Centre for Development of Advanced Computing explained

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
Motto:	Only through knowledge one attains liberation (English translated)
Research Field:	High Performance Computing, Multi-lingual Computing and Heritage Computing, Professional Electronics, Software Technologies, Cyber Security, Blockchain, Data Science, Health Informatics
Director:	Magesh Ethirajan^[1] (Director General)
City:	Pune, India (headquarters)
Address:	Pune University Campus, Ganesh Khind, Pune - 411 007, Maharashtra, India
Nickname:	C-DAC
Operating Agency:	Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India
Website:	www.cdac.in

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is an Indian autonomous scientific society, operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.^[2]

History

C-DAC was created in November 1987, initially as the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing Technology (C-DACT). In 1988, the US Government refused to sell India a Cray supercomputer due to concerns about India using it to develop nuclear weapons.^[3] In response India started development of its own supercomputer, and C-DACT was created as part of this programme.

Dr Vijay Bhatkar was hired as the director of C-DACT. The project was given an initial run of three years and an initial funding of 30,00,00,000, the cost of a Cray supercomputer.

A prototype computer was benchmarked at the 1990 Zurich Super-computing Show. It demonstrated that India had the second most powerful, publicly demonstrated, supercomputer in the world after the United States.^[4]

The final result of the effort was the PARAM 8000, released in 1991.^[5]

The National Centre for Software Technology (NCST), Electronic Research and Development Centre (ER&DC) and CEDTI were merged into C-DAC in 2003.^{[6] [7]}

Research activities

Originally established to research and assemble High Performance Computers, the research of C-DAC now includes:

• High Performance Computing
• Grid Computing
• Cloud Computing
• Multilingual and Heritage Computing
• VLSI and Processor design
• Embedded Systems
• Speech and Natural Language Processing
• Information and Cyber Security
• Ubiquitous Computing
• Bioinformatics
• Geomatics
• Digital forensics
• Big data analytics
• Blockchain
• Health Informatics
• Quantum computing

Centres

C-DAC branches and training centres include:^[8]

• C-DAC Pune (Headquarters)
• C-DAC Mumbai
• C-DAC Bangalore
• C-DAC Chennai
• C-DAC Delhi
• C-DAC Kolkata
• C-DAC Patna
• C-DAC Mohali
• C-DAC Noida
• C-DAC Hyderabad
• C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram
• C-DAC Silchar

Education and training

C-DAC provides several courses in the field of advanced computing and software development. Among these are the HPC certification course- C-DAC Certified HPC Professional Certification Programme (CCHPCP).^[9] C-DAC organises advanced computing diploma programmes through the Advanced Computing Training School (ACTS) located all over India.^[10] The PG Diploma courses include

• Specialisations in Embedded System Design,
• VLSI,
• Big Data Analytics,
• Geoinformatics,
• Artificial Intelligence

C-DAC has also established Centres of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) abroad under the Ministry of External Affairs' s development partnership projects.^{[11] [12] [13] [14]}

Products and developments

• PARAM series of supercomputers^[15]
• VEGA Microprocessors, India's first indigenous 64-bit Multi-core Superscalar Out-of-Order RISC-V Processor^[16]
• M-Kavach 2, an android-based mobile device security solution addressing emerging threats.^[17]
• Mobile Seva AppStore, a mobile app marketplace^[18]
• Bharat Operating System Solutions, a Linux-based general purpose operating system^[19]
• Anvaya, a workflow environment for automated genome analysis.^[20]
• Namescape, the search engine for the Aadhaar unique-ID project.^[21]
• GARUDA, India's National Grid Computing Initiative^{[22] [23]}
• TaxoGrid, a grid-based molecular phylogenetics and drug discovery system^[24]
• GIST, Graphics and Intelligence based Script Technology^[25]
• DARPAN, a real time network monitoring, visualization and Service Level Agreement monitoring tool.^[26]
• OLabs, an internet based platform for conduct of school laboratory experiments and assessment.^[27]
• Punarjjani, a web based integrated assessment tool for mentally challenged children.^[28]
• Shrutlekhan-Rajbhasha, a Hindi language speech recognition software application developed by C-DAC in collaboration with IBM^[29]
• eSanjeevani, a digital modality of healthcare service delivery.^[30]
• e-Pramaan, a national e-Authentication framework for accessing various government services.^{[31] [32]}
• QSim, India's first Quantum Computer Simulator Toolkit in collaboration with IISc Bengaluru and IIT Roorkee.^[33]
• CerviSCAN, a Cervical Cancer screening device suite^[34]
• The Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition (ASTR) powered solution for Telecom SIM subscriber verification.^{[35] [36]}

