C-DAC

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is an Indian scientific organisation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It was established in 1988 to develop high-performance computing technologies after the U.S. refused to sell a Cray supercomputer to India. C-DAC's primary objective was to build India’s first supercomputer, under the leadership of Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, with support from the Indian government. It later resulted in the creation of the PARAM 8000, India's 1st Giga-scale supercomputer in 1990, PARAM 10000(100 Gigaflop supercomputer in 1998) and PARAM Yuva a 54 Teraflop supercomputer in 2008, ranked 69 in November 2008, which placed India among the global leaders in supercomputing.

C-DAC has received awards, including the Manthan Awards for its contributions to mobile healthcare and e-governance solutions. 

C-DAC focuses on research in a field, including high-performance computing, grid computing, cloud computing, cybersecurity, health informatics, blockchain, and quantum computing. Its research and development activities have produced several notable products, such as the PARAM series of supercomputers, VEGA processors (India’s first indigenous 64-bit multi-core processor), and the M-Kavach 2 mobile security solution. Other key projects include Bharat Operating System Solutions (BOSS), a Linux-based operating system, and the GARUDA grid computing initiative. C-DAC also developed eSanjeevani, a digital healthcare platform, and Namescape, a search engine for India’s Aadhaar unique identification system.

C-DAC operates across India, with its headquarters in Pune and branches in cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Delhi. It also provides education and training programmes through its Advanced Computing Training School (ACTS), offering postgraduate diplomas in specialised fields like embedded systems, VLSI design, and artificial intelligence. Internationally, C-DAC has established Centres of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) in various countries under India’s development partnership initiatives.

In 2024, C-DAC signed an agreement with L&T Semiconductor Technologies to commercialise its technology in areas such as power systems, embedded software, and semiconductor design. This partnership aims to develop indigenous integrated circuits and system-on-chip solutions for sectors like automotive, industrial, and energy.

C-DAC's work in cybersecurity includes network security, biometric authentication, and cyber forensics. It has developed solutions for end-point security, mobile security, and digital forensics. In the field of health informatics, C-DAC has created systems for hospital information management, telemedicine, and drug management. It is also active in quantum computing, having developed QSim, a quantum computer simulator toolkit, in collaboration with IISc Bengaluru and IIT Roorkee.

C-DAC has been involved in several international projects, promoting Indian expertise in information and communication technologies (ICT) across countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These projects include the establishment of IT infrastructure, high-performance computing centres, and e-governance solutions in various countries.

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) was established in November 1988 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Its creation was prompted by an urgent need to develop India's supercomputing capabilities after the United States refused to sell a Cray supercomputer to India, citing concerns that it might be used for nuclear weapons development. This denial led to the initiation of an indigenous supercomputing programme, to reduce India's reliance on foreign technology. 

In 1988, C-DAC was formally established with a mandate to build a supercomputer equivalent to the Cray system. Dr. Vijay P. Bhatkar was appointed as the founding director of C-DAC. The project was initially allocated 30 crores, equivalent to the cost of a Cray supercomputer. Within three years, C-DAC developed its first supercomputer prototype, PARAM 8000, which was released in 1991. The PARAM 8000 was benchmarked at the 1990 Zurich Supercomputing Show and demonstrated to be one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, placing India on the global map of technological development.

Following this success, C-DAC continued to develop several advanced supercomputers under the PARAM series, including PARAM 8000, India's 1st Giga-scale supercomputer in 1990, PARAM 10000(100 Gigaflop supercomputer in 1998), PARAM Padma, 1Teraflop supercomputer in 2002 and PARAM Yuva a 54 Teraflop supercomputer in 2008 (ranked 69 in November 2008). Over time, C-DAC’s expertise expanded beyond high-performance computing (HPC) to cover various other areas of research and development.

In 2003, C-DAC underwent a significant restructuring. Three major institutions – the National Centre for Software Technology (NCST), the Electronic Research and Development Centre (ER&DC), and the Centre for Electronics Design and Technology of India (CEDTI) – were merged into C-DAC. This expanded C-DAC’s capabilities in software technology, electronics, and computing solutions.

By the mid-2000s, C-DAC’s research and development activities had diversified into several emerging areas. In addition to HPC, C-DAC began focusing on Grid Computing, Cloud Computing, VLSI (Large-scale integration) design, Embedded Systems, Cyber Security, and Health Informatics. C-DAC’s work in Multilingual and Heritage Computing also grew, with efforts to develop language technologies that would make digital solutions accessible to India's multilingual population.

