Union minister for Electronics and Information Technology, interacted with semiconductor chip design companies approved under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme of the Semicon India Programme. The interaction focused on reviewing progress and understanding design innovations.
Addressing the stakeholders, the minister said that the government’s multi-year, ecosystem-driven approach to semiconductor development is delivering tangible results. He added that the programme was conceived in 2022 with a clear vision articulated by the government, to build the entire semiconductor ecosystem, pursue a long-term strategy rather than isolated schemes, and transform India from a services-led economy into a product nation.
Highlighting the success of the DLI scheme, the minister noted that while expectations were modest initially, the programme today supports 24 start-ups, many of which have already completed tape-outs, validated products and found market traction. This, he said, has validated the government’s core approach of removing key barriers faced by semiconductor start-ups by providing access to advanced design tools, IP libraries, wafer and tape-out support, an architecture of support that is unique globally.
He further underlined that the comprehensive support extended by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to semiconductor start-ups is unparalleled, and the government now intends to scale up the programme, with a target of enabling at least 50 fabless semiconductor companies in the country in the next phase. He expressed confidence that India would, in the coming years, see the emergence of globally competitive fabless companies comparable to leading international players.
Furthermore, sharing feedback from recent global engagements at the World Economic Forum, the minister said that international industry leaders have increasingly recognised the seriousness, scale and execution capability of India’s semiconductor programme. From initial scepticism in 2022, global perception has shifted significantly, with industry leaders now keen to partner with India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem.
The minister outlined a focused strategy to strengthen India’s semiconductor design capabilities across six key system categories – compute, radio frequency (RF) and wireless, networking, power management, sensors, and memory. These categories, he said, form the foundational building blocks for most modern electronic systems and would enable India to design and build solutions for a wide range of applications spanning defence, space, automotive, railways, drones and other strategic sectors.
Moreover, referring to infrastructure development, the minister stated that SCL Mohali will support tape-outs in the 180-nanometre range, while advanced nodes up to 28 nanometres will be enabled through the upcoming fabrication facility at Dholera, providing a strong manufacturing base to complement domestic design capabilities. He also highlighted the government’s sustained focus on talent development, noting that against a target of 85,000 skilled professionals over ten years, over 67,000 semiconductor professionals have already been trained in just four years.
Expressing confidence in India’s growing role in the global semiconductor ecosystem, the minister said that a significant share of the world’s semiconductor design work would be carried out in India in the coming years, driven by domestic start-ups, engineers and innovators creating their own IP, patents and enterprises.
Looking ahead, the minister said that by 2029, India would achieve the capability to design and manufacture chips required for nearly 70-75 per cent of domestic applications. Building on this foundation, the next phase under Semicon 2.0 will focus on advanced manufacturing, with a clearly defined roadmap to achieve 3-nanometre and 2-nanometre technology nodes. By 2035, India aims to be among the top semiconductor nations globally.
In addition, he noted that startups supported under the scheme have attracted nearly Rs 4.3 billion in venture capital funding, reflecting growing confidence in India’s design ecosystem. He informed that of the 24 startups participating in the DLI programme, 14 startups have secured venture capital funding. He said the ISM, launched four years ago, has delivered strong outcomes, including 10 projects under construction, four projects expected to begin production this year, and 67,000 students trained in semiconductor chip design across 315 academic institutions.