Notable researchers and alumnus

• Vijay P. Bhatkar, founding director, recipient of Padma Bhushan award^[37]
• Rajat Moona, Director IIT Gandhinagar, former director general of C-DAC.^[38]
• Rajkumar Buyya, professor at Melbourne University, formerly worked as a Senior Scientist at C-DAC Bangalore^[39]
• Srinivasan Ramani, contributed in bringing the internet to India in 1987 through the academic network ERNET,^[40] served as an adviser on UN ICT Task Force, and was the first director of HP Labs, India^[41]
• Sudhir P. Mudur, former director of C-DAC Mumbai (erstwhile NCST Mumbai), professor at Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University.^[42]
• T M Vijayaraman, head of Persistent Systems's research, formerly worked at C-DAC Mumbai.^[43]
• Geetha Manjunath, founder & CEO of NIRAMAI, former member of PARAM development team at C-DAC Pune.^[44]
• P Sadanandan, former director of NCSDT (now C-DAC Mumbai).^[45]

Notable awards and accolades

• Manthan Award 2013 for Mobile Tele-Ophthalmology Units,^[46] e-safeT,^[47] ONAMA.^[48]
• Manthan Award 2012 for Interactive Museum,^[49] Megh Sushrut,^[50] National e-Governance Service Delivery Gateway.^[51]
• National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2012^[52]
• Skoch Digital Inclusion Award, 2011^[53]

