New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Semicon India 2025 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, on Tuesday, underscoring India’s ambitions to become a major player in the global semiconductor sector. The three-day event, which brings together over 20,750 participants, including 2,500 delegates from more than 48 countries, is aimed at catalyzing the growth of India’s semiconductor ecosystem.
Addressing industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and students, PM Modi said, “The world trusts India, the world believes in India, and the world is ready to build the semiconductor future with India.” He emphasized that semiconductors, often described as “digital diamonds,” are central to 21st-century economic progress, just as oil was in the previous century. Highlighting the rapid growth of India’s semiconductor sector, he noted that the global market has already reached $600 billion and is expected to surpass $1 trillion in the coming years, with India poised to capture a significant share.
Tracing India’s journey in the semiconductor space, the Prime Minister recalled the launch of the Semicon India program in 2021. By 2023, India’s first semiconductor plant was approved, followed by additional approvals in 2024 and 2025. Currently, ten semiconductor projects are underway, representing an investment of over $18 billion (₹1.5 lakh crore). PM Modi highlighted the swift operational progress, noting that CG Power’s pilot plant began functioning on August 28, Kaynes’ plant is about to start, and test chips from Micron and Tata are already in production. Commercial chip production is expected to commence later this year.
“The shorter the time from file to factory, the sooner wafer work can begin,” he said, underlining the government’s efforts to reduce paperwork and accelerate approvals through the National Single Window System. Semiconductor parks are being developed across India under a plug-and-play model, offering investors ready access to land, power, transport, and skilled workforce. Combined with incentives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) and Design Linked Grants, PM Modi said this is positioning India as a full-stack semiconductor nation, moving beyond backend operations to encompass design, manufacturing, packaging, and high-tech devices.
India is also advancing alongside global technology leaders, the Prime Minister said, pointing to design centers in Noida and Bengaluru developing chips with billions of transistors, capable of powering next-generation technologies. Emphasizing the role of critical minerals, PM Modi noted that the National Critical Mineral Mission is underway to ensure domestic supply, complementing India’s semiconductor ambitions.
Start-ups and MSMEs are central to India’s strategy. India contributes 20 percent of global semiconductor design talent, with a growing pool of young engineers and innovators. The government has launched initiatives like the Chips-to-Startup Program and the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, which is being restructured to better support domestic IP development. The National Research Fund will also facilitate strategic collaborations to strengthen the sector.
PM Modi called upon states to foster competition and build dedicated semiconductor ecosystems, citing ongoing policy support and infrastructure readiness. “Design is ready. Mask is aligned. Now is the time for precision execution and delivery at scale,” he said, affirming India’s commitment to long-term investor confidence.
Semicon India 2025, running from September 2–4, will include discussions on semiconductor fabs, advanced packaging projects, infrastructure readiness, smart manufacturing, R&D and AI innovations, and investment opportunities. The event features over 150 speakers, 350 exhibitors, country pavilions, and sessions on workforce development and start-ups, highlighting India’s integrated approach to building a robust, resilient, and globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem.
Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jitin Prasada, along with the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Odisha, were present at the event.
Also Read: Bitter Brew: U.S. Tariff Hits Indian Tea Exports Amid Falling Prices
