under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).

Developed domestically at a cost of ₹130 crore, the supercomputers have been deployed in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata to support groundbreaking research across various scientific fields.

“No sector can function without technology and computing power,” Modi emphasized. “In this revolution, India’s contribution should be measured not in bits and bytes, but in terabytes and petabytes. This achievement shows we are on the right path,” he said.

As part of India’s goal of achieving self-reliance in high-performance computing (HPC), these supercomputers will facilitate advanced research in multiple disciplines.

In Pune, the Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) will leverage PARAM Rudra to investigate astronomical phenomena like Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). In Delhi, the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) will use it to boost research in material science and atomic physics, while the S N Bose Centre in Kolkata will focus on physics, cosmology, and earth sciences.

“With the PARAM Rudra supercomputers, India takes a major step toward self-reliance in computing and fostering innovation in science and technology,” Modi posted on X.

With Param Rudra Supercomputers and HPC system, India takes significant step towards self-reliance in computing and driving innovation in science and tech. https://t.co/ZUlM5EA3yw

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 26, 2024

The National Supercomputing Mission, a collaboration between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), aims to establish a robust network of advanced computing systems across India.

PM Modi noted that these supercomputers not only symbolize technological progress but also play a crucial role in addressing the needs of the most marginalized in society.

The prime minister had planned to visit Pune for the launch but canceled the trip due to heavy rains. He was also scheduled to flag off a Metro line and inaugurate development projects worth ₹22,600 crore.