Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

Semiconductors have emerged as the strategic backbone of the digital economy as highlighted by India’s Semiconductor Mission, underpinning miniaturised, high-speed, and energy-efficient electronic systems that drive artificial intelligence, next-generation communication, and quantum computing.

Body:

Role Of Semiconductors in Development of Artificial Intelligence:

• High-Performance Computing Through Advanced Chips: AI workloads require massive parallel computation, enabled by advanced semiconductor nodes, specialized architectures, and dense transistor packing. Shrinking node sizes increase speed and reduce power consumption.
  • For Example: NVIDIA’s H100 GPU (4 nm process) enables large language models and AI training by delivering petaflop-scale performance.
• Energy Efficiency For Edge AI: Advances in low-power semiconductor design allow AI inference at the edge, reducing reliance on cloud data centres and enabling real-time decision-making.
  • For Example: Apple’s Neural Engine (SoC-based AI accelerator) enables on-device AI for speech recognition and image processing.
• Integration Of Memory And Logic: AI performance depends heavily on fast memory access; advanced memory-chip integration reduces latency and energy loss between compute and storage.
  • For Example: High Bandwidth Memory (HBM3) used in AI accelerators dramatically improves data throughput for deep learning tasks.

Role Of Semiconductors in Development of 6G Communication:

• Ultra-High Frequency And Terahertz Devices: 6G will operate in sub-THz and THz bands, requiring compound semiconductors that can handle ultra-high frequencies with low signal loss.
  • For Example: Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) chips are being developed globally for terahertz transceivers in 6G research.
• Miniaturisation And Antenna Integration: Advanced semiconductor fabrication allows antennas, RF circuits, and processors to be integrated on a single chip, enabling compact and efficient devices.
• Low-Latency And Intelligent Networks: Semiconductor-enabled AI processing inside network hardware enables real-time traffic management, ultra-low latency, and network self-optimization.
  • For Example: AI-enabled baseband chips being tested in 5G-Advanced, a stepping stone toward 6G.

Role Of Semiconductor in Development of Quantum computing:

• Fabrication Of Quantum Bits (Qubits): Quantum computing requires ultra-precise semiconductor fabrication at nanometre scales to create stable qubits with minimal decoherence.
  • For Example: Silicon spin qubits, fabricated using CMOS-compatible semiconductor processes, pursued by global and Indian research labs.
• Cryogenic And Control Electronics: Quantum systems require semiconductor chips capable of operating at near-absolute zero temperatures for precise qubit control and readout.
  • For Example: Cryogenic CMOS control chips used in superconducting quantum processors.
• Integration With Classical Computing: Quantum computers rely on classical semiconductor processors for control, error correction, and hybrid computing workflows.
  • For Example: Quantum-classical hybrid architectures combining semiconductor CPUs with quantum processing units (QPUs).

Conclusion

Semiconductor technology is the foundational enabler of AI, 6G, and quantum computing through advances in speed, efficiency, and miniaturisation. India has made concrete progress through policy support, ATMP facilities, and global design leadership. To fully harness next-generation technologies, India must move decisively toward advanced fabrication, research depth, and skilled manpower, making semiconductors a true pillar of technological sovereignty.