NIELIT and SCL Launch 1.2-Micron Process Design Kit

The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) has made the Semiconductor Laboratory’s (SCL) indigenous 1.2-micrometre Process Design Kit (PDK) available through eChipHub. The PDK is linked to 1.2µm CMOS technology and is intended for integrated circuit design, prototyping, and semiconductor education in India.

Process Design Kit in Semiconductor Design

A Process Design Kit contains technical files, design rules, and device models for a specific semiconductor manufacturing process. Chip designers use a PDK to create integrated circuits that match the parameters of a fabrication technology. The 1.2-micrometre PDK is an open-source kit designed to work with open-source Electronic Design Automation toolchains.

eChipHub and Access Framework

eChipHub is a MeitY-funded platform managed by NIELIT and jointly developed with SoCTeamup Semiconductors Private Limited. The platform provides a secure Aadhaar-authenticated download system for the PDK. The access model is intended for students, researchers, teachers, startups, MSMEs, and industry professionals.

Training and Institutional Linkages

The initiative is linked to semiconductor design training through structured courses, bootcamps, internships, and faculty development programmes. Nearly 30,000 students are expected to receive training through these programmes. The collaboration connects technical education with practical chip-development workflows used in the semiconductor sector.

Important Facts for Exams

• NIELIT functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• SCL Mohali is associated with semiconductor research and fabrication in India.
• CMOS stands for Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor.
• Electronic Design Automation refers to software tools used for electronic circuit design and verification.

India Semiconductor Mission Linkage

The initiative supports the India Semiconductor Mission, which is a Government of India programme for semiconductor ecosystem development. On 27 May 2026, Sh. S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, inaugurated the Open Source PDK for analog and digital flow in 1.2µm CMOS technology.