Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the world is looking for new and trusted manufacturing destinations and India is steadily preparing to meet this growing demand.
Inaugurating SEMICON India 2026 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, Modi highlighted India’s expanding semiconductor ecosystem and said it is creating new opportunities for innovation, investment and growth.
He noted that while India’s economy continues to grow, global confidence in the country is also increasing. Referring to the challenging global environment, the Prime Minister said India recorded a 7.8 per cent growth rate, while Japan’s credit rating agency also upgraded India’s sovereign rating.
India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 gets bigger outlay
Modi said the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 has an expanded outlay of $13.5 billion, compared with $8 billion in the first phase.
He said 12 chip-making projects have so far been approved and indicated that the number is expected to increase in the next phase.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the changing requirements of the semiconductor industry amid the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. He said the focus is moving beyond transistor size towards wider system integration, including memory placement and heat management.
Push for research and young talent
Modi urged young researchers working in India to contribute to the country’s advanced technology ecosystem. He also encouraged Indian researchers working abroad to join efforts to develop advanced technologies in India.
He called on industry leaders to take the lead in research and development, saying stronger industry-academia collaboration can support both industrial growth and opportunities for young Indians.
Six pillars under Semicon 2.0
Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said India had been seeking to establish a semiconductor industry for decades and that the foundation for the sector has now been laid.
He said Semicon 2.0 will focus on six areas, including semiconductor design, machines and materials, memory, silicon fabrication, compound and logic fabrication, and research and development.
The government has also set a target of supporting at least 200 startups and companies to design chips in India.
Global participation at SEMICON India
SEMICON India 2026 has brought together more than 600 exhibitors, 300 international companies and delegations from over 50 countries.
The event includes country pavilions from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore and Sweden, along with 12 state government pavilions and a dedicated Startup Pavilion.
The conference and exhibition is being held on the theme “Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem”, bringing together companies, policymakers, investors, researchers, startups, academic institutions and students from across the semiconductor and electronics value chain.
