Prime Minister Narendra Modi On Tuesday launched Semicon India 2025 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, describing it as a pivotal moment in India’s quest to become a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing. The three-day event, designed to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem, drew over 20,000 attendees, including top executives from global chip companies, policymakers, innovators, and students from across India.
Addressing representatives from more than 40 nations, Modi emphasized the global confidence in India’s potential. “The presence of industry leaders, Indian start-ups, and young talent here reflects a shared belief: the world trusts India, believes in India, and is ready to shape the semiconductor future alongside India,” he said.
Modi highlighted India’s robust economic growth, noting a 7.8% GDP increase in the April–June quarter, despite global economic challenges. This progress, spanning manufacturing, services, agriculture, and construction, positions India to become the world’s third-largest economy, he said.
Comparing semiconductors to a modern resource, Modi remarked, “Oil was the black gold of the past, but chips are the digital diamonds of today. If oil defined the 20th century, semiconductors will define the 21st.” With the global semiconductor market, currently worth $600 billion, projected to surpass $1 trillion soon, Modi stressed India’s determination to secure a substantial share.
The Prime Minister outlined the success of the Semicon India initiative, launched in 2021, which has attracted over $18 billion in investments across ten semiconductor projects. Approvals for several fabrication plants and chip facilities have been granted, with companies like CG Power, Kaynes, Micron, and Tata already advancing pilot projects. “We may have started late, but our momentum is unstoppable. Soon, India’s smallest chip will spark the world’s biggest transformation,” Modi declared.
He emphasized that India is building a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem, covering design, production, packaging, and research. To support this, the Design Linked Incentive Scheme is being revamped to empower start-ups and MSMEs, while the National Research Fund will foster homegrown intellectual property. Modi also encouraged states to compete in developing semiconductor hubs and improving infrastructure.
Modi highlighted government reforms to streamline processes, stating, “We’ve reduced the time from paperwork to production, so wafer manufacturing can start faster.” He pointed to semiconductor parks with ready-to-use infrastructure and incentives like Production Linked Incentives (PLI) and design grants.
Speaking to young innovators, Modi noted that India hosts 20% of the world’s semiconductor design talent and urged start-ups to tap into programs like Chips-to-Startup. “The government is fully behind you,” he assured.
Reaffirming his vision of Reform, Perform, Transform, Modi said India’s semiconductor mission is advancing to its next stage. He invited global investors to join, saying, “The design is set, the mask is aligned. Now is the time for precise execution and large-scale delivery. Soon, the world will say: Designed in India, Made in India, Trusted by the World.”
During the event, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the first indigenously developed 32-bit processor chip to Modi, marking a key milestone. Vaishnaw noted that five semiconductor facilities are under construction, with one pilot line completed and others nearing production. He urged global investors to seize India’s growing electronics demand, stating, “Now is the time to invest in India.”
The conference, themed “Building a Robust, Resilient, and Sustainable Semiconductor Ecosystem,” will continue until September 4. It features discussions on fabrication, advanced packaging, R&D, AI, workforce development, and state policies, alongside country roundtables and pavilions showcasing start-ups and global partnerships.
Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jitin Prasada, along with the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Odisha, attended the event.
