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India has achieved a significant milestone in semiconductor technology with the development of the indigenous Shakti semiconductor chip. Developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Shakti chip is a crucial component of India’s push for technological self-reliance under the Digital India RISC-V (DIRV) initiative.

Overview of Shakti Semiconductor Chip

• The Shakti chip is an indigenous microprocessor based on the RISC-V open-source Instruction Set Architecture (ISA).
• Its primary objective is to meet the high-performance computing, security, and reliability needs of India’s defense, aerospace, and space industries.
• It was specifically designed to support applications in satellite missions, avionics, embedded systems, and command-and-control operations.
• The chip is the third in the Shakti series, following the earlier RIMO (2018) and MOUSHIK (2020) chips, which served as technology demonstrators.

Key Features:

• Indigenous Development: Fully developed, fabricated, and tested in India, ensuring complete control over the design and manufacturing process.
• RISC-V Architecture: The Shakti chip utilizes the RISC-V open-source architecture, offering flexibility for customization and adaptation to various hardware and application needs.
• Fault Tolerant and Reliable: Designed to endure the harsh conditions of space and defense applications, making it highly reliable for mission-critical functions.
• High-Performance Computing: Supports complex functions like AI-based operations, real-time control systems, and sensor integration, essential for space missions and advanced defense technologies.
• Advanced Security: Aimed at providing robust security measures for critical sectors, including defense and aerospace, ensuring protection against cyber threats.
• Expandable and Scalable: The chip supports multiple boot modes and hybrid memory extensions, allowing for future upgrades and expansions, especially for space exploration.

Applications of the Shakti Chip

• Space Missions: The Shakti chip plays a vital role in powering ISRO's command-and-control systems, satellite avionics, and embedded systems used in various space missions.
• Defense & Aerospace: It enhances India’s strategic autonomy by reducing reliance on foreign semiconductor technology for military-grade electronics.
• IoT & AI Applications: The chip’s high-performance computing capabilities are ideal for smart systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), and AI applications.
• Research and Development: The chip contributes significantly to India’s semiconductor ecosystem, providing a foundation for further R&D in indigenous chip fabrication.

The Digital India RISC-V (DIRV) Initiative

• Launched in April 2022 by MeitY, the DIRV initiative aims to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem by promoting the development of indigenous RISC-V-based microprocessors.
• The initiative emphasizes reducing dependency on foreign semiconductor solutions and fostering self-reliance in the digital sector.
• DIRV also focuses on high-performance computing for emerging technologies such as 5G, AI, and cloud computing. Through collaborations with IITs, ISRO, C-DAC, and private industry partners, the program aims to create a robust ecosystem for scalable microprocessor solutions.

IRIS: A Key Development from Shakti

• One of the most notable outputs of the Shakti chip initiative is the IRIS (Indigenous RISC-V Controller for Space Applications).
• Developed for ISRO’s space missions, the IRIS chip is a high-performance, fault-tolerant, 64-bit processor based on the Shakti microprocessor.
• It has been designed to meet the specific needs of space missions, such as satellite command-and-control systems, by integrating custom modules like watchdog timers and advanced serial buses.
• The IRIS chip also features multiple boot modes and hybrid memory extensions for future scalability and expansion in line with upcoming space missions.