India has officially announced DHRUV64, its first homegrown microprocessor featuring a 1GHz clock speed and a 64-bit dual-core architecture. The processor has been developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the government-backed Microprocessor Development Programme. The announcement marks an important milestone in India’s long-term effort to design, develop, and deploy indigenous semiconductor technologies for strategic and commercial use.
DHRUV64 is positioned as a fully indigenous processor designed to reduce reliance on imported chips while supporting domestic innovation across multiple sectors. The development aligns with India’s broader push for self-reliance in electronics and advanced computing technologies.
What is DHRUV64
DHRUV64 is a 64-bit, dual-core microprocessor operating at a clock speed of 1.0GHz. It is built on modern processor architecture and supports multitasking, improved efficiency, and system-level integration with a wide range of external hardware components. The processor is designed to meet the requirements of applications such as industrial automation, consumer electronics, automotive systems, networking infrastructure, and Internet of Things deployments.
According to the government, DHRUV64 has been developed to provide a reliable, scalable platform for Indian startups, academic institutions, and industry players to design and test computing systems without depending on foreign processor technologies.
Strategic significance for India
Microprocessors form the foundation of modern electronic systems, powering devices ranging from smartphones and computers to defence platforms and satellites. India currently consumes a significant share of globally manufactured processors, making indigenous capability critical for long-term technological security.
The introduction of DHRUV64 strengthens India’s domestic processor pipeline and contributes to building a secure semiconductor ecosystem. It also adds to a growing list of Indian-designed processors such as SHAKTI, AJIT, VIKRAM, and THEJAS, which target different application domains including space, defence, industrial automation, and robotics.
Role of Digital India RISC-V programme
DHRUV64 has been developed as part of the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) programme, which focuses on creating a complete portfolio of RISC-V–based processors in India. RISC-V is an open instruction set architecture that eliminates licensing costs and encourages shared innovation across academia, startups, and industry.
Under DIR-V, DHRUV64 is the third processor to be fabricated, following THEJAS32 and THEJAS64. The programme aims to enable end-to-end processor development, from design and validation to fabrication and deployment.
What comes next
Following the rollout of DHRUV64, C-DAC is currently working on next-generation processors, including Dhanush and Dhanush+, which are under development. These processors are expected to expand India’s indigenous computing roadmap and support future requirements across strategic and commercial sectors.
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