The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) plans to invest Rs. 350 crores to develop technologies for computing in Indian languages.

C-DAC Director General Rajat Moona said the thrust this year will be on bringing internet to the common man and implementation of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).

While one can already register domain names in Devnagari script and some Indian languages, a major drive is going to be launched this year that “will actually have a connectivity to the people”, he told PTI in Hyderabad.

“We are looking at Indian languages computing…another localisation and making sites and software available in Indian languages, that’s close to Rs. 350 crores kind of a project,” Moona said.

On NSM, he said, “We are working on supercomputing technologies and National Supercomputing Mission is on the way, and we are looking forward to its implementation. Lots of supercomputers will be installed, applications will be used and lot of supercomputing activity is likely to take place in the next few years.”

Investment outlay for NSM is Rs. 4,500 crores over seven years, Moona said.

“In the project proposal which has already been approved, we had talked about 70-plus supercomputers in all ranges – 50 of them are for educational purposes and about 20 of them mid-range and a few of them very high-range supercomputers. That was the plan. We are still in the process of defining it further.”

C-DAC is also looking to make investment in hardware design and technologies.

“India has already taken enormous lead in software technology. There are a few projects we are planning to launch in this particular year primarily for hardware technologies,” he said.

Moona said C-DAC is working with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on standardisation of language keyboards.

“Keyboard standards for PCs are already defined and they are already in use but with newer technologies like mobile phones and touch screens, suddenly keyboard technology becomes different and we are working with BIS on defining newer standards for that. In times to come, those standards would be useful and will be available,” he said.