India targets 3nm chip manufacturing to strengthen semiconductor self-reliance

The government has set a long-term roadmap to manufacture advanced 3nm semiconductor chips domestically, aiming to move India beyond chip design into high-end fabrication while strengthening technological sovereignty and reducing dependence on global supply chains.

India is setting its sights on advanced semiconductor manufacturing as part of its broader push to become a global technology powerhouse. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has outlined the government’s ambition to achieve domestic manufacturing of cutting-edge 3-nanometre (3nm) chips within the next decade, marking a major shift in the country’s semiconductor strategy.

While India has already built a strong reputation in chip design, the new focus is on developing the complex fabrication capabilities required to produce some of the world’s most sophisticated processors locally. These advanced chips power modern smartphones, data centres, high-performance computing systems, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

DLI Scheme anchors India’s semiconductor roadmap

The government’s semiconductor ambitions are closely tied to the second phase of the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, which is aimed at strengthening domestic chip design and manufacturing ecosystems. The initiative seeks to give Indian companies greater control over critical technologies and reduce reliance on overseas suppliers.

Under this roadmap, the government has identified six core semiconductor categories that will receive focused attention: compute, radio frequency, networking, power, sensors, and memory. These components form the backbone of nearly all electronic products, cutting across sectors such as telecommunications, automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial systems.

An important milestone has been set for 2029, by which India aims to develop strong capabilities in both designing and manufacturing chips that can meet a large share of domestic demand. The longer-term goal is to achieve technological control over 70–75 per cent of chip requirements across applications by the early 2030s.

Collaboration between industry and academia

The strategy also places strong emphasis on collaboration between industry and academic institutions. By encouraging joint innovation across the six identified chip categories, the government aims to foster new ideas, indigenous intellectual property, and a sustainable talent pipeline.

According to Vaishnaw, such collaboration will help create a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem, enabling India to move from being largely a consumer of advanced technology to an active global producer. The approach reflects a broader effort to position India as a trusted player in the global semiconductor value chain while supporting long-term economic and technological growth.