THE importance of the event can never be overstated. In record time, India has made rapid and technologically sound strides in the manufacture of semi-conductors. This demonstrates the intrinsic push India’s creative strength has been able to give to an industry that was nearly non-existent in the country until now. Pushed to the brink with shortage of semi-conductor chips due to Russia-Ukraine conflict, India took a considered plunge into the research and commercial utilisation of the know-how to start making those hitech products just 2-3 years ago. Now, in such a short time, it has emerged with the smallest chip that can bring about “the biggest change” in the world, as Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi put it. There is no doubt that this should be considered one of the proudest moments for the country. Just a short time ago, India was most pathetically positioned as regards its own semi-conductor industry.

 

Then came the quick decision at the highest level to spare no effort to dive into that activity and make things happen favourably. Processor ‘Vikram’ is the first visible sign of success the country has achieved in that direction. The fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor has emerged from the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) -- adding another feather to the parent organisation’s cap. This development also shows the strength of the national resolve to rise above problems and obstacles and work for the larger good of the nation. Processor ‘Vikram’, thus, is a symbolism of that intrinsic push India possesses. Of course, the country, as such, always had such a push, such a drive. Unfortunately, that lay dormant for decades due to absence of an appropriate leadership quotient much needed for such a dynamic decision-making and urgent implementation on the ground. Now, in the past 10-11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, the country has utilised that intrinsic push not just in the semi-conductor industry but also in defence research and production. India’s ‘Make In India’ and ‘Make For The World’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat drives have taken the world by surprise for their practical application on the ground and the huge success the country has registered on almost every front. True, a very long way is yet to be traversed for India to become fully developed by the Prime Minister’s vision and definition by 2047 (when India celebrates the centenary of Independence).

 

Thus, the time available at India’s disposal is short and much work will have to be done to achieve the national goal. But given the fact that the larger Indian society has the intrinsic push needed for such progress, attainment of that goal appears plausible and possible. One of the strongest points of India’s growth story is the active and massive participation of private sector in the national effort. Though processor ‘Vikram’ has come out of an ISRO vertical, private sector in India has become very active in every segment including space and defence. This fact needs to be brought to fore because it shows the expanse and extent of the efforts that are being put in by the country to achieve the national goal of Viksit Bharat. India’s strides in semi-conductor industry will certainly add a great value to India’s growth story. The Prime Minister is right to assert that India’s smallest chip would make the biggest difference to global industry and business. That assertion shows the national resolve -- which the world will never miss. The time may not really be far when Indian chips would be found in every hitech product around the world. The goal is not utopian, but practical. This India of today is far different from the India a few decades ago. The Indian society has all the wherewithal to lead the comity of nations in every possible field -- which processor ‘Vikram,’ shows.