India makes strides in semiconductor with 25 indigenous chips

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that 13 indigenous chipset projects are in progress under C-DAC Bengaluru, highlighting plans for local manufacturing and stressing that owning IP is vital for national security and economic transformation

In what may be called a strategic push to bolster self-reliance in electronics, India is currently developing 25 chipsets featuring indigenous intellectual property (IP), with applications in critical domains like surveillance and Wi-Fi connectivity. These projects are part of the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, aimed at deepening India’s presence in the global semiconductor value chain.

Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has revealed that 13 of these projects are already underway, led by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Bengaluru. The chips will eventually be manufactured at domestic semiconductor fabs under development. “Owning IP ensures national security and marks our shift from being a services-based economy to a product-centric one,” Vaishnaw said.

To build a pipeline of future talent, the government has equipped 240 higher education institutions with advanced chip design tools. This initiative has already borne fruit, with 20 student-designed chips set for tape-out at the Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali. Over the next decade, this ecosystem is projected to produce 85,000 skilled engineers, giving India a significant edge in semiconductor innovation.

PLI boosts exports and jobs

In parallel, the government’s ambitious Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for electronic components is expected to double value addition within five years. India’s electronics production has increased fivefold, and exports have grown sixfold over the last ten years. The PLI schemes have also contributed to the creation of 2.5 million jobs, according to official data.

Highlighting a shift in policy direction, Vaishnaw emphasized India’s move from import substitution to export-led growth. “Make in India, make for the world,” he said, pointing to the country’s expanding integration with global supply chains.

On the regulatory front, he reassured that the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act aligns with constitutional principles and ensures continued access to public-interest data.