Overview
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw cast semiconductors as a foundational jobs engine comparable to steel’s role in the last century.
- Five of the ten approved semiconductor units are now under construction, including a facility in Assam.
- Under the India Semiconductor Mission, policy efforts extend beyond fabs to specialty chemicals, industrial gases, precision equipment, advanced packaging, and workforce development.
- Officials said global investors remain engaged despite concerns over renewed U.S. trade protectionism, citing Apple’s continuing commitment to India’s electronics base.
- Vaishnaw reported sixfold growth in electronics manufacturing over 11 years, an eightfold rise in electronics exports, and a shift in Indian engineering from back-office work to full product and chip design.