India has achieved major global milestones in its technology and research sectors, affirming its status as a rapidly ascending innovation hub. The country has climbed to the 3rd global ranking in scientific publications, according to recent international reports, improving from its 7th position in 2010. This surge reflects a rapid expansion of India’s scholarly output and a commitment to R&D, which also saw the nation file over 86,000 AI-related patents between 2010 and 2025, accounting for more than a quarter of all technology patents filed in the country.
A key achievement in the push for technological self-reliance is the successful development and booting of the IRIS chip (Indigenous RISC-V Controller for Space Applications). Developed collaboratively by IIT Madras and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), IRIS is the nation’s first indigenous aerospace-grade semiconductor. It is designed for high-reliability, fault-tolerant computing in critical space applications, such as command and control systems for ISRO missions.The IRIS chip is based on the open-source SHAKTI microprocessor project and was entirely conceived, designed, fabricated (at SCL Chandigarh), and packaged within India. This end-to-end indigenous development is a cornerstone of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) mission, significantly reducing dependence on foreign semiconductor technology for strategic applications and bolstering India’s position in the global semiconductor ecosystem.
