DHRUV64 Microprocessor

DHRUV64 Microprocessor

  • Context:

  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) announced the launch of DHRUV64, an indigenous microprocessor that it said would strengthen the national indigenous processor pipeline

  • It is a 64-bit, dual-core, general-purpose microprocessor operating at 1 GHz.

  • About DHRUV64:

  • It is a fully indigenous microprocessor developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP).

  • It is tied to the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) programme, which aims to build a portfolio of RISC-V-based microprocessors.

  • Under DIR-V, DHRUV64 follows earlier processors such as THEJAS32 and THEJAS64, and sits alongside other Indian initiatives like SHAKTI (IIT-Madras), AJIT (IIT-Bombay), and VIKRAM (ISRO-SCL).

  • What is RISC-V (DIR-V) programme?

  • RISC-V (pronounced “risk five”) is a set of basic instructions that a processor understands.

  • RISC-V is an open and licence-free, avoiding dependence on proprietary instruction sets.

  • DHRUV64 is tied to the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) programme, which aims to build a portfolio of RISC-V-based microprocessors for industry, military, and consumer technologies.

  • THEJAS32 was the rst India-designed chip DIR-V chip to be fabricated (in Malaysia) and THEJAS64 was the second, made at SCL Mohali.

  • DHRUV64 is the third on this list.

  • Key Features:

  • It runs at 1.0 GHz and uses superscalar execution, allowing it to start multiple instructions simultaneously for better speed.

  • It supports out-of-order processing, meaning it completes ready instructions first to improve overall efficiency.

  • It features built-in communication and control functions on an advanced FCBGA package.

  • Applications and Significance:

  • It is suitable for sectors such as 5G infrastructure, automotive systems, consumer electronics, industrial automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

  • Building such core technologies reduces India's reliance on foreign suppliers for the brains of electronic devices.

  • Future Roadmap:

  • The government has already outlined the next generation of indigenous chips:

  • DHANUSH (1.2 GHz quad-core)

  • DHANUSH+(2.0 GHz quad-core).

  • Supporting initiatives include the Chips to Startup programme and the Design Linked Incentive scheme to improve access to nanofabrication facilities.