The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) is one of India’s most ambitious science and technology initiatives, aimed at establishing a strong, indigenous high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystem. Launched in 2015, the mission seeks to empower researchers, scientists, engineers, startups and policymakers with world-class computational capabilities while reducing dependence on foreign supercomputing infrastructure.
Genesis and Objectives of NSM
The mission was jointly launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Science and Technology, and is being implemented by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) along with Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Core Objectives
- Create a national grid of supercomputers connected through the National Knowledge Network
- Enable scientific, industrial and strategic research
- Promote indigenous hardware, software and applications
- Build human capacity in HPC and computational sciences
- Support national priorities such as climate modelling, genomics, AI, defence and space research
Architecture: The PARAM Supercomputer Ecosystem
Under NSM, India is deploying a network of PARAM-series supercomputers, designed and developed largely using indigenous technologies.
Key Features
- Modular and scalable architecture
- Optimised for AI, big data, scientific simulation and engineering workloads
- Progressive indigenisation of processors, interconnects, operating systems and middleware
Recent systems like PARAM Rudra at IIT Patna represent this next generation of mission-driven HPC deployment.
Nationwide Deployment and Capacity Growth
The mission follows a phased rollout strategy:
- 37 supercomputers already installed across IITs, IISc, universities and national research labs
- Combined computing power: ~39 petaFLOPS
- Researchers supported: Over 12,000 across domains
- Next phase: 10 additional systems planned
- Target capacity: 100+ petaFLOPS in the coming phase
Institutions hosting NSM systems include IITs, NITs, central universities, and sector-specific research centres.
Top 10 Supercomputers in India (by peak/Rmax performance)
| Rank | Supercomputer | Location / Institution | Approx. Rmax Speed (PetaFLOPS) | Primary Use / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AIRAWAT – PSAI | C-DAC, Pune | ~8.50 PF (Rmax) | AI research & HPC; Top Indian system on global Top500 list |
| 2 | PARAM Siddhi-AI | C-DAC, Pune | ~4.62 PF | Artificial intelligence & scientific computing |
| 3 | Pratyush | IITM, Pune / NCMRWF, Noida | ~4.00 PF (part of 6.8 PF combined) | Weather & climate research |
| 4 | Arka | Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology | ~5.94 PF | Climate & environmental modelling |
| 5 | Arunika | National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting | ~5.94 PF | Weather forecasting & simulations |
| 6 | Mihir | NCMRWF, Noida | ~2.70 PF | Weather & storm prediction systems |
| 7 | PARAM Pravega | IISc, Bengaluru | ~3.30 PF | Academic high-performance research |
| 8 | PARAM Brahma / Ganga / Sanganak / Shakti (Representative) | Various NSM institutions | ~1.66–1.80 PF | NSM systems for research & academia (Department of Science and Technology) |
| 9 | PARAM Shivay | IIT (BHU), Varanasi | ~0.84 PF | Early NSM installation (Department of Science and Technology) |
| 10 | Multiple PARAM (Ananta, Himalaya, Kamrupa, Porul, etc.) | Various | ~0.84 PF | Mid-range NSM supercomputers (Department of Science and Technology) |
Note: Rmax refers to measured sustained performance (usually Top500 standard), expressed in PetaFLOPS (quadrillions of operations per second). Some NSM installations are similar in performance and are grouped where exact official data varies.
🧠 Quick Facts
- AIRAWAT – PSAI (C-DAC Pune) is currently India’s most powerful supercomputer in operation.
- Systems like Pratyush, Mihir, Arka and Arunika are key HPC assets for weather and climate modelling.
- The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) has deployed many systems across academic and research institutions to bolster HPC capabilities.
Research Domains Powered by NSM
Supercomputers under NSM are enabling breakthroughs across critical sectors:
Science and Engineering
- Climate and monsoon modelling
- Astrophysics and cosmology
- Computational chemistry and materials science
- Fluid dynamics and structural engineering
Health and Life Sciences
- Genomics and bioinformatics
- Drug discovery and molecular modelling
- Epidemiological simulations
Emerging Technologies
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Quantum simulations
- Big data analytics
- Smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Strategic and National Applications
- Defence simulations
- Space mission modelling
- Cybersecurity research
Human Resource Development and Skill Building
A key pillar of NSM is capacity building:
- Training programmes for students, faculty and researchers
- HPC certification courses
- Exposure to parallel computing, AI workloads and performance optimisation
- Creation of a skilled workforce aligned with India’s digital and scientific ambitions
This ensures that hardware investments are matched by human capital readiness.
Strategic Significance for India
The National Supercomputing Mission is not just a technology programme — it is a strategic enabler.
Why NSM Matters
- Reduces dependence on foreign supercomputing access
- Strengthens technological sovereignty
- Supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat in advanced computing
- Enhances India’s standing in global science and innovation
- Enables evidence-based policymaking through large-scale simulations
By democratising access to HPC, NSM ensures that cutting-edge research is no longer confined to a few elite institutions.
Exam-Oriented Facts
- Launched: 2015
- Implementing agencies: MeitY & DST
- Executing agencies: C-DAC and IISc
- Supercomputers deployed: 37
- Current capacity: ~39 petaFLOPS
- Next target: 100+ petaFLOPS
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