India's semiconductor ecosystem achieved significant milestones at Semicon India 2026 in New Delhi, where 16,000 attendees from industry, academia, government and international organisations gathered to discuss the country's next phase of semiconductor development. As per the official government release, Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that ISM 1.0 achieved its intended objectives within four years instead of the planned six-year period, moving India's semiconductor mission from planning to implementation at scale. The minister outlined ISM 2.0 priorities including semiconductor design, machinery and materials, fabrication capacity, ATMP and OSAT expansion, research and development, and workforce development, with ISM 2.0 expected to attract continued investor interest as India strengthens its domestic semiconductor ecosystem.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has issued a stern warning to India's semiconductor industry about potential cyberattacks and disruptions as the country emerges as a competitive player in global chip design and manufacturing. In an interview to PTI, Vaishnaw cautioned that India's growing semiconductor capabilities could be seen as a "threat" by established interests in the global chip value chain, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance against potential geopolitical risks. The minister stated that since his frank and candid discussion on the issue, the industry is now cognizant and "they would certainly take the right measures" to protect against cyber attacks and disruptions from countries opposed to India's rise in the semiconductor value chain.
India's semiconductor design capabilities are advancing rapidly under ISM 2.0, with government estimates indicating at least 200 chip design companies could emerge under the policy framework. As reported by the official government release, more than 105 chip design start-ups have already received access to advanced electronic design automation tools, while 20 secured venture capital funding. The government has trained approximately 70,000 chip design engineers within four years, against a target of 85,000, demonstrating significant progress in workforce development. Panel discussions at Semicon India 2026 examined how India can strengthen domestic capabilities across prototyping, fabrication, testing and packaging, with participants highlighting the need for stronger industry-academia collaboration and wider access to semiconductor design infrastructure.
The semiconductor push has secured substantial commitments from global and Indian companies. As reported by PTI, major announcements include Applied Materials' USD 5 billion India plan through 2035, Lam Research's proposed ₹10,000-crore investment, Tata Electronics' 363-acre vendor park at Dholera, and Fujifilm's ₹800-crore semiconductor materials plant. Semicon India 2026 featured 25 memoranda of understanding, announcements and strategic collaborations involving Indian and international organisations, covering semiconductor materials, manufacturing, advanced packaging, logistics, deep-tech investment and workforce development. These developments demonstrate the growing confidence of international companies in India's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
India's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities are advancing rapidly, with five of the 12 semiconductor plants approved under ISM 1.0 having begun commercial production. As reported by Bloomberg, Micron Technology will test and assemble hundreds of millions of chips in India in 2027 after starting output from its local plant this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a charm offensive for global investors at the chip conference, touting the country's vast pool of engineering graduates and semiconductor-friendly policies. Tata Group's electronic and chip unit signed five accords across the semiconductor supply chain, including partnerships with Nexperia BV for semiconductor wafer manufacturing and assembly in Gujarat and Assam facilities. The government recently announced it had received about ₹1 lakh crore in investment commitments under the second phase of the semiconductor scheme.
