Indigenously Developed Silicon Photonics Technology Solutions Launched

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Indigenously Developed Silicon Photonics Technology Solutions Launched

1. At a Glance

• MeitY unveiled two indigenously developed Silicon Photonics solutions — a Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit (PDK) and a Universal packaged Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuit (PPIC) Test Engine — built at CoE-CPPICS, IIT Madras [S1][S3].
• A milestone in India's photonics technology sovereignty and part of the larger India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) push under the Digital India / Semicon India ecosystem [S1].
• Examinable as a GS-III Science & Technology item: chip design, semiconductor self-reliance, R&D Centres of Excellence.

2. Why in the News

• On 24 April 2026, Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary MeitY, launched the Silicon Photonics PDK and the Universal PPIC Test Engine at IIT Madras, in presence of Shri Amitesh Sinha, Additional Secretary MeitY and CEO of India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) [S1][S3].
• The launched assets will function as a shared national facility for India's photonics R&D community [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

• CoE-CPPICS (Centre of Excellence on Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems) at IIT Madras was founded in December 2020 [S2].
• 20 October 2023: MeitY Secretary formally inaugurated the Silicon Photonics Research CoE at IIT Madras [S4][S2].
• 2024: CoE-CPPICS partnered with SilTerra Malaysia for joint development of programmable silicon photonic processor chips [S5].
• Earlier 2025: First batch of indigenous Silicon Photonics products launched at the CoE [S6].
• 2025: IIT Madras signed a Rs. 1 crore licensing deal transferring India's first Silicon Photonics-based Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) to industry [S7].
• April 2026: Launch of the PDK + PPIC Test Engine [S1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Parent ministry: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) [S1].
• Host institution: IIT Madras — CoE-CPPICS [S1][S2].
• Mission linkage: India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) under MeitY [S1].
• Technology platform: CMOS-fabrication-process compatible silicon photonics [S2].
• Two solutions launched:
• Silicon Photonics PDK — library/rules for photonics chip manufacturing (foundry-ready design kit) [S1].
• Universal packaged PPIC Test Engine — testbed for Programmable Photonic ICs [S1].
• Model: Product Research, Development & Manufacturing model; start-up commercialisation track [S2].
• Five-year target (from 2023): self-sufficiency and product commercialisation [S4].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological - Silicon Photonics uses silicon as the optical medium for guiding light on chip, leveraging existing CMOS fabs, enabling high bandwidth, low power optical interconnects [S2][S4]. - A PDK is the foundry-vendor interface: device libraries, design rules, simulation models — its indigenisation removes a key dependence on foreign PDKs [S1]. - A PPIC is a photonic analogue of an FPGA — reconfigurable optical circuits programmable for varied workloads [S1][S2].

Strategic / Geopolitical - Reduces reliance on foreign photonics IP and test infrastructure, dovetailing with Atmanirbhar Bharat in semiconductors [S1]. - Complements ISM's electronics-fab push (Tata-PSMC Dholera, Micron Sanand) by adding a photonics vertical [S1].

Economic - Shared national facility model lowers capex barrier for Indian start-ups & academia [S1]. - Earlier ₹1 crore QRNG tech-transfer demonstrates commercialisation pathway [S7].

Administrative / R&D Governance - MeitY-sponsored CoE format: central funding, IIT execution, industry co-development (e.g., SilTerra) [S5].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 24 Apr 2026 — PDK + PPIC Test Engine launched [S1].
• 2025 — ₹1 crore licensing of Silicon Photonics-based QRNG [S7].
• 2025 — Earlier batch of indigenous Silicon Photonics products released at CoE [S6].
• 2024 — SilTerra (Malaysia) partnership for programmable silicon photonic processors [S5].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Silicon Photonics PDK and PPIC Test Engine launched on 24 April 2026 by MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan [S1].
• Developed at CoE-CPPICS, IIT Madras [S1].
• CoE-CPPICS founded in December 2020 [S2].
• Full form: Centre of Excellence on Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems [S2].
• Sponsoring ministry: MeitY (not DST, not DRDO) [S1].
• Linked mission: India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), headed by CEO Amitesh Sinha (also Addl. Secretary MeitY) [S1].
• Technology base: CMOS-process-compatible silicon photonics [S2].
• Foreign industrial partner for programmable photonic processor chips: SilTerra, Malaysia [S5].
• India's first Silicon-Photonics-based Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) licensed by IIT Madras for ₹1 crore [S7].
• CoE inaugurated by MeitY Secretary on 20 October 2023 [S4].
• Silicon Photonics applications: Quantum Computing, QKD, AI/Neural Networks, 5G/6G [S4].
• PDK = Process Design Kit; PPIC = Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuit [S1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Science & Technology — "Indigenization of technology and developing new technology"; "Achievements of Indians in science & technology"; Awareness in Computers / IT.
• Possible stems: 1. "Indigenous Silicon Photonics capability is critical for India's semiconductor sovereignty." Discuss in light of recent MeitY initiatives. 2. Distinguish electronic and photonic integrated circuits. How can Programmable Photonic ICs advance India's AI and quantum technology goals? 3. Evaluate the Centre of Excellence model (e.g., CoE-CPPICS) as an instrument of mission-mode R&D in India.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) — parent ecosystem [S1].
• Semicon India Programme — ₹76,000 cr outlay context.
• National Quantum Mission (2023) — QKD/QRNG linkage [S7].
• Digital India / Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme — chip design support.
• C-DAC & SCL Mohali — public-sector chip design/fab.
• Tata-PSMC Dholera fab & Micron Sanand ATMP — silicon manufacturing track.
• 6G Bharat Vision — photonics for high-bandwidth networks [S4].
• CMOS technology — common substrate for electronics and silicon photonics [S2].

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Ministry confusion: It is MeitY, not DST/DRDO/ISRO [S1].
• CoE name: full form is Programmable Photonic ICs and Systems — not "Photonics Chip Systems" [S2].
• PPIC ≠ PIC: Programmable Photonic IC is the reconfigurable variant (akin to FPGA), distinct from generic photonic ICs [S1].
• Host IIT: IIT Madras — not IIT Bombay (which leads National Quantum Mission hubs).
• Year of CoE founding (2020) vs inauguration (2023) vs PDK launch (2026) — easy to mix up [S2][S4][S1].

11. Sources

• [S1] Indigenously Developed Silicon Photonics Technology Solutions Launched — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2255322 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] IIT Madras CoE-CPPICS partners with SilTerra Malaysia (background on CoE founding & model) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2021440 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] Indigenously Developed Silicon Photonics Technology Solutions Launched (mirror) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2255322&reg=3&lang=1 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] MeitY Secretary launches Silicon Photonics Research CoE at IIT Madras (Oct 2023) — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1969457 — (tier: 1)
• [S5] India working towards development of Silicon Photonic Processor Chips — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1969480 — (tier: 1)
• [S6] MeitY Secretary launches Silicon Photonics products at CoE-CPPICS IIT Madras — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2126449 — (tier: 1)
• [S7] IIT Madras ₹1 crore licensing deal — Silicon Photonics QRNG — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2157656 — (tier: 1)