Rama Krishna Sangem
India has realized the importance of semiconductor chips manufacturing within the country, as early as possible. This realization has kicked in after geopolitical uncertainties and interruptions in supply chains globally. Though were talking Aatmanirbhara Bharat for the last five years, its actual implementation has commenced very recently, especially after US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs and global supply disruptions.
The government recently announced that it has approved 23 chip design projects under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme and cleared four new semiconductor manufacturing units. The design projects, supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), focus on developing indigenous chips for various applications and provide access to design tools.
The new manufacturing units, located in Odisha, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh, are part of a broader effort to boost India’s domestic semiconductor ecosystem and build out the country’s chip-making capabilities.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) approved 23 chip design projects under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme. Focus: These projects aim to develop indigenous chips and System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions for areas like surveillance cameras, energy meters, and microprocessors.
Support: Companies are also gaining access to industry-grade Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools to accelerate their chip design efforts. Examples Bengaluru-based Vervesemi Microelectronics is one of the companies, developing advanced integrated circuits (ICs) for space, defence, and smart energy.
ISM (India Semiconductor Mission)
The India Semiconductor Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet in December 2021. With an outlay of ₹76,000 crore, the programme aims to provide financial support for investments in semiconductor fabrication, display manufacturing & chip design to strengthen India’s integration into global electronics value chains.Envisioned to be led by global experts in the Semiconductor and Display industry,
ISM aims to build a strong semiconductor and display ecosystem, positioning India as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design, while serving as the nodal agency for the efficient and seamless implementation of semiconductor and display schemes.
278 colleges in India are teaching & using Electronics Design Application, EDA tools. Almost 60,000 manpower has already been trained as we move ahead in making India a top-class semiconductor powerhouse. By 2032, a shortfall of 10 Lakh skilled work force is expected for which we are readying ourselves. Towards this end, India is actively involving the students, which has resulted into 20 student designed chips from 17 institutions being fabricated so far. India is also actively engaging Malaysia Japan, South Korea & Singapore as its research partner nations.
