National Supercomputing Mission-2015

Policy Update

Gayathri Pramod

The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), a unique initiative launched in 2015, aims to connect national academic and research and development (R&D) institutions through a robust grid of more than 70 high-performance computing (HPC) facilities. This ambitious and transformative mission, jointly implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Government of India, sets itself apart with its estimated budget of Rs. 4,500 crore allocated over seven years. The NSM addresses the ever-increasing demand for high-performance computing resources in the country’s scientific and academic communities and aligns with broader government initiatives such as ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India,’ reinforcing India’s commitment to technological advancement and self-reliance in computing infrastructure.

India’s standing in the global supercomputing landscape is modest, with a ranking of 74 and only nine supercomputers out of the more than 500 that exist worldwide. Recognizing the strategic significance of supercomputing and its role as a benchmark for scientific and technological progress, NSM has been carefully conceptualized to ensure that India can bridge this gap. The mission considers international technological trends, the growing computing requirements of the country’s research institutions, and the strategic importance of developing domestic capabilities in this field. Through NSM, India aspires to build a strong foundation in supercomputing technology, making it an integral part of the nation’s scientific and technological ecosystem.

Objectives

One of the core objectives of NSM is to empower academic and R&D institutions across the country by establishing an extensive supercomputing network. More than 70 HPC facilities will be installed in this initiative, forming a cohesive supercomputing grid. This network will be integrated with the National Knowledge Network (NKN), a government-led initiative to connect academic institutions and R&D laboratories through a high-speed digital infrastructure. By leveraging this advanced network, key user departments, ministries, and research bodies can utilize supercomputing resources to develop applications of national relevance. The widespread availability of these facilities is expected to bring supercomputing within the reach of a large segment of India’s scientific and technological community, thereby enhancing research output and innovation capabilities across multiple disciplines.

Beyond the mere installation of high-performance computing facilities, NSM also envisions the development of a highly skilled workforce proficient in handling supercomputing applications and harnessing their full potential. To achieve this, the mission includes training programs and capacity-building initiatives that equip professionals with the knowledge and expertise required to manage and utilize these cutting-edge technologies. By fostering a new generation of computational scientists, engineers, and researchers, the mission aims to strengthen India’s talent pool in this critical domain. The emphasis on skill development is expected to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where expertise in supercomputing technologies continues to grow, ultimately contributing to India’s long-term technological progress.

The impact of NSM extends across multiple domains of national and global importance. Supercomputing has the potential to revolutionize various fields by enabling complex simulations, high-speed data processing, and advanced computational modeling. Some key application areas targeted by NSM include climate modeling and weather prediction, which are crucial for understanding environmental changes, forecasting natural disasters, and planning mitigation strategies. The aerospace sector is another beneficiary, where supercomputing can be used for designing next-generation aircraft, optimizing flight dynamics, and enhancing safety measures. Computational biology and molecular dynamics also stand to gain significantly, as supercomputing enables advanced genomic research, drug discovery, and medical simulations, contributing to healthcare and disease management improvements.

In addition, NSM is expected to play a vital role in Atomic Energy simulations, National Security and Defense Applications, Seismic Analysis, Disaster Simulations, and Disaster Management. The ability to perform high-speed computations will enhance India’s preparedness for natural disasters, facilitating efficient response mechanisms and minimizing damage to life and property. Computational chemistry and computational material science will also see significant advancements, as supercomputing can help discover and analyze new materials, nanomaterials, and chemical processes. Similarly, astrophysics research will benefit from high-speed simulations that aid in exploring celestial phenomena, space exploration, and understanding fundamental questions about the universe.

Significance

The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) represents a strategic endeavor to reduce India’s dependence on foreign vendors and proprietary systems. Historically, India has relied on imported HPC solutions, limiting its ability to tailor computing architectures to specific national requirements. By emphasizing domestic research and development, NSM aims to foster innovation in hardware, software, and application development, ensuring that India can independently design and manufacture supercomputing systems suited to its unique needs. The development of indigenous supercomputing technology also holds profound implications for national security, as self-reliance in this domain mitigates risks associated with foreign supply chain vulnerabilities and cyber threats. 

