Relevance: GS III (Science & Tech – IT & Indigenization) | Source: PIB / The Hindu

1. What is a GPU?

• Definition: A GPU is a specialized electronic chip designed to handle many small, repetitive mathematical tasks at the same time.
• The “Parallel” Advantage: While a traditional computer brain (CPU) solves problems one by one, a GPU can solve thousands of problems simultaneously, a process known as “Parallel Processing”.
• Evolution: Originally built to handle video game graphics by coloring millions of pixels on a screen, GPUs are now the primary engine for AI research.

2. The Manufacturing Process

• The “Die”: A GPU is created on a thin piece of silicon called a “die,” which contains billions of tiny switches called transistors.
• Complex Design: Engineers spend years designing the “micro-architecture” to determine how these transistors are connected to process data quickly.
• Memory Integration: To work effectively, GPUs are wired to high-speed memory to ensure they can move large amounts of data without slowing down.

3. Strategic Need for AI

• Mathematical Power: AI models, like ChatGPT, require trillions of calculations called Matrix Multiplications. GPUs are built specifically for this type of math.
• Energy Efficiency: Because they are specialized, GPUs can complete AI tasks much faster and with significantly less electricity than a general-purpose CPU.
• High-Stakes Applications: Beyond AI, GPUs are essential for self-driving cars, advanced weather forecasting, and complex medical research.

3. Key Government Missions and Schemes

To reduce dependence on foreign hardware, India has launched several targeted missions and financial incentives:

• The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): This is a long-term plan to build a complete chip-making ecosystem in India. It aims to attract global companies to set up fabrication units (fabs) and packaging plants.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: The government provides financial rewards to companies that manufacture IT hardware and semiconductors within India. This makes local production more competitive compared to imports.
• Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme: While PLI focuses on manufacturing, the DLI scheme supports Indian startups and MSMEs in designing the chips. It provides financial support and access to design tools for creating indigenous GPUs and AI processors.
• IndiaAI Mission 2.0: This mission focuses on building a national “GPU Cloud.” The government is purchasing thousands of GPUs to provide “compute power” as a public utility to Indian researchers and small businesses.

5. UPSC Value Box

Term	Explanation
Parallel Processing	Doing thousands of small math tasks at the exact same time.
Data Sovereignty	The idea that a country should control its own data and the chips that process it.

Way Forward

As the global demand for AI grows, owning GPU power has become as important as owning oil or electricity for a nation’s economy. Through the IndiaAI Mission, India is working to ensure it becomes a creator of technology rather than just a user.