MeitY launches indigenous Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit and PPIC Test Engine developed at IIT Madras
MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan on 24 April 2026 launched an indigenous Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit with over 50 verified components and a Universal Programmable Photonic IC Test Engine, both developed at the MeitY-sponsored CoE-CPPICS, IIT Madras.
Summary
Two indigenous silicon photonics technology solutions were launched by MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan on 24 April 2026: a Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit (PDK) for photonics chip manufacturing, with over 50 verified components, and a Universal packaged Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuit (PPIC) Test Engine, an automated characterisation platform. Both were developed at the MeitY-sponsored Centre of Excellence CoE-CPPICS at IIT Madras and will serve as a shared national facility for photonics R&D. India Semiconductor Mission CEO Amitesh Sinha said such technology could be supported under the upcoming ISM 2.0 R&D vertical, and that a Silicon Photonics Fab with packaging may follow commercial demonstration.
Key facts
- Launched by
- MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan, 24 April 2026
- Product 1
- Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit (PDK) — 50+ verified components
- Product 2
- Universal packaged PPIC (Programmable Photonic IC) Test Engine
- Developed at
- MeitY-sponsored CoE-CPPICS, IIT Madras
- Next
- Possible support under ISM 2.0 R&D vertical; Silicon Photonics Fab envisaged
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The indigenous Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit launched by MeitY in April 2026 was developed at:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — IIT Madras
Both solutions were developed at the MeitY-sponsored CoE-CPPICS, IIT Madras.
Consider the following statements about the silicon photonics solutions launched on 24 April 2026: 1. The Process Design Kit has over 50 verified components. 2. A Silicon Photonics Fab has already been commissioned under the India Semiconductor Mission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
The PDK has over 50 verified components; a Silicon Photonics Fab is only envisaged after commercial demonstration, so only statement 1 is correct.