Other projects

• e-mahashabdkosh

See also

• Supercomputing in India

Notes and References

1. Web site: Officials in C-DAC . cdac.in . Centre for Development of Advanced Computing . 12 April 2022.
2. Web site: C-DAC Memorandum of Association. 19 April 2017. cdac.in. 19 April 2017.
3. Book: Nolan, Janne E.. Global engagement: cooperation and security in the 21st century. 1994. 0815716729. 532. Brookings Institution Press . 15 September 2011.
4. News: Pal . Sanchari . The Little Known Story of How India's First Indigenous Supercomputer Amazed the World in 1991 . 21 May 2022 . . 13 January 2017 . en.
5. Book: Rajaraman, V. . Super Computers. Universities Press. 1999 . 1st . 75. 9788173711497 . 15 September 2011.
6. News: Merger of IT R&D bodies: a sign of the times . 28 July 2013 . Express Computer . 19 May 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130812235616/http://www.cdac.in/html/press/2q03/spot326.aspx . 12 August 2013 . dead . dmy-all .
7. News: New domain name registration policy soon . 28 July 2013 . The Economic Times . 26 October 2004.
8. Unless otherwise indicated, sourced from C-DAC: Contact (cdac.in)
9. News: C-DAC launches country's first HPC certification in high performance computing . https://web.archive.org/web/20120927050317/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-08/pune/30130176_1_hemant-darbari-hpc-dac. dead. 27 September 2012. The certification will be called the 'C-DAC Certified HPC Professional Certification Programme' (CCHPCP) and the exam will be conducted online every quarterly, on the lines of software programming certifications. There won't be any eligibility requirements to appear for the certification, and the paper will contain objective questions.. 8 September 2008. . 16 September 2008.
10. News: C-DAC launches technical courses for students Patna News . The Times of India . 22 September 2021 . en.
11. Web site: Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) Namibia University of Science and Technology. www.nust.na. 2020-05-08.
12. News: Meusa . Shamar . Centre for Excellence in IT formally launched . 6 May 2023 . . 21 June 2019 . en-us.
13. News: MoU Signed for a New Centre of Excellence in IT . 6 May 2023 . . 8 August 2018.
14. News: Kumar . Nitin . Jaishankar inaugurates IT Centre at Namibia University, meets Gujarat's diamond businesses . www.indiatvnews.com . . 6 June 2023 . en.
15. News: PARAM 8000: The Incredible Story of India's First Supercomputer . India Today . 13 August 2021 . en.
16. News: IIT Madras, CDAC jointly develop microprocessors . ETTelecom.com . . 18 August 2020 . en.
17. News: Bengrut . Dheeraj . C-DAC Pune to launch three new security products . . 30 March 2022 . en.
18. News: Govt keen to develop, strengthen own mobile app store: Ravi Shankar Prasad . Business Standard India . 18 March 2021.
19. News: Anil . Sasi . Government's BOSS move: Now a homegrown system to run computers . The Indian Express . 12 January 2015 . en.
20. Limaye . Bhakti . Banerjee . Ruma . Datta . Avik . Inamdar . Harshal . Vats . Pankaj . Dahale . Sonal . Bhandari . Alok . Ramakrishnan . E. P. . Tupakula . Rajnikanth . Malviya . Sandeep . Bayaskar . Avinash . 2012 . Anvaya: a workflows environment for automated genome analysis . Journal of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology . 10 . 4 . 1250006 . 10.1142/S0219720012500060 . 1757-6334 . 22809419.
21. News: Two new software tools from C-DAC . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202131332/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-02/pune/29373891_1_search-engine-dac-rajan-t-joseph. dead. 2 February 2014. Namescape is a search engine used on a pilot-basis in the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) project of the Union government.. 2 April 2011 . . 16 September 2008.
22. News: Garuda, the nationwide computer grid, takes wing . Livemint. 18 Dec 2007 . 27 June 2014.
23. Web site: GARUDA . CTWatch . 26 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182515/http://www.ctwatch.org/quarterly/articles/2006/02/garuda-indias-national-grid-computing-initiative/ . 3 March 2016 . dead .
24. News: C-DAC launches two products . . 5 April 2011 . en. Namescape and TaxoGrid, the two products designed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing,Pune, were launched today at the 24th Foundation Day of the Centre.
25. News: Darshankar . Purushottam . The unique challenge India presents to natural language processing . . 3 October 2018 . en.
26. Web site: Darpan. CDAC. 26 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131227023134/http://www.cdactvm.in/bcg/images/link/darpan.html. 27 December 2013. dead. dmy-all.
27. News: Science teachers to be trained in digital learning . The Hindu . 5 September 2015 . en-IN.
28. Web site: Punarjjani . CDAC . 26 December 2013.
29. Web site: IBM IRL News/Success stories - India . www.research.ibm.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080212080659/http://www.research.ibm.com/irl/cdachindi.html . 2008-02-12.
30. News: Working from home, Punjab developers launch India's largest online OPD . The Indian Express . 4 May 2020 . en.
31. News: What is e-Pramaan? . 22 July 2022 . epramaan.gov.in.
32. News: Chaplot . Akshita . Meri Pehchan: Relief from multi-login credentials on government platforms . . 8 July 2022 . en.
33. News: Kalita . Bishal . IIT Roorkee, IISc Bangalore, C-DAC Develops India's First Quantum Computer Simulator Toolkit . NDTV.com . 28 August 2021 . en.
34. News: C-DAC signs ToT pact for cervical cancer screening . The Times of India . 5 March 2023.
35. News: Dabhi . Brendan . Cops use AI to detect 2.25 lakh benami SIM . . 27 April 2023 . en.
36. News: Munjal . Diksha . Explained Will facial recognition AI tools help detect telecom fraud? . . 27 May 2023 . en-IN.
37. Web site: List of Padma Shri award recipients . Government of India . 15 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120429180512/http://india.gov.in/myindia/padmashri_awards_list1.php . 29 April 2012 . dmy .
38. News: IIT Gandhinagar appoints Prof Rajat Moona as new Director . The Indian Express . 20 September 2022 . en.
39. Web site: Home Page of Professor Dr. Rajkumar Buyya. 29 December 2013.
40. Web site: Srinivasan Ramani: Innovating for India. HP Labs . February 2002. He played a pioneering role in bringing the first Internet connection to India in the 1980s . 15 September 2011.
41. Web site: HP Labs India: Past Directors. 15 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111014023335/http://www.hpl.hp.com/india/people/formerdirectors.html#ramani. 14 October 2011. dead. dmy-all.
42. Web site: Faculty: Mudur, Sudhir P.. Concordia University. 15 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120402122239/http://www.cs.concordia.ca/people/faculty/full-time/mudursudhirp.php. 2 April 2012. dead. dmy-all.
43. Web site: About: Management Team. https://archive.today/20130131075516/http://www.persistentsys.com/Default.aspx?tabid=510. dead. 31 January 2013. Persistent Systems. 15 September 2011.
44. Web site: Geetha Manjunath . Women in Data Science (WiDS) Conference . . 24 June 2021. en.
45. News: The story of how the Internet came to India: An insider's account . 8 January 2023 . . 14 August 2015 . en.
46. News: Mobile Tele-Ophthalmology Units . Manthan Awards 2013
47. News: e-SafeT . - Manthan Awards 2013
48. News: ONAMA . - Manthan Awards 2013
49. News: Interactive Museum : e-Culture and Heritage . Manthan Awards 2012
50. News: Megh Sushrut : e-Health . - Manthan Awards 2013
51. News: National e-Governance Service Delivery Gateway : e-Infrastructure. - Manthan Awards 2012
52. News: List of Awardees of National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disability, 2012 . . Government of India . 3 December 2012.
53. News: C-DAC bags Skoch Digital Inclusion Award for two projects . . 13 September 2011 . en.