India’s semiconductor ambitions are gaining momentum as the newly unveiled DHRUV64 microprocessor marks a pivotal step in the nation’s journey toward technological self‑reliance. The 64‑bit, dual‑core chip, designed indigenously by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C‑DAC) under the Microprocessor Development Programme, arrives at a critical moment when India consumes nearly 20 % of the world’s microprocessors yet remains heavily dependent on imports for chip supply.
Built on the open‑architecture RISC‑V instruction set, DHRUV64 is designed to support diverse applications ranging from 5G infrastructure, automotive electronics, IoT devices and industrial automation to strategic and commercial systems while enabling startups, academia and industry to innovate without costly licensing barriers.
India’s strength in semiconductor design is already notable, with the country accounting for roughly 20 % of global chip design engineers, a talent base that is now being harnessed to develop homegrown solutions like DHRUV64 and future processors.
Perhaps most importantly for the domestic ecosystem, the success of DHRUV64 has accelerated the roadmap for next‑generation chips, including the Dhanush and Dhanush+ processors, which are now under development and expected to further deepen India’s indigenous silicon capabilities.
The rollout of DHRUV64 part of the Digital India RISC‑V (DIR‑V) Programme overseen by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology signals India’s transition from being a consumer of microprocessors to becoming a participant in the global semiconductor value chain, promoting innovation, reducing import dependence and boosting the nation’s technological sovereignty.
