The Indian government is keen on installing at least 70 computers for high-level research in various parts of the nation. All of these will be linked via a grid connecting academic and R&D centers. The cost of the supercomputers project is estimated to run into Rs 4500 crores and has received the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs which is overseen by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi himself.
The mission is in line with the government’s Make in India and Digital India campaigns which are aimed at achieving unprecedented advancements in the manufacturing and IT sectors in the country. The Ministry of Science and Technology will sanction Rs 2800 crores out of the Rs 4500 crores, while Rs 1700 crores will come from the IT department, says Communications and IT Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad.
India has 9 supercomputers and at spot number 74, ranks far behind China which is number 1. The new machines will be able to help research in defense, biology, climate and other fields that require powerful processing muscle. The Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Department of Science and Technology as well as Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) will be involved in the mission.