Located at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting in Noida, Arunika operates at a computing capacity of 8.24 PetaFLOPS.

India’s Arunika Supercomputer Secured: Government Classifies It as a Protected System Under the IT Act

In a key step to protect critical scientific infrastructure from cyber threats, the government on Tuesday declared the Arunika supercomputer a “protected system” under the Information Technology Act, 2000. This designation gives the system the highest level of legal protection against unauthorized access,usage or interference.

Arunika, a high-performance computing (HPC) system inaugurated in September 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, serves as the backbone for extreme weather forecasting in India. It is central to medium-range weather prediction, numerical modelling, and disaster early-warning services, supporting agriculture, aviation, maritime operations, and disaster management.

According to a notification from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the protected status ensures that sensitive meteorological data, forecasting models, and national climate analytics processed by Arunika receive enhanced statutory safeguards. Access will be strictly role-based and limited to authorized NCMRWF and Ministry of Earth Sciences employees, as well as designated contractual service providers or third-party vendors when needed. External consultants and other stakeholders will be allowed access only on a case-by-case basis.

Located at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) in Noida, Arunika operates at a computing capacity of 8.24 PetaFLOPS. By bringing this critical system under legal protection, the government aims to strengthen the cybersecurity framework for national and scientific data, ensuring that India’s advanced weather forecasting infrastructure is secured against emerging digital threats.

Source: The Tribune