In 2013, C-DAC made significant advancements in its supercomputing efforts with the launch of PARAM Yuva II, a supercomputer with a computing capacity of 529 Teraflops. It was ranked 69th in the world in June 2013, marking another milestone in India's supercomputing journey. This was followed by the development of PARAM Biochrome, a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster designed specifically for bioinformatics applications, with a computing capacity of 5 Teraflops. Continuing its focus on bioinformatics, C-DAC launched PARAM Bio Blaze on February 18, 2014, a supercomputing facility with a peak compute power of 10.65 Teraflops, aimed at addressing the growing computational challenges in bioinformatics.

In 2020, C-DAC further advanced its work in quantum computing by developing QSim, India’s first Quantum Computer Simulator Toolkit. C-DAC’s quantum computing research has since expanded, focusing on the development of quantum communication technologies, post-quantum cryptography algorithms, and collaborations with academic institutions and industry.

Another significant achievement of C-DAC is its development of the VEGA microprocessor. In 2021, C-DAC released India’s first 64-bit multi-core superscalar RISC-V processor, marking a key milestone in India’s semiconductor design capabilities. The VEGA processor is now being commercialised in partnership with L&T Semiconductor Technologies (LTSCT), which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with C-DAC in 2024 to accelerate the development of indigenous integrated circuits (ICs) and systems-on-chip (SoCs) for various industries.

C-DAC has also made notable contributions to healthcare through its Health Informatics division. It developed the eSanjeevani telemedicine platform, which has been instrumental in providing healthcare services in remote areas, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other important healthcare solutions include Anvaya, a platform for genome analysis, and various tools for hospital management and telemedicine.

In addition to its technological contributions, C-DAC has been heavily involved in education and training. It established the Advanced Computing Training School (ACTS) to provide diploma programmes and certifications in advanced computing and software technologies. Over the years, C-DAC has trained thousands of professionals in fields like HPC, Embedded Systems, VLSI, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data Analytics.

C-DAC’s reach extends beyond India, with several international collaborations, particularly in the areas of e-Governance, education, and IT solutions. It has set up Centres of Excellence in Information Technology in countries such as Ghana, Armenia, and Namibia, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

In recent years, C-DAC has focused on developing next-generation technologies. In 2024, it was involved in several mission-mode programmes, including the Exascale Computing Mission, the Quantum Computing Mission, and the Microprocessor and Strategic Electronics Mission. These initiatives aim to strengthen India’s position in high-performance computing, quantum technologies, and semiconductor design.

As of 2024, C-DAC continues to play a crucial role in India’s IT and electronics sector. Its work spans a wide range of areas, from supercomputing and quantum computing to cybersecurity and healthcare informatics. C-DAC’s innovations contribute to both the technological and economic growth of the country, positioning India as a leader in advanced computing and IT solutions.

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) was established with clear goals and a defined purpose. Its primary aim was to develop India’s own supercomputing capabilities after facing restrictions on purchasing foreign technology. C-DAC's main goal is to strengthen India's technological independence by creating advanced computing systems and solutions that meet the needs of the country.

Over the years, C-DAC's purpose has expanded to include research and development in various areas of Information Technology (IT) and Electronics. The organisation's goals include developing high-performance computing (HPC) systems, enhancing capabilities in areas like cybersecurity, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and bioinformatics, and promoting innovation in hardware and software technologies.

C-DAC also focuses on contributing to national initiatives like Digital India, providing IT solutions for e-Governance, health informatics, and education. Another key goal is to offer training and education programmes to develop skilled manpower in advanced computing, supporting India's growing IT industry.

C-DAC's purpose is to create technology solutions that not only support India’s economic development but also benefit society by providing accessible and affordable technology. The institution works closely with government, industry, and academic partners to achieve these goals, making it a leader in India's IT and electronics sectors.

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has had a significant impact on India’s technological landscape. One of its key achievements is the development of indigenous supercomputing systems like the PARAM series, which positioned India as a global player in high-performance computing. This achievement has supported advancements in fields such as weather forecasting, scientific research, and drug discovery.

C-DAC has also played a crucial role in enhancing India's cybersecurity infrastructure, developing solutions to protect critical systems from cyber threats. Its work in Quantum Computing, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has furthered India’s capabilities in emerging technologies, ensuring the country stays competitive in the global market.

In the healthcare sector, C-DAC's eSanjeevani telemedicine platform has helped provide healthcare services in remote areas, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its contributions to health informatics and bioinformatics have made a positive impact on medical research and healthcare delivery.

Additionally, C-DAC’s education and training programmes have trained thousands of professionals, contributing to the growth of skilled manpower in India's IT sector. Overall, C-DAC's innovations and solutions have advanced India’s technological self-reliance and benefited both the economy and society.