India has marked an important step in its semiconductor roadmap with the launch of DHRUV64, the country’s first fully indigenous 1.0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core microprocessor. Developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Microprocessor Development Programme, DHRUV64 is designed to serve both strategic and commercial needs. The processor is part of India’s broader effort to build sovereign capability in advanced chip design and reduce long-term dependence on imported computing cores.
From a technical standpoint, DHRUV64 is a modern 64-bit processor built on the open RISC-V architecture. Its dual-core design running at up to 1.0 GHz enables higher efficiency and better multitasking compared to earlier indigenous processors. The architecture supports contemporary operating systems and integrates cleanly with external hardware, making it suitable for embedded Linux platforms, real-time systems, and custom system-on-chip designs. The use of an open instruction set eliminates licensing costs, which is particularly attractive for long-lifecycle industrial and government deployments. In terms of application focus, DHRUV64 targets sectors where reliability, control, and long-term availability matter more than peak benchmark numbers. These include industrial automation, automotive electronics, 5G infrastructure, consumer devices, and IoT gateways. Compared to other CPUs in its class, many of which rely on proprietary architectures, DHRUV64 offers designers greater transparency and flexibility at the silicon and software levels. This positions it as a credible alternative for organisations looking to localise their hardware stack while maintaining modern performance and feature sets.
Strategically, DHRUV64 builds on earlier Indian processor initiatives such as SHAKTI, AJIT, VIKRAM, and THEJAS, and strengthens the ecosystem created under the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) programme. It also serves as a development platform for startups, academia, and industry, allowing lower-cost prototyping and system validation without relying on foreign processors. The success of DHRUV64 has already paved the way for the next-generation Dhanush and Dhanush+ processors, which are currently under development. On the commercial front, DHRUV64 is being rolled out initially within India, aligned with national programmes and institutional users, with broader availability planned through ecosystem partners. While official pricing details have not been positioned for the consumer market, the processor is expected to be competitively priced against comparable mid-range embedded CPUs, benefiting from the absence of architecture licensing fees. As volume deployment begins and global access expands, DHRUV64 represents a practical and timely step toward establishing India as a serious participant in the global embedded processor landscape.