Another critical area where NSM will impact is complex systems simulations and cyber-physical systems. These include infrastructure modeling, thoughtful city planning, and optimizing large-scale industrial operations. Big data analytics, an emerging field with applications in finance, governance, and business intelligence, will also be bolstered by high-performance computing resources. Processing and analyzing vast amounts of information in real-time will enable better decision-making, fraud detection, and risk assessment across various sectors. Government information systems and digital repositories will benefit from improved computing capabilities, ensuring efficient data management and secure information storage. NSM is about providing access to high-performance computing facilities, attaining global competitiveness, and ensuring self-reliance in supercomputing technology. A key mission component is the indigenous development of supercomputing hardware and software solutions. By reducing dependence on foreign technologies and fostering domestic innovation, NSM aims to position India as a global leader in supercomputing. The mission encourages collaborations between academia, industry, and government agencies to develop state-of-the-art computing architectures, algorithms, and applications tailored to India’s needs.

The strategic importance of supercomputing cannot be overstated, as it has become a defining factor in scientific advancements and national security. Countries with advanced supercomputing capabilities gain a competitive edge in research, defense, and economic development. By investing in NSM, India is committed to strengthening its position in the global technological landscape in the long term. The mission is expected to attract international collaborations, foster innovation, and drive significant advancements in scientific research.

Aerospace and Defense – Another sector that stands to gain immensely from NSM is aerospace and defense. Supercomputing is critical in designing next-generation aircraft, optimizing flight dynamics, and enhancing aviation safety. HPC is instrumental in developing advanced weapon systems, cryptographic security solutions, and strategic simulations in defense applications. Additionally, computational modeling is facilitated by supercomputing aids in missile trajectory analysis, radar optimization, and battlefield simulations, bolstering national security and defense preparedness. Given the increasing reliance on cyber-physical systems in modern warfare, NSM’s emphasis on indigenous HPC development further strengthens India’s strategic autonomy in defense technology.

Biomedical Research- In biomedical research, supercomputing has made  revolutionizing genomics, molecular dynamics, and drug discovery. High-performance computing enables processing vast biological datasets, facilitating advancements in personalized medicine, genetic research, and disease modeling. Supercomputing accelerates the development of new pharmaceuticals by simulating molecular interactions, significantly reducing the time required for drug discovery and testing. This capability holds immense promise for tackling public health challenges, including developing vaccines and treatments for infectious diseases, cancer research, and studying complex biological systems.

The Industrial Sector – The computational power provided by NSM has substantial influence over the Industrial Sector as well. In areas such as computational chemistry and materials science, supercomputing facilitates the discovery of novel materials, advancements in nanotechnology, and chemical process optimization. Industries involved in manufacturing, infrastructure development, and smart city planning leverage HPC for large-scale simulations, efficiency optimization, and predictive analysis. Moreover, the financial sector can harness supercomputing for big data analytics, fraud detection, and risk assessment, enhancing decision-making and economic stability.

Astrophysics –  Another domain where supercomputing is indispensable, benefits from high-speed simulations that aid in exploring celestial phenomena, space missions, and cosmological studies. By enabling precise modeling of astrophysical events, NSM contributes to India’s space exploration initiatives, reinforcing the country’s position as a key player in global space research. Similarly, seismic analysis and disaster management benefit from supercomputing capabilities that facilitate real-time simulations of earthquakes, tsunami predictions, and infrastructure resilience assessments.

The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) emphasizes an inclusive approach to democratizing access to supercomputing resources. The mission envisions deploying over 70 HPC facilities, interlinked through a comprehensive grid that integrates seamlessly with the National Knowledge Network (NKN). The NKN is a high-speed digital infrastructure initiative to connect academic institutions and R&D laboratories across India, enabling seamless data exchange and collaborative research efforts. By leveraging this network, the NSM seeks to ensure that researchers from various institutions—irrespective of their geographical location—can benefit from state-of-the-art computing capabilities. This inclusive approach is expected to significantly enhance India’s research output, fostering ground-breaking discoveries across multiple scientific disciplines.

Its focus on skill development and capacity building is a critical mission component. The successful implementation of supercomputing technology requires a highly skilled workforce proficient in managing, optimizing, and utilizing HPC resources effectively. To address this need, NSM incorporates comprehensive training programs to equip scientists, engineers, and students with the knowledge and expertise required to harness the full potential of supercomputing. These training initiatives create a pool of competent professionals and contribute to the long-term sustainability of India’s supercomputing ecosystem. By nurturing a new generation of computational scientists and researchers, the mission is poised to establish India as a global leader in high-performance computing.

