In mid-December 2025, India announced a significant technological milestone, the unveiling of DHRUV64, the country’s first indigenous 64-bit, 1.0 GHz dual-core microprocessor. Designed and developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the government’s Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP), DHRUV64 signals a strategic leap forward in India’s pursuit of technological self-reliance and semiconductor capability.
Unlike many processors used in India today, which are predominantly designed overseas and imported, DHRUV64 is built on the open-source RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA), eliminating expensive licensing dependencies and opening the door to flexible, indigenous chip design and innovation.
What Makes DHRUV64 Technically Important?
At its core, DHRUV64 is a 64-bit, 1.0 GHz, dual-core microprocessor, fabricated on a 28 nm process node. Its modern design supports superscalar and out-of-order execution, enabling higher instruction throughput and better multitasking performance than many earlier domestic designs.
For context, microprocessors are essentially the “brains” of electronic systems, from phones and computers to industrial machines and telecommunications gear. Control logic, data processing, and connectivity functions all depend on these chips’ efficiency and reliability.
Importantly, DHRUV64 is positioned as a bridge between earlier indigenous processors (e.g., THEJAS64, SHAKTI, and AJIT) and future advanced chips like Dhanush and Dhanush+.
Reducing Foreign Dependence: Strategic Sovereignty
India today accounts for nearly 20 % of global microprocessor consumption. Yet, most of those chips are designed and controlled by foreign vendors. This dependence exposes India to external supply chain risks, licensing costs, and potential geopolitical vulnerabilities in critical sectors like defense and infrastructure.
By developing DHRUV64, India takes a meaningful step toward technological sovereignty, the ability to design, control, and deploy key digital infrastructure without reliance on external IP frameworks or geopolitical constraints. Indigenous silicon means fewer foreign licensing fees and more control over security, software compatibility, and long-term strategic planning.
Put simply, owning the microprocessor stack makes it harder for external actors to impose restrictions, disrupt supply chains, or wield technology as leverage. This is especially critical in areas such as defense communications, secure networks, and critical industrial systems, fields where reliability and trustworthiness are paramount.
Concrete Use Cases: Where DHRUV64 Will Matter
While DHRUV64 is not aimed at replacing top-tier, high-performance CPUs from global players, its design makes it highly applicable for a range of strategic and commercial applications:
- Telecommunications and 5G Infrastructure
Modern 5G base stations and network equipment rely on intelligent processors to manage data traffic, real-time scheduling, and edge functions. DHRUV64’s architecture supports multitasking and integration with communication hardware, making it useful for telecom gear built within India’s domestic tech stack.
- Automotive and Industrial Electronics
From onboard vehicle control systems in connected cars to automation controllers on manufacturing floors, dual-core processors with robust instruction handling are essential. By enabling locally designed chip solutions for these systems, India reduces procurement risk from foreign suppliers and fosters homegrown automotive electronics innovation.
- Internet of Things (IoT) and Consumer Devices
IoT ecosystems, spanning smart sensors, automation nodes, and consumer gadgets, require reliable microprocessors. DHRUV64’s flexible design enables developers and startups to prototype and scale IoT solutions without foreign IP constraints.
- Industrial Automation
In factories, robotics arms, and energy grids, processors must handle real-time control logic. An in-house Indian processor can help implement secure, proprietary industrial platforms tailored to local standards and reliability needs.
Ecosystem and Skill Development
Beyond direct applications, DHRUV64 is a catalyst for building an Indian semiconductor ecosystem. The government has linked its development with initiatives like Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V), the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Chips to Startup (C2S), and INUP-i2i, programs that fund design tools, fabrication access, and talent development.
This ecosystem approach helps address one of India’s longstanding tech challenges, skills and infrastructure. By creating real microprocessor projects, Indian engineers and researchers can gain experience comparable to global semiconductor hubs.
Challenges Ahead, but a Clear Path Forward
Some critiques note that a 28 nm chip like DHRUV64 does not compete with cutting-edge nodes (often 5 nm or below) in performance. But this misses the point, not all applications require bleeding-edge technology, and many critical infrastructures, especially defense, industrial, and communication systems, operate effectively on mature nodes where reliability and known characteristics are more critical than raw performance.
Moreover, achieving even this level of indigenous capability is a considerable accomplishment, given the historical reliance on imported CPU designs and foreign fabrication chains.
A Strategic Turning Point
DHRUV64 is more than just a chip, it’s a declaration of intent. It shows that India is serious about building its semiconductor capabilities from the ground up, aligning technology policy with economic sovereignty and digital security.
In the coming decade, this processor, and the ecosystem it helps foster, could be the foundation for a new wave of Indian innovation in telecom, automotive, IoT, and strategic digital infrastructure. It may not dethrone global CPU giants overnight, but it puts India firmly on the map as a designer of critical technology, not just a consumer of it.
