India targets indigenous GPU development within 24 months
NEW DELHI: India is aiming to develop its own graphics processing unit (GPU) within the next two years as part of efforts to strengthen domestic semiconductor capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign chipmakers, according to Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan.
Speaking in an interview, Krishnan said the government plans to pursue the project under the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0.
He acknowledged that creating a homegrown GPU would be a complex task but confirmed a target of achieving the milestone in approximately 24 months.
Strategic Importance for AI and Self-Reliance
GPUs and AI accelerator chips form a critical layer of the technology stack required for advanced artificial intelligence computing.
Currently, production of these chips is concentrated among a small number of global companies, contributing to high costs and supply-chain vulnerabilities.
Krishnan outlined a broader five-layer strategy for India’s AI ecosystem: energy and power infrastructure, accelerator chips, computing servers and hardware, AI models, and real-world applications.
Developing an indigenous GPU is intended to address the second layer and support sovereign high-performance computing for domestic AI workloads.
Existing Progress in AI Hardware
India has already made advances in related areas. Companies such as VVDN Technologies, Kaynes Technology and Avalon Technologies are manufacturing servers domestically.
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has developed its Rudra series of servers, including AI-capable platforms, with technology being transferred to Indian manufacturers.
The GPU initiative forms part of ISM 2.0, which seeks to build a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem covering chip design, fabrication, advanced packaging, materials, equipment, research and development, and talent.
Amitesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary at MeitY and CEO of the India Semiconductor Mission, noted that India’s semiconductor strategy has moved from policy formulation to ecosystem building. Twelve manufacturing projects have been approved, of which five have begun commercial production.
Major partnerships are also advancing, including ASML’s collaboration with Tata Electronics for India’s first commercial semiconductor fabrication facility in Dholera, Gujarat, and Intel’s strategic partnership with the Tata Group on manufacturing and packaging.
The planned indigenous GPU represents a significant step toward greater technological self-reliance in high-performance computing.
While the 24-month timeline is ambitious given the complexity of GPU design and manufacturing, the government has positioned it as a priority under Semicon 2.0 to support India’s growing AI ambitions and reduce long-term dependence on overseas suppliers.
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