India aims to develop its own graphics processing unit (GPU) within the next 24 months as part of a broader strategy to build a domestic semiconductor industry, according to S. Krishnan, secretary of India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Under the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, the government intends to reduce dependence on foreign chip suppliers by creating an indigenous hardware and software ecosystem. Krishnan identified five essential layers for supporting AI development: energy, accelerator chips, computing infrastructure and servers, AI models, and applications. While companies like VVDN, Kaynes, and Avalon are already manufacturing servers, and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has developed the Rudra server range for AI workloads, the GPU project remains an early-stage objective with no specific manufacturer or builder yet identified.
In addition to the GPU target, India is working to commercialize its homegrown SHAKTI and VEGA processors. Both are based on the open-source RISC-V architecture, allowing local developers to build processors without relying on proprietary CPU designs. While these are CPU designs distinct from the targeted GPUs, the government has already highlighted practical applications for the platforms, including an autonomous water-cleaning robot using SHAKTI and a digital telescope using VEGA.
