India’s push for technological self-reliance in space has taken a decisive leap, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) in Chandigarh unveiling four indigenous integrated circuits (ICs) designed for launch vehicle avionics. Officials said the development would sharply reduce dependence on imported electronics, lower launch costs and shrink avionics hardware.
The new devices – a 16-Core Reconfigurable Data Acquisition System (RDAS), a High-Frequency Octal-Core RDAS, an Octal Channel Low Drop Out Linear Voltage Regulator (LVR), and Relay Driver ICs – were announced by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) on its X handle.
SCL has long been at the forefront of space electronics. Its VIKRAM1601, a 16-bit processor trusted in ISRO launch vehicles since 2009, laid the foundation for the country’s semiconductor journey. A milestone came on 5 March 2025, when the first production lots of the 32-bit microprocessors VIKRAM3201 and KALPANA3201 were handed over to ISRO.
VIKRAM3201, fabricated at SCL’s 180nm CMOS fab, is the first fully “Make-in-India” 32-bit processor certified for the harsh conditions of spaceflight. It builds on the legacy of VIKRAM1601 with enhanced performance. Alongside, KALPANA3201 – named after astronaut Kalpana Chawla – brings a 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC design, open-source compatibility and mission-critical resilience. Tested with flight software, it marks another technological stride for India’s space programme.
Also read: India to build its own space station, announces PM Modi
The advances were showcased on National Space Day, celebrated on 23 August to mark the Chandrayaan-3 soft landing on the Moon’s south pole. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set ambitious milestones, including the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035, the first Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040, and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight by 2027.
India’s rise is no longer limited to ISRO. A surge of private startups has begun reshaping the space economy since the sector opened to private participation in 2020. Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, Dhruva Space, GalaxEye and Digantara have all delivered world-first achievements, ranging from 3D-printed engines to hyperspectral satellites and space surveillance platforms.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her 2024 Budget, announced a ₹1,000 crore venture capital fund to expand India’s space economy five-fold in the next decade. Together, these initiatives underline India’s determination to secure its place among the world’s leading spacefaring nations.
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