 "The first batch of Vikram 3201 devices was successfully tested in space during the PSLV-C60 mission. PTI")
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented India’s first indigenously made Vikram 32-bit processor chip to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ‘Semicon India’ 2025 conference on Tuesday.
The chip has been designed by the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) of the Indian Space Research Organisation and is the country’s first fully made-in-India 32-bit microprocessor.
At the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that oil was “black gold”, but semiconductor chips are a “digital diamond”.
The first batch of Vikram 3201 devices was successfully tested in space during the PSLV-C60 mission, proving its reliability for future space use.
But what exactly is this chip? And why is it significant?
Let’s take a look:
Vikram-32 chip: What is it?
At the event, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the processor, along with test chips from four approved projects, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vaishnaw said the Vikram chip has been designed to survive the tough conditions of space launch vehicles, marking an important step in reducing India’s dependence on imported chips.
The fabrication and packaging of the chip were carried out at the Semiconductor Hub in Punjab’s Mohali, Hindustan Times reported.
The chip can perform a wide range of tasks. It works with decimal numbers such as 3.14, is built on a 32-bit design that processes information in chunks of 32 bits, and can withstand extreme temperatures and environments faced during space missions.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIsro has said it can manage large amounts of memory and run complex instructions required for satellite launches and space vehicles.
Its strong reliability and adaptability also make it suitable for defence, aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors, giving it significance in key strategic fields.
The processor is an advancement over Vikram 1601, a 16-bit chip that has powered Isro’s launch vehicles since 2009.
The chip’s role is to take charge of navigation, control, and mission management in launch vehicles, carrying out split-second calculations to keep rockets stable and on course, Business Standard reported.
With Vikram 3201, India gains self-sufficiency in this area, cutting reliance on imports and avoiding risks from supply chain interruptions. It also supports the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
Semicon India 2025
As part of India’s push to become a global centre for semiconductor innovation and production, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Semicon India 2025 in New Delhi on September 2.
This is the fourth edition of the event and also the biggest so far, bringing together over 350 exhibitors from 33 countries and regions, along with a record number of international stakeholders.
Semicon India 2025 is being organised jointly by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and SEMI, the global semiconductor industry body.
The three-day conference will include sessions on the progress of the Semicon India programme, semiconductor fabrication and advanced packaging projects, infrastructure development, smart manufacturing, research and development, artificial intelligence, and more.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the event is hosting over 20,750 participants, including more than 2,500 delegates from 48 countries, over 150 speakers with more than 50 global leaders among them, and over 350 exhibitors.
With inputs from agencies