The impact of NSM spans a wide array of domains, each benefiting from the enhanced computational capabilities provided by supercomputers. One of the most significant applications of HPC is in climate modeling and weather prediction. Supercomputing enables precise simulations of atmospheric conditions, improving the accuracy of weather forecasts, cyclone tracking, and climate change predictions. This capability is particularly crucial for a country like India, which frequently experiences extreme weather events such as monsoons, droughts, and cyclones. By leveraging supercomputing for environmental modeling, policymakers and disaster management agencies can make informed decisions, enhancing preparedness and response strategies.

While NSM presents significant opportunities, it also comes with notable challenges.

  •  The development of indigenous supercomputing technology necessitates substantial investment in Research and Development and a concerted effort to build expertise in hardware and software design. 
  • Infrastructure constraints, particularly in remote and underdeveloped regions, must be addressed to ensure the efficient operation of the supercomputing grid.
  •  Additionally, continuous technological advancements in HPC necessitate regular upgrades and maintenance, requiring sustained financial and technical support. Overcoming these challenges will require coordinated efforts from government agencies, academic institutions, industry leaders, and research organizations, fostering a collaborative approach to national supercomputing development.

The strategic importance of supercomputing cannot be overstated, as it has become a defining factor in scientific advancements and national security. Countries with advanced supercomputing capabilities gain a competitive edge in research, defense, and economic development. By investing in NSM, India is committed to strengthening its position in the global technological landscape in the long term. The mission is expected to attract international collaborations, foster innovation, and drive significant advancements in scientific research. While implementing NSM presents significant opportunities, it also comes with challenges. Developing indigenous supercomputing technology requires substantial investment in research and development and a dedicated effort to build expertise in this field. The mission must also address infrastructure constraints, ensuring the supercomputing grid operates efficiently across diverse locations. Additionally, continuous upgrades and maintenance of HPC facilities will be essential to keep pace with evolving technological advancements. Addressing these challenges will require coordinated efforts from multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, research institutions, industry partners, and academia.

Emerging Issues and Way Forward

Emerging issues in national supercomputing are primarily driven by the rapid advancement of technology, growing data demands, and the increasing need for computational power in various sectors. One significant challenge is the escalating energy consumption of supercomputers. As computational capacity increases, so does the power required to operate these machines, which presents both environmental and economic concerns. Additionally, the management and storage of the massive datasets generated by these systems remain a hurdle. As simulations and artificial intelligence (AI) applications grow more sophisticated, the demand for larger, faster, and more efficient storage solutions intensifies. Another issue is the limited accessibility of supercomputing resources to smaller institutions or developing countries due to the high cost of infrastructure and maintenance. This digital divide exacerbates inequalities in research and technological advancement, restricting the global sharing of knowledge and resources.

To address these emerging issues, the way forward must involve a multi-pronged approach. First, energy efficiency should be prioritized in the design of new supercomputers. Advances in cooling technologies, such as liquid cooling, and the use of renewable energy sources, can help mitigate the environmental impact. Second, innovations in data storage technologies, such as quantum storage or more efficient algorithms, can help tackle the problem of data management. Moreover, fostering international collaboration is key to ensuring equitable access to supercomputing power. Governments and institutions should consider establishing shared supercomputing centers or cloud-based services, which could democratize access to these resources, especially for smaller research groups or institutions in developing nations. Lastly, policy frameworks should support continuous investment in supercomputing infrastructure while ensuring that research is conducted in an open and collaborative environment, allowing for the free exchange of ideas and advancements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the National Supercomputing Mission is a transformative initiative that holds the potential to redefine India’s scientific and technological landscape. By establishing a nationwide supercomputing network, fostering indigenous innovation, and developing a highly skilled workforce, NSM aims to propel India to the forefront of global HPC capabilities. The mission’s impact extends across multiple domains, including climate science, aerospace engineering, healthcare, defense, and big data analytics, driving progress in critical areas of national importance. As India advances in its journey towards technological self-reliance, NSM serves as a cornerstone for future scientific endeavors, innovation-driven growth, and strategic competitiveness. With a clear vision and effective implementation, the mission is poised to position India as a global leader in high-performance computing, ensuring that the country remains at the cutting edge of scientific and technological advancements in the years to come.

References

About the Contributor: The article is written by Ms. Gayathri Pramod Research Intern at IMPRI. She is a final year PhD student specialized in West Asia.

Acknowledgment : I extend my sincere gratitude to each and every one who guides me through this process, especially Dr. Arjun Kumar and Aasthaba Jadeja.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

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