First Computer Developed in India, Know the Name of Computer

The advent of computing technology in India marked a significant milestone in the nation’s scientific and technological advancement. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Automatic Calculator (TIFRAC) holds the distinction of being the first computer developed in India. Completed in the late 1950s, TIFRAC was a pioneering effort that showcased India’s capabilities in electronic computing during a time when such technology was in its infancy worldwide.

First Computer Developed in India

TIFRAC (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Automatic Calculator) holds the distinction of being the first computer developed in India. Built at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, it played a crucial role in India’s early advancements in computer science. Commissioned in 1960, it was based on the IAS machine design and had a significant impact on India’s technological landscape.

Development of TIFRAC

The development of TIFRAC began in 1955, following the success of a pilot machine that became operational in 1956. The full version of TIFRAC was commissioned by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1960, marking India’s entry into the world of computing. The machine was in use until 1965.

Technical Specialization of TIFRAC

TIFRAC was a massive machine, including 2,700 vacuum tubes, 1,700 germanium diodes, and 12,500 resistors. It had a ferrite core memory of 2,048 40-bit words, making it one of the early adopters of this memory technology. The main assembly of the computer was housed in a large steel rack measuring 18 feet by 2.5 feet by 8 feet, with multiple modules for access to the circuits.

Input and Output Systems of TIFRAC

TIFRAC featured a cathode ray tube (CRT) display system, which served as an auxiliary output for both graphical and alpha-numeric displays. A manual console acted as the control unit for input and output operations. The software of TIFRAC was written in machine code, consisting of binary commands of 0s and 1s.

First Digital Computer in India

Although TIFRAC was the first computer developed in India, the first digital computer in India was the British-built HEC 2M, installed at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata in 1955. Before that, the institute had developed a small analog computer in 1953, technically making it the first computer in India.