India’s 7nm Leap: IIT Madras and the National Triple Framework Redefine AI Semiconductor Ambition

The National “Triple Framework” Project Led by IIT Madras

India is taking another major step toward semiconductor independence. Recently, the Indian government officially announced the development of a 7-nanometer (7 nm) processor, signaling its intention to build an AI-focused advanced semiconductor ecosystem as part of a national vision.

The project is organized as a “Triple Framework” system, where IIT Madras (Indian Institute of Technology Madras) leads the technology development, while the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) provide national-level policy and funding support.

The main technological leadership lies with IIT Madras. The university has been advancing its SHAKTI Project, an initiative based on the open-source instruction set architecture RISC-V, and is now extending it to the 7 nm process node.

The design targets high performance with low power consumption and is intended for use in AI acceleration, telecommunications, defense, and supercomputing.

IIT Madras aims to commercialize an entirely India-made 7 nm SHAKTI processor by 2028.

A Semiconductor Project Driven by National Strategy

The 7 nm processor development is not just a research program—it is part of a clearly defined national strategy. The overall coordination is handled by MeitY, which oversees both policy and research infrastructure.

MeitY manages initiatives for semiconductor design, testing, and packaging while linking them to India’s industrial self-reliance plan known as “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-reliant India).

Another major component is the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), responsible for project approval and funding execution.

ISM has already sanctioned ten semiconductor projects across six states, with a total investment of around ₹ 760 billion (US $ 9.1 billion), aiming to expand India’s manufacturing and design ecosystem.

This government-led effort shows that India is moving beyond assembly-level manufacturing and trying to establish itself as a true chip-design nation.

The SHAKTI Project and the RISC-V Innovation

At the core of India’s semiconductor ambitions lies the SHAKTI Programme. Initiated by IIT Madras in 2013, the project’s goal is to elevate India’s semiconductor design capabilities using an open-source RISC-V architecture.

The SHAKTI processor is designed as a public architecture that startups and universities can freely adopt for their own innovations.

Currently, IIT Madras combines global EDA tools with TSMC-based prototype fabrication experience to develop a 7 nm SHAKTI prototype.

The government aims to mature this design for commercialization by 2028 and then expand toward 5 nm and below nodes as part of a long-term roadmap.

These processors are planned to power applications in AI, 5G, defense, finance, and supercomputing, marking a major expansion of India’s indigenous chip ecosystem.

An Open Research Ecosystem of 288 Universities and 87 Companies

Another unique aspect of the Indian 7 nm project is its nationwide open research ecosystem.

Under MeitY’s Design Linked Incentive (DLI) program, 288 universities and research institutes are being supported, with 24 chip-design projects and 87 companies currently using EDA tools and advanced design platforms.

This network goes far beyond education or laboratory research—it directly targets AI, 5G, supercomputing, and defense-grade server processors.

In other words, India’s 7 nm initiative is essentially a state-driven blueprint for the country’s future AI hardware architecture.

Between Technological Independence and Global Supply-Chain Strategy

The project also reflects India’s broader strategic goal of securing design sovereignty amid a global supply-chain realignment.

At present, most Indian chips are still fabricated abroad—mainly by TSMC and GlobalFoundries—but the government intends to reduce dependence on overseas foundries by expanding domestic design, testing, and packaging facilities.

This move is not only about industrial policy; it is also tied to national security and AI hardware autonomy.

India’s participation in the global AI semiconductor race represents a potential formation of a “third pole” in the worldwide chip landscape, alongside the U.S.-Korea-Taiwan axis and the China bloc.

Outlook — Toward 2028 Commercialization and the 5 nm Era

The government has set its sights on commercializing a homegrown 7 nm processor by 2028.

If achieved, India will formally enter the group of nations capable of designing high-end nodes—currently dominated by Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and Japan.

A Phase 2 roadmap to pursue 5 nm and 3 nm processors is already under way.

However, full commercialization still faces challenges.

Beyond circuit design, India must build domestic capabilities in 7 nm-class foundry processing, packaging, and validation systems.

The success of IIT Madras’s technological breakthroughs will ultimately depend on how effectively they connect to national manufacturing infrastructure.

The Turning Point Toward “Design Power India”

India’s 7 nm processor project is not just the story of a chip. It represents a national system where IIT Madras handles the core technology while MeitY and ISM provide policy and industrial support—a triple-layer model of how a country can deliberately design its own AI semiconductor capability.

This model could strengthen India’s strategic autonomy in AI, data centers, edge computing, and defense systems.

The path to mass production is still long, but the project clearly marks the beginning of India’s transformation into a “Design Power” nation, positioning the country as a new pillar in the evolving global AI semiconductor landscape.

Table 1. The Triple Framework of India’s 7nm AI Semiconductor Project

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