NEW DELHI: A team of 30 scientists from India’s premier institute, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has submitted a proposal to the government to develop ‘angstrom-scale’ chips, far smaller than the smallest chips currently in production. The team has submitted the proposal to the government for developing technologies using a new class of semiconductor materials, called 2D Materials, that could enable chip sizes as small as one-tenth of the smallest chips currently in global production and develop India’s leadership in semiconductors.
Currently, semiconductor manufacturing is dominated by silicon-based technologies, led by advanced nations such as the US, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
“A team of scientists at IISc submitted a detailed project report (DPR) to the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) in April 2022, which was revised and submitted again in October 2024. The report was later shared with the Ministry of Electronics and IT. The project promises to develop angstrom-scale chips, far smaller than the smallest chips in production today,” a source in the government familiar with the proposal told PTI.
The DPR proposes the development of 2D semiconductors using ultra-thin materials like graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). These materials can enable chip fabrication at the angstrom scale, significantly smaller than current nanometer-scale technologies.
The smallest chip currently in production is the 3-nanometer node, manufactured by companies like Samsung and MediaTek.
A brief summary of the 2D materials project — which aims to replace silicon, is available on the website of the PSA’s office.
Sources in the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) confirmed that the proposal has been under discussion.
“MeitY is positive about the project. The Principal Scientific Adviser and Secretary, MeitY, have held meetings on it. MeitY is exploring the electronics applications where such technology can be deployed. This is a collaborative effort that requires due diligence at every step,” an official aware of the matter said.
India currently relies heavily on foreign players for semiconductor manufacturing — a technology that is strategic from both an economic and national security standpoint.
The country’s largest semiconductor project, being set up by Tata Electronics in partnership with Taiwan’s PSMC, involves an investment of Rs 91,000 crore. This project has been approved under the India Semiconductor Mission and is eligible for 50 per cent capital support from the government.
In comparison, the IISc-led proposal requests a relatively modest Rs 500 crore over five years to build indigenous technology for next- generation semiconductors. The project also includes a roadmap for self-sustainability after the initial funding phase.
Globally, 2D materials have drawn significant interest. Europe has invested over USD 1 billion (around Rs 8,300 crore), South Korea over USD 300 million, and countries like China and Japan have made serious but undisclosed investments in 2D material-based semiconductor research.
“2D materials will be key enablers for future heterogeneous systems. While global momentum is building, India’s efforts remain limited and need urgent scaling. This is a domain where India can take leadership, but time is running out,” said an officer familiar with the efforts and global developments, speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to the PSA office website, communications regarding the project have been ongoing since 2021, with outreach to key ministries including MeitY, DRDO, and the Department of Space. NITI Aayog also recommended the project in September 2022 based on the IISc report.
The officer privy to the research ecosystem noted that several countries are already preparing for a post-silicon world as traditional chip scaling nears its limits.
“Global technology players have turned their attention to 2D semiconductors. India now needs to move from deliberation to execution. The proposal seeks Rs 500 crore over five years, but there is still no formal assurance. This window may not stay open for long,” the person added.
Science Quiz | The places where things stay the same
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This map shows radiation leftover from the Big Bang right after it happened. It depicts how the temperature of the radiation is anisotropic: different at different distances. What’s this radiation called? Credit: NASA
Published – April 23, 2025 01:05 pm IST
Vivo has launched a new T series model in India, the Vivo T4 5G, at under Rs.25000. The smartphone is packed with a massive 7300mAh battery, a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, and others, providing plenty of attractive features. But, does it compete with other smartphone models under the same price bracket? Well, to gain a greater understanding, we have compared the smartphone with Oppo’s latest F series model, the Oppo F29 5G, which was launched earlier this year with some great durability features. Therefore, know how the Vivo T4 5G compares to Oppo F29 5G and which smartphone should you buy under Rs.25000.
