India Launches First Indigenous 32‑bit Microprocessor ‘Vikram’ for Space Missions
At the Semicon India 2025 event, India launched its first fully indigenous 32‑bit microprocessor, named ‘Vikram’, developed by ISRO’s Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in collaboration with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) specifically for space missions. The chip was handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who referred to microchips as the modern-day “digital diamonds”.
Key Features of Vikram Chip
- Operates in extreme temperatures from –55 °C to +125 °C.
- Fabricated using 180 nm CMOS technology.
- Advanced successor to the 16‑bit Vikram 1601.
- Tested successfully in orbit during the PSLV‑C60 mission, powering the Mission Management Computer in the POEM‑4 module.
- Supports 32‑bit architecture and 64‑bit floating‑point calculations.
- Includes native software tools: compiler, assembler, linker, simulator, and IDE developed by ISRO.
- Introduced alongside other indigenous space-grade devices like Kalpana 3201 (SPARC V8 RISC microprocessor), RDAS, relay driver IC, and multi‑channel LDO regulator IC.
Significance
Prime Minister Modi highlighted that while oil was once called “black gold,” microchips now serve as digital diamonds. The global semiconductor market, currently valued at $600 billion, is likely to exceed $1 trillion soon. India aims to become a global design and manufacturing hub in semiconductors.
About Semicon India 2025
The three-day event (September 2–4) in New Delhi featured over 350 exhibitors, 2,500 delegates, and participants from 33 countries. It showcased various government-approved test chips and marked India’s ambition to strengthen its semiconductor ecosystem.