India begins 7 nm processor design at IIT Madras under SHAKTI: PIB backgrounder
A PIB backgrounder of 22 October 2025 says IIT Madras is developing India's first 7 nanometre processor under its SHAKTI initiative, as announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on 18 October 2025.
Summary
A PIB backgrounder of 22 October 2025 describes India's move into advanced-node chip design with a 7 nanometre processor, announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on 18 October 2025. IIT Madras is developing it under the SHAKTI initiative, started in 2013 and based on the open-source RISC-V instruction set architecture. The processor targets server applications in financial services, communications, defence and strategic sectors. The backgrounder adds that under the ₹76,000 crore India Semiconductor Mission, 10 semiconductor projects worth over ₹1.6 lakh crore have been approved across six states, and more than 288 academic institutions are supported under MeitY's Design Linked Incentive scheme.
Key facts
- Chip
- 7 nm processor
- Developer
- IIT Madras, SHAKTI initiative (since 2013)
- Architecture
- Open-source RISC-V
- Announced
- 18 Oct 2025, by Ashwini Vaishnaw
- Target use
- Servers: finance, communications, defence, strategic
- ISM
- ₹76,000 crore; 10 projects, ₹1.6 lakh crore+, six states
Practice MCQs 2 questions
India's 7 nm processor announced in October 2025 is being developed by which institution?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — IIT Madras
PIB backgrounder: the 7 nm processor is being developed by IIT Madras through its SHAKTI initiative.
Consider the following statements about the SHAKTI processor initiative: 1. It was started in 2013 and is based on an open-source instruction set architecture. 2. The 7 nm processor under it is mainly targeted at smartphones and consumer wearables. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB backgrounder: SHAKTI started in 2013 on an open-source ISA (RISC-V); the 7 nm processor targets server applications in financial services, communications, defence and strategic sectors.