Context:

Recently, Indian Prime Minister virtually launched Three Param Rudra Super Computing Systems and a High-Performance Computing (HPC) system for weather and climate research.

More on the news

• The PARAM Rudra Supercomputers were developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).

The supercomputers are installed in:

• Pune (Giant Metre Radio Telescope - GMRT): Focuses on studying Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and other astronomical phenomena with a 1 petaflop capacity.
• Delhi (Inter-University Accelerator Centre - IUAC): Advances research in material science and atomic physics with the most powerful supercomputer at 3 petaflops.
• Kolkata (S.N. Bose Centre): Supports research in physics, cosmology, and earth sciences with a capacity of 838 teraflops.
• The computing power for weather research has also been enhanced with new High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems:
• Arka System at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune: Offers 11.77 petaflops, improving the resolution of global weather prediction models from 12 km to 6 km.
• Arunika at National Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) in Noida: Provides 8.24 petaflops, which will enhance weather forecasts at block levels.

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)

• The NSM is designed to enhance India's supercomputing infrastructure in response to the growing demand from various sectors, including academia, research, MSMEs, and startups.
• It is jointly managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). 
• It is implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Pune and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru.
• Param Shivay, first indigenously assembled supercomputer under this mission was installed at IIT (BHU), followed by Param Shakti and Param Brahma at IIT-Kharagpur and IISER, Pune, respectively.

Significance

• Boosting Research and Development: Provide state-of-the-art technology to young scientists, helping India carve out new opportunities in science and technology.
• National Capability: Enhance India’s ability to handle research, economic growth, disaster management, and overall quality of life.
• Empowering the Youth: Enabling youth to engage in high-level scientific research and innovation.
• AI and Machine Learning:  High-Performance Computing systems that will improve weather forecasting and climate research, allowing for more accurate predictions that benefit farmers and fishermen.
• Economic Growth and Self-Reliance: The government aims for India to lead in high-tech areas, moving from mere participation to leadership in global supercomputing and quantum computing.
• Global Competitiveness: The initiative positions India as a competitive player in the global market, ensuring that technological advancements translate into real-world benefits for the population.