India is making rapid strides in developing advanced semiconductor chipsets capable of powering high-tech applications such as CCTVs, servers, and high-performance computing, Union minister for electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday. The government plans to invest over Rs 200 crore in energy-efficient microprocessors as part of this initiative.Semiconductors are crucial for modern technology, underpinning sectors like healthcare, transport, communication, defence, and space. Highlighting India’s progress, Vaishnaw noted that since the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021, Rs 76,000 crore were allocated and nearly Rs 65,000 crore already committed, transforming the country’s semiconductor landscape from vision to reality, as per news agency ANI.The ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) has begun work on the next phase, Semicon 2.0, with internal discussions and coordination with various line ministries to finalise its framework. Vaishnaw pointed to examples of indigenous innovation such as mobile phone components, the railway anti-collision system Kavach, UPI, and the large-scale adoption of Zoho’s IT platforms, which now serve over 12 lakh central government employees.Zoho Corporation, headquartered in Chennai, offers more than 55 apps across major business categories, employing over 18,000 people worldwide, underscoring India’s growing technology prowess.Vaishnaw added that India is on track to achieve complete domestic production of mobile phone components within two years, reinforcing the government’s ‘Swadeshi’ push and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.The country’s electronics manufacturing sector has grown from Rs 2.4 lakh crore in 2014 to Rs 9.8 lakh crore in 2024, with mobile production alone at Rs 4.4 lakh crore and exports at Rs 1.5 lakh crore. About 98 per cent of mobile phones used in India are now domestically manufactured, as per ANI.The government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes across sectors, including electronics, aim to enhance competitiveness, attract investment, boost exports, integrate India into global supply chains, and reduce import dependence.
