India Climbs to No.2 Position in Mobile Manufacturing

India has emerged as the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturing nation, marking a defining milestone in its transformation into a global electronics production hub. The achievement reflects more than a decade of sustained policy focus, rising private investment, and the rapid scaling of manufacturing ecosystems across multiple states.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that India’s electronics manufacturing sector has undergone a dramatic shift over the last 11 years. Electronic goods production has surged nearly six-fold—from ₹1.9 lakh crore in 2014–15 to ₹11.3 lakh crore in 2024–25—while exports have grown eight-fold, rising from ₹0.38 lakh crore to ₹3.3 lakh crore.

A key driver of this growth has been the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing. According to Vaishnaw, the scheme has attracted investments exceeding ₹13,475 crore and enabled production worth ₹9.8 lakh crore so far. The sector has also generated close to 25 lakh jobs, underscoring its impact at the grassroots level.

Global smartphone leaders such as Apple and Samsung have significantly expanded their manufacturing footprint in India, accelerating the shift of global supply chains toward the country. Mobile manufacturing units have grown from just two in 2014–15 to nearly 300 today, with over 99% of handsets sold domestically now made in India.

Mobile phone production has jumped from ₹0.18 lakh crore to ₹5.5 lakh crore, while exports have risen from a negligible ₹0.01 lakh crore to ₹2 lakh crore—reflecting the success of the Make in India initiative.

Electronics has now become India’s third-largest export sector, up from seventh place a decade ago. With policy emphasis expanding to semiconductors, components, and manufacturing equipment, India’s electronics journey is shifting from assembly-led growth to a deep, resilient manufacturing ecosystem—cementing its role in the global electronics economy.