India Accelerates Toward Global Semiconductor Leadership: Ashwini Vaishnaw

India is laying the groundwork to become a leading force in the semiconductor world, according to Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

By developing its own capital equipment and sourcing critical materials, the country is preparing to break into the top five semiconductor-producing nations in the coming years.

At the heart of this transformation is a fast-growing ecosystem that spans the entire semiconductor value chain – from chip design to fabrication.

Vaishnaw pointed to this comprehensive approach as key to India’s emergence as a global semiconductor hub.

During his address at the 14th convocation ceremony of IIT-Hyderabad, the minister praised the role of IIT students in this progress.

He noted that students have designed 20 chipsets so far, and they have already ‘taped out’ eight of them, the final design stage before production begins.

International foundries and the government-run Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali, operating since 1976, are now fabricating these designs.

India will likely achieve a major breakthrough, with its scientists and engineers likely to produce the first commercial-scale semiconductor chip made entirely on home soil within the year.

India Semiconductor Mission Gains Momentum

This progress is being accelerated through the India Semiconductor Mission, a government-led initiative that has supplied high-end electronic design automation (EDA) tools to 270 educational institutions and 70 startups.

At IIT-Hyderabad alone, more than 700 students have spent a combined 3,00,000 hours using these tools over the past six months.

In parallel, the government has launched AIKosh, an open-source artificial intelligence platform, now hosting 880 datasets and over 200 AI models.

These tools are freely accessible to students, researchers, and startups across India.

Vaishnaw made clear that these advances are delivering not just academic or technological value, but real economic impact.

The Minister stated, “India’s electronics exports have crossed $40 billion, a figure that reflects an eight-fold increase over the last 11 years.”

He further added that electronics manufacturing in the country has grown sixfold in the same period, achieving a double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that many private firms would struggle to match.

As of July 2025, six semiconductor fabrication facilities (fabs) have been either greenlit or are already under construction in India.

While the longstanding SCL in Mohali continues to operate using older technologies, the new fabs will likely introduce cutting-edge capabilities, marking a decisive step in India’s semiconductor ambitions.

Also Read: AWL Agri Business Posts Record Q1 Revenue For FY26; Profit Hit By Input Costs