National Supercomputing Mission drives indigenous technology, advanced research and high-performance computing across sectors
New Delhi: India is rapidly strengthening its supercomputing capabilities, transforming its journey from the development of the PARAM 8000 in the early 1990s into a nationwide high-performance computing ecosystem under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).
As of September 2026, India had deployed 40 supercomputers with a combined computing capacity of 68 petaflops (PF), according to a PIB Backgrounder on the country’s emerging supercomputing ecosystem. The systems are being used across academic and research institutions for applications ranging from weather forecasting and climate modelling to drug discovery, genomics, disaster management, seismic imaging and computational science.
The National Supercomputing Mission, launched in April 2015, is aimed at building national capabilities in high-performance computing while reducing dependence on imported technologies. The mission is jointly driven by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, playing key roles in its implementation.
From PARAM 8000 to a National Supercomputing Ecosystem
India’s indigenous supercomputing journey began with the PARAM 8000, developed by C-DAC and unveiled in 1991. With a computing speed of about 1 gigaflop, PARAM 8000 marked India’s entry into indigenous supercomputing.
The PARAM family subsequently evolved into increasingly powerful systems capable of supporting computationally intensive scientific applications. Systems such as PARAM Yuva, with performance reaching 54 teraflops, supported applications including weather forecasting and computational fluid dynamics.
Over the years, the PARAM series helped expand India’s capabilities in high-performance computing for both domestic research and international deployments.
The development of indigenous supercomputing systems also laid the foundation for India’s broader strategy of developing domestic expertise in hardware, system software, networking, cooling technologies and scientific applications.
40 Supercomputers with 68 Petaflops of Capacity
The National Supercomputing Mission has significantly expanded India’s installed high-performance computing capacity.
As of September 2026, 40 supercomputers with a combined capacity of 68 petaflops had been deployed across the country.
Of these:
- 13 high-end systems have a capacity of more than 1 petaflop each.
- 12 mid-range systems have capacities ranging between 500 teraflops and 1 petaflop.
- 15 systems have capacities below 500 teraflops.
These machines have been deployed at various academic and research institutions and are being used to address diverse computational requirements.
The broader NSM roadmap envisages establishing 50 supercomputers with a cumulative capacity exceeding 123 petaflops across academic and research institutions in the country.
Supercomputing Supporting Critical National Applications
High-performance computing is increasingly being used to address problems that have a direct impact on society.
Supercomputers can process massive datasets and perform complex simulations much faster than conventional computing systems. Their applications range from predicting crop yields and disease outbreaks to accelerating drug discovery and forecasting flood-affected areas.
In climate and environmental research, HPC systems enable researchers to run sophisticated models that analyse atmospheric conditions, extreme weather events, pollution and climate patterns.
In healthcare and biotechnology, they can process large biological datasets and assist researchers in studying molecules and potential medicines.
In engineering and scientific research, supercomputers enable simulations that would otherwise require enormous amounts of time and computational resources.
Genomics and Drug Discovery
One of the important applications developed under the National Supercomputing Mission is the Genomics and Drug Discovery Platform.
The platform allows researchers to study large sets of molecules to accelerate drug discovery and testing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, such computational capabilities were used to screen existing medicines and assess possible drug candidates.
The platform has also been used to study potential side effects, including risks associated with cardiovascular health.
Such applications demonstrate how supercomputing can shorten computationally intensive research processes and support faster scientific decision-making.
Weather, Pollution and Urban Environment
The Urban Environment Decision Support System is another major application enabled by high-performance computing.
The system uses detailed models to track weather conditions and air pollution. It can assist in predicting heavy rainfall and pollution levels, allowing cities and authorities to prepare for potentially hazardous conditions.
Such systems are particularly significant for rapidly growing urban areas where extreme weather events and air pollution can have major consequences for public health and infrastructure.
Flood Forecasting and Disaster Management
Supercomputing is also being used to strengthen disaster preparedness.
The Early Warning System for Flood Forecasting in River Basins uses data analytics and predictive models to forecast floods up to two days in advance.
The system is being used for the Mahanadi river basin, with the objective of helping protect communities and infrastructure from flood-related risks.
By processing large volumes of hydrological and weather-related data, HPC systems can provide faster and more detailed predictions, supporting early-warning mechanisms and disaster management.
Forest Fire Prediction
The National Supercomputing Mission has also supported the development of a Forest Fire Spread Model.
The model combines satellite remote sensing data with computational modelling to estimate how forest fires may spread.
The technology has been tested in regions such as the Sikkim Himalayas, where complex terrain and changing weather conditions can make forest-fire prediction particularly challenging.
The use of HPC enables researchers to run detailed simulations and assess potential fire-spread patterns more efficiently.
