Chip for E-Passport Project: L&T, C-Dac, IIT Gandhinagar to Build Secure IC for Digital India

In a landmark step towards self reliance, L&T Semiconductor Technologies, C-DAC, and IIT Gandhinagar have partnered to develop a fully indigenous secure chip. With an initial focus on electronic passports, this initiative aims to strengthen India’s digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on foreign technology.

Strengthening Digital Sovereignty

The partnership marks a major stride in India’s pursuit of technological independence. By creating a secure integrated circuit (IC) with all intellectual property rights retained within the country, the initiative ensures stronger control over critical digital infrastructure.

Focus on e-Passports

The immediate application of the indigenous secure chip will be in electronic passports. These enhanced travel documents will benefit from robust, locally developed encryption, reducing vulnerabilities linked to reliance on imported security technologies.

The project combines the industrial strength of L&T Semiconductor Technologies, the advanced computing expertise of C-DAC, and the research excellence of IIT Gandhinagar. Together, they will set up a dedicated research centre and commit targeted investments to accelerate the development and deployment of secure IC solutions.

Beyond e-Passports

While the first application is in e-passports, the secure chip lays the foundation for future cryptographic products. These solutions can extend to embedded secure applications across finance, defence, and critical digital identity systems.

Read More: New Zealand to Accept Only Passport Office Police Certificates for Indian Visa Applicants.

Conclusion

This alliance not only addresses immediate needs but also sets the stage for India to lead in the global semiconductor space. By fostering an indigenous ecosystem, the collaboration reduces dependency on foreign suppliers in security sensitive domains and paves the way for next generation digital security solutions.

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