India achieved a significant semiconductor milestone with the launch of ARKA GKT-1, the country’s first-generation IP-powered silicon chip developed by Azimuth AI and Cyient Semiconductors. Revealed in New Delhi by union minister for electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, the chip is engineered for edge AI workloads, smart energy applications and advanced industrial systems. With its focus on high-efficiency computing and real-time decision-making at the edge, ARKA GKT-1 marks a major step forward for India’s emerging chip design and manufacturing ecosystem.
Leaders from both organisations underscored the strategic impact of the development. Krishna Bodanapu, executive vice-chairman and MD of Cyient, described the programme as a full custom ASIC turnkey solution covering design, fabrication coordination, OSAT oversight and final chip production. Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasised that the chip demonstrates India’s growing ability to design and build world-class semiconductor technologies, noting that it symbolises the country’s accelerating push toward self-reliance and leadership in next-generation silicon innovation.
The chip has been developed using Azimuth AI’s Software-Defined Silicon framework, combined with Cyient’s expertise in mixed-signal architectures and energy-efficient ASIC design. Targeted sectors include smart utilities, industrial automation, battery management systems and smart city infrastructure. Praveen Yasarapu, founder and CEO of Azimuth AI, said the launch brings their vision of intelligent, low-power silicon at the edge to life, adding that the milestone “validates their technology roadmap and sets the stage for large-scale deployment and commercialisation.”
