Background: Most chips used in India are designed by foreign firms (ARM, Intel), posing a security risk of "hardware backdoors." DHRUV64, developed by C-DAC, is India’s first high-performance, domestically designed 64-bit processor.
Basics:
- Architecture: Based on RISC-V (Reduced Instruction Set Computer), which is an open-source standard. This means India doesn't pay royalties to foreign companies.
- Dual Core: 1.0 GHz frequency, suitable for smart grids, IoT, and defense electronics.
- DIR-V Program: Part of the "Digital India RISC-V" initiative.
Significance for UPSC:
- Strategic Autonomy: Crucial for defense and telecom infrastructure to ensure data remains secure.
- Semiconductor Mission: A major step in India's goal to become a global chip-design hub.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