Advanced Seismic Imaging
Another application developed under the mission is the Seismic Imaging Suite, aimed at improving oil and gas exploration.
The system uses advanced algorithms to map underground geological structures. According to the PIB Backgrounder, its performance has been demonstrated to be comparable with commercial seismic imaging tools.
Such indigenous capabilities can strengthen India’s technological capacity in energy exploration and reduce dependence on imported computational tools.
Materials Science and Computational Chemistry
High-performance computing is also being applied to materials science and computational chemistry.
These applications allow researchers to simulate atoms, molecules and alloys, helping them study material behaviour and properties at the computational level.
Such simulations can support research in advanced materials, engineering, energy technologies and other areas of scientific and industrial importance.
Building Indigenous Supercomputing Technology
A major objective of the National Supercomputing Mission is not simply to install supercomputers but to build an entire indigenous ecosystem around them.
This includes the design and development of:
- Supercomputing servers
- System software
- High-speed interconnect networks
- Cooling technologies
- HPC applications
- Computing infrastructure
- Human resources and specialised skills
The mission follows a “Build Approach”, consisting of concurrent phases covering assembly, manufacturing, and design and manufacturing support.
This approach seeks to combine the expansion of computing infrastructure with the development of domestic technological capabilities.
Rudra Servers: Indigenous Computing Backbone
The Rudra series of servers represents one of the major indigenous achievements under the National Supercomputing Mission.
Designed and developed by C-DAC, the Rudra servers provide the processing power required for complex scientific calculations, simulations, artificial intelligence workloads and other computationally intensive applications.
The technology has also been transferred to Indian electronics manufacturing service partners for manufacturing.
The development of domestic server technology is expected to strengthen India’s ability to build and maintain advanced computing systems within the country.
PARAM Rudra Supercomputers
The PARAM Rudra series is another major achievement under the National Supercomputing Mission.
These systems have been developed using indigenously designed and manufactured Rudra servers, along with an indigenous system software stack.
PARAM Rudra systems are being used for advanced research in areas such as:
- Astronomy
- Materials science
- Nuclear physics
- Earth sciences
- Computational science
As of September 2026, around 6,000 Rudra servers had been deployed, while another 1,500 servers were under manufacturing, according to the PIB Backgrounder.
Indigenous High-Speed Interconnect Technology
Supercomputers require extremely fast communication between their computing nodes.
Under NSM, India has developed a high-speed interconnect network capable of supporting communication between computing nodes.
The technology has been tested at speeds of 100 Gbps and 200 Gbps.
High-speed interconnects are essential because large-scale scientific calculations require thousands of computing nodes to exchange data rapidly. Faster communication can improve the efficiency and overall performance of supercomputing systems.
Indigenous Cooling Technology
Supercomputers generate significant amounts of heat because of their high computational workload.
The National Supercomputing Mission has therefore also focused on developing indigenous cooling technology.
The technology has been developed and demonstrated domestically and has entered the deployment phase.
Efficient cooling is critical not only for maintaining the operating temperature of HPC systems but also for improving their overall energy efficiency.
Indigenous HPC System Software
India has also developed a complete HPC system software stack under the mission.
The software is integrated with supercomputing systems to support their efficient operation and management.
The development of indigenous software capabilities is an important part of reducing dependence on external technologies and creating a complete domestic supercomputing ecosystem.
PARAM Shavak for Educational Institutions
The mission has also developed PARAM Shavak, described as a “supercomputing-in-a-box” solution.
Designed, developed and manufactured in India, PARAM Shavak is intended to meet the HPC and AI computing requirements of students and researchers in engineering colleges and universities.
Such systems can help take advanced computing capabilities beyond specialised national laboratories and major research institutions and make them more accessible to educational institutions.
Supporting 16,000 Researchers
The National Supercomputing Mission is not limited to infrastructure development. It is also building a skilled workforce capable of using high-performance computing effectively.
According to the PIB Backgrounder, NSM infrastructure has supported more than 16,000 researchers across over 400 institutions, including more than 2,900 PhD scholars.
The systems had executed more than 1.5 crore compute jobs by September 2026. These are complex computational tasks or simulations assigned to supercomputers.
The infrastructure has also contributed to more than 1,990 research publications.
Expanding HPC Skills Across India
The mission has launched several initiatives to create a wider pool of HPC professionals.
These include:
HPC and Deep Learning Awareness Programmes
Workshops are conducted across the country to introduce students, researchers and faculty members to high-performance computing and deep learning.
Hackathons and Bootcamps
HPC and deep-learning hackathons and bootcamps provide hands-on experience and encourage problem-solving in HPC, artificial intelligence and generative AI.
