First Made-in-India chip presented to PM Modi

India’s first indigenously built Vikram-32 bit processor chip was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Semicon India 2025 by Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, marking a milestone in the nation’s semiconductor self-reliance journey.

Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), the Vikram chip is the nation’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, specifically designed and qualified for the punishing conditions onboard space launch vehicles. The initial lot of Vikram 3201 devices was successfully validated in space during the PSLV-C60 mission, demonstrating its reliability for future space missions.

The Vikram chip developed by Isro was first introduced in March and shows rapid advances in India’s chip-making capabilities, following the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission in 2021. Within just three and a half years, India transitioned from being a major consumer to emerging as a creator of advanced chips.

The Vikram-32 is a computer chip that can handle many different tasks. It works with numbers that have decimals (like 3.14) and is built using a 32-bit design, which means it processes data in chunks of 32 bits at a time, and is designed to withstand extreme temperatures and environments found in spaceflight.

According to ISRO, it can handle substantial memory and execute complex instructions needed for launching satellites and space vehicles. Its robust reliability and versatility also signal its potential for defence, aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors, making it instrumental in strategic applications.

Handing over the first “Made-in-India” chip to the Prime Minister at Semicon India 2025, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted India’s progress: construction of five new semiconductor units is underway, and 10 major projects have been approved with over Rs 1.60 lakh crore investments across six states. With more than 23 design startups supported under the Design Linked Incentive scheme, the event illustrated India’s emergence as a bright spot in the global semiconductor value chain and a “beacon of stability and growth”.