Also read: Vivo V50e review in 10 points: What’s good and what’s not
The Vivo T4 5G is 7.9mm slim and weighs only 199 grams, which is impressive considering the massive battery size. It features a circular camera module on the rear panel housing two lenses and an LED ring light. It also offers IP65 and MIL-STD-810H ratings for enhanced durability. On the other hand, the Oppo F29 5G comes with a unique and durable design, as it has received military-grade certification as well as three IP ratings of IP66, IP68, and IP69.
For display, the Vivo T4 5G features a 6.77-inch quad-curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 5000nits peak brightness. Whereas, the Oppo F29 comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1200nits peak brightness.
Also read: Vivo T4 5G launched with Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC in India at Rs.21999- All details
The Vivo T4 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. On the other hand, the Oppo F29 is equipped with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, offering smooth day-to-day performance. Both smartphone offers plenty of AI-powered features.
For lasting performance, the Vivo T4 5G is backed by a 7300mAh battery that supports 90W fast charging. Whereas, the Oppo F29 comes with,500mAh battery that comes with 45W SUPERVOOC charging support
The Vivo T4 5G features a dual camera setup that includes 50MP Sony IMX882 primary camera and a 2MP secondary camera. Whereas, the Oppo F29 also features a dual camera system with 50MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. For selfies, Vivo T4 5G features 32MP selfie camera, and Oppo F29 features 16MP front camera.
The Vivo T4 5G comes at a starting price of Rs.21999 for 8GB+128GB storage variant, and the Oppo F29 comes at a price of Rs.23999 for a similar storage variant.
In a groundbreaking discovery that could rewrite our understanding of Earth’s inner dynamics, geologists have revealed that the Indian Plate, the massive slab of Earth’s crust carrying the subcontinent, is splitting in two. A part of it is peeling away and sinking deep into the Earth’s mantle, a process known as delamination. This hidden and previously undetected geological activity could have far-reaching consequences, not just for India but for the entire planet. It may alter earthquake patterns, reshape landscapes, and challenge long-standing scientific theories about plate tectonics. The findings have stunned experts and sparked urgent calls for deeper research into Earth’s shifting crust.
The Indian Plate has long been a key player in one of the world’s most dramatic geological collisions, the crash into the Eurasian Plate that formed the Himalayas. But now, scientists have found something even more astonishing beneath its surface.
Using advanced seismic analysis and helium isotope tracking in the springs of Tibet, researchers have uncovered evidence of delamination, a rare process where the dense lower part of a tectonic plate peels away and sinks into the Earth’s mantle. This means the Indian Plate is effectively tearing apart, creating a massive vertical rift deep underground.
“We didn’t know continents could behave this way,” said Douwe van Hinsbergen, a geodynamicist at Utrecht University. “This changes some of our most fundamental assumptions about solid earth science.”
The discovery has serious implications for earthquake risk in the Himalayan region, already one of the most seismically active zones on Earth. According to Stanford geophysicist Simon Klemperer, the tearing and sinking of the plate could create new stress points in the Earth’s crust, triggering more frequent and potentially more powerful quakes.
One major concern is the Cona-Sangri Rift in the Tibetan Plateau, a deep fracture that could be directly tied to the ongoing delamination. If this connection is confirmed, regions along this rift could face heightened seismic danger in the years ahead.
The study, published in the American Geophysical Union, not only reveals the Indian Plate’s splitting but also suggests that other continental plates might be undergoing similar processes. Scientists are now scanning regions worldwide for signs of comparable plate behaviour, a move that could revolutionise how we understand everything from mountain formation to plate tectonics itself.
“This could be a missing piece in our puzzle of how continents evolve and interact,” said Fabio Capitanio, a geodynamicist at Monash University, who cautions that the findings are still early-stage. “It’s just a snapshot, and much more data is needed to understand the full picture.”
If confirmed, this discovery could explain long-standing mysteries about how and why certain mountain ranges form, and even help scientists make better predictions about future earthquakes and geological hazards. More importantly, it opens a new frontier in Earth science, one that challenges old models and demands a fresh look at how our planet works.
For now, scientists continue to monitor seismic waves and chemical signatures in the region, hoping to unravel the evolving story of a continent in motion and the silent, subterranean split that could shake the world.
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