Faculty Development Programmes
Faculty members, including those from non-computer science disciplines, are being trained in HPC, AI, machine learning and deep learning in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
EduHPC Workshops
An annual EduHPC workshop provides comprehensive HPC training to faculty members from institutions across India.
High-Performance Scientific Computing Course
A structured course on high-performance scientific computing is offered through the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) on the SWAYAM platform.
HPC Education Portal
The HPC Education Portal provides access to HPC resources, recorded lectures and learning material, helping students and teachers gain practical exposure.
NSM User Forum
The NSM User Forum provides a platform for users across NSM sites to discuss technical problems, resolve queries and share knowledge and best practices.
National Knowledge Network: Connecting the Ecosystem
The National Knowledge Network (NKN) serves as an important backbone for India’s supercomputing ecosystem.
It connects supercomputing facilities across academic and research institutions through a high-speed national network.
The network enables researchers and institutions to access advanced computing resources and collaborate across geographical boundaries.
By facilitating the sharing of computational resources, research capabilities and scientific information, NKN is helping expand access to high-performance computing across the country.
Contribution to Sustainable Development
The National Supercomputing Mission is also contributing to national development and 11 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Its applications include flood forecasting, forest-fire management and climate modelling, supporting climate action and disaster preparedness.
At the same time, HPC training and education initiatives contribute to skills development and strengthen the country’s scientific and technological workforce.
The mission also promotes collaboration between educational institutions, industries and research organisations, supporting innovation, indigenous technology development and economic growth.
ESTIC-2026 to Highlight Emerging Science and Technology
India’s growing supercomputing ecosystem will also be part of discussions around emerging science and technology at the second edition of the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC-2026).
The event is scheduled to be held from October 27 to 29, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, under the theme “Creative Minds, Catalysing Science and Empowering Technology.”
Organised by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), ESTIC-2026 will focus on advancing emerging frontiers in science and technology, including supercomputing and other emerging technologies.
The three-day event will feature plenary sessions, technical discussions and exhibitions spread across 12 thematic areas.
The conclave is expected to promote strategic collaborations and contribute to India’s broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
India’s Growing Data and Computing Needs
India’s rapidly expanding digital ecosystem is creating an increasing demand for advanced computing infrastructure.
According to the PIB Backgrounder, India generates approximately 20 per cent of the world’s data.
Technologies such as artificial intelligence, weather forecasting, space research, healthcare analytics and scientific modelling require enormous computing resources.
The expansion of domestic HPC infrastructure is therefore increasingly important for processing large datasets and running sophisticated simulations.
The government’s strategy is aimed at ensuring that researchers, universities, industries and strategic sectors have greater access to advanced computing capabilities.
Supercomputing Power Measured in FLOPS
The computing power of a supercomputer is generally measured in FLOPS — Floating Point Operations Per Second.
A teraflop represents approximately one trillion floating-point operations per second, while a petaflop represents approximately one quadrillion operations per second.
Supercomputers rely on large numbers of processors or computing nodes working simultaneously. This parallel processing capability enables them to perform complex calculations much faster than conventional computers.
According to the PIB Backgrounder, the world’s fastest supercomputer in 2026 has reached approximately 2.19 exaflops, equivalent to around 2.19 quintillion calculations per second.
The Road Ahead
India’s supercomputing ecosystem is expected to expand further through increased computing capacity, greater indigenous technology development and wider access for researchers, academia and industry.
The future focus of the National Supercomputing Mission includes developing systems that are:
- Faster
- More energy-efficient
- More reliable
- Increasingly indigenous
- More accessible to researchers and institutions
The integration of Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing is expected to open new possibilities across weather and climate science, healthcare, agriculture, energy, drug discovery, engineering and advanced scientific research.
The government’s broader approach involves bringing together government institutions, universities, industries, startups and research organisations to convert advanced computing capabilities into practical solutions.
Towards a Self-Reliant Supercomputing Ecosystem
India’s supercomputing journey, which began with PARAM 8000 more than three decades ago, has evolved into a much broader national ecosystem encompassing hardware, software, networking, cooling systems, applications, research and skilled manpower.
With 40 systems delivering 68 petaflops as of September 2026, and a roadmap for 50 systems exceeding 123 petaflops, the National Supercomputing Mission is positioning high-performance computing as a critical component of India’s scientific and technological infrastructure.
From predicting floods and forest fires to supporting drug discovery, climate modelling, space research and advanced materials science, India’s expanding HPC ecosystem is increasingly being directed towards real-world national challenges.
The long-term objective is not merely to build faster machines, but to create a secure, sustainable and self-reliant supercomputing ecosystem capable of supporting India’s scientific ambitions, technological innovation and the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
