by Umaima Reshi
India’s Arka and Arunika supercomputers strengthen astrophysics, nuclear research, and weather forecasting. Though modest globally, they symbolise cultural heritage, self-reliance, and digital sovereignty while advancing towards exascale computing and sustainable scientific innovation.
India has been steadily advancing in the field of supercomputing, developing powerful machines to support scientific research, space exploration, and national security. Among these are Arka and Arunika, two supercomputers built for specialised tasks, each contributing to India’s growing high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities, open source information suggests.
Arka, housed at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bangalore, plays a crucial role in processing vast amounts of astronomical data, simulating galaxy formations, and analysing signals from gravitational wave detectors. Initially deployed in 2018 as a CPU-based system, it was upgraded in 2021 with NVIDIA Tesla V100 GPUs, boosting its performance to around 1.2 petaflops. The machine supports Indian scientists in studying cosmic phenomena with greater precision, aiding missions like AstroSat, India’s first dedicated space observatory.
On the other hand, Arunika, located at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai, is a more secretive and powerful system designed for nuclear research and defence applications. Starting as a modest 500-teraflop machine in 2019, it was later upgraded to a 3.5-petaflop system with custom FPGA accelerators, making it one of India’s fastest supercomputers for atomic energy simulations. Arunika is used for modelling nuclear reactors, neutron transport calculations, and advanced material science—critical for both energy production and strategic defence programmes.
When compared to the world’s leading supercomputers, such as Frontier (USA) and Fugaku (Japan), which operate at exascale and hundreds of petaflops, Arka and Arunika are still modest in raw power. However, they serve highly specialised roles, filling gaps in India’s scientific and strategic research. While Frontier is a general-purpose supercomputer used for everything from climate modelling to AI, Arunika is fine-tuned for nuclear physics, and Arka excels in astrophysical simulations.
India’s supercomputing journey has been evolving rapidly. The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), launched in 2015, aims to build even more powerful systems, with plans for exascale computing by 2026. Future upgrades for Arka may include NVIDIA H100 GPUs, while Arunika could integrate quantum computing modules for even faster nuclear simulations. Though not yet in the global top 100, these supercomputers represent India’s commitment to self-reliance in HPC and lay the groundwork for competing with the world’s best.
Beyond their technical prowess, Arka and Arunika’s names carry deep cultural and philosophical significance, tying cutting-edge technology to India’s ancient scientific heritage. Arka, derived from Sanskrit, means “sun” or “radiant energy,” symbolising knowledge and enlightenment, fitting for a machine dedicated to unravelling cosmic mysteries. Ancient Indian astronomers like Aryabhata and Brahmagupta studied celestial movements with remarkable precision, and today, Arka continues this legacy.
Arunika, meaning “dawn” or “the first light of day,” evokes the idea of new beginnings and revelation. In Hindu mythology, Aruna, the charioteer of the sun god Surya, represents the transition from darkness to light. This name is profoundly apt for a supercomputer used in nuclear research, where unlocking atomic energy, much like the first rays of dawn, can bring both immense power and transformative potential.
The Government of India has also recognised the role of these supercomputers in meteorology and disaster prediction. According to a recent Rajya Sabha discussion, Arka and Arunika will improve the accuracy of weather forecasts by enabling high-resolution numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) aims to increase model resolutions from 12.5 km to 6.5 km for short-medium range forecasts and from 35 km to 12 km for seasonal predictions. Higher model resolution enhances predictability, particularly for extreme weather events such as cyclones, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves.
Besides, the government is investing in AI-powered climate prediction models, leveraging Arka and Arunika’s computational capabilities. The Ministry has established a dedicated virtual centre at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune and a functional group in the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to integrate AI, ML, and deep learning into meteorological predictions. These initiatives are expected to significantly improve forecast accuracy and disaster preparedness.
Beyond meteorology, the government has also indicated that Arunika’s computational power will be harnessed for optimising fisheries, marine biodiversity conservation, and deep-sea exploration. Under various earth and ocean science missions, Arka and Arunika will contribute to advancing research in these critical areas, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainable development and scientific excellence.
Supercomputing is a strategic asset that strengthens national capabilities in multiple domains. As India builds towards exascale computing, the emphasis on domestic innovation and self-reliance becomes even more crucial. The presence of homegrown supercomputers like Arka and Arunika reduces dependence on foreign technology while fostering indigenous expertise in high-performance computing. Moreover, the development of these machines aligns with India’s broader ambition of digital sovereignty, ensuring that crucial research and security-related computations remain within the country’s control.
Another crucial aspect of supercomputing in India is the growing emphasis on education and training. High-performance computing is an interdisciplinary field that requires expertise in software development, hardware optimisation, and domain-specific problem-solving. Institutions such as IITs, IISc, and national research centres are increasingly integrating HPC training into their curricula, ensuring that the next generation of Indian scientists and engineers is well-equipped to harness these powerful machines.
Collaborations with international partners also play a significant role in advancing India’s supercomputing capabilities. India has engaged in research partnerships with global institutions to exchange knowledge and expertise in HPC applications. By fostering global collaboration while maintaining a strong domestic foundation, India is positioning itself as a key player in the world of computational science.
As India marches toward exascale computing, Arka and Arunika symbolise a fusion of tradition and innovation. They represent more than raw processing power; they embody a cultural narrative where India’s future in technology is deeply rooted in its past. Just as ancient Indian scholars mapped the stars and debated the nature of reality, these supercomputers are continuing that eternal quest—now powered by silicon and code, charting the frontiers of knowledge in the modern era. With sustained investment, cutting-edge upgrades, and a vision for self-reliance, India’s supercomputing ambitions are set to reach new heights, making significant contributions to science, security, and sustainability.
(Umaima Reshi is a reporter at Kashmir Life. Ideas are personal.)
