India is expected to see another five to eight semiconductor plants begin operations over the next seven to eight years, underlining the government’s push to build domestic chip manufacturing capacity as a key pillar of its self-reliance and development agenda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Modi said three major semiconductor plants had already been started in the country and that production from these facilities had begun to be exported. He said semiconductors had become indispensable across electronic goods, medical equipment and transportation systems, with the functioning of the modern technology ecosystem increasingly dependent on chips. “Bharat has begun establishing its own semiconductor manufacturing capacity” in the direction of becoming self-reliant, Modi said, adding that the expansion of domestic chip production would provide a “great highway” towards building a developed India.
The Prime Minister linked the semiconductor push with India’s broader strategy of reducing dependence on overseas supplies and strengthening domestic capabilities. He said self-reliance had become increasingly important as countries sought to protect their own interests and resources amid global disruptions. Modi also highlighted critical minerals as another strategic area for India’s technology ambitions. He said the entire technology sector was dependent on critical minerals and that India was working to secure its supplies through the National Critical Minerals Mission and the Critical Minerals Corridor announced in the Budget.
