India is rapidly progressing toward becoming one of the top five semiconductor-producing nations, said Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, citing the country's growing capabilities in chip design, fabrication, and manufacturing.
Speaking at the 14th convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, the minister emphasized that India is no longer just aspiring but actively creating a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem. "From building capital equipment to designing advanced chipsets, we are investing in every stage of the value chain," he said.
Vaishnaw revealed that students from leading institutions like IITs have already designed 20 chipsets, eight of which have been &ldquo;taped out&rdquo; and sent for fabrication at international foundries and at India&rsquo;s own Semi-conductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali.
He noted that India's first commercial-scale, Made in India semiconductor chip is expected to roll out later this year, a key milestone supported by the India Semiconductor Mission. Under this initiative, 270 colleges and 70 startups have been granted access to advanced electronic design automation (EDA) tools.
At IIT-Hyderabad alone, over 700 students have logged more than 300,000 hours using these tools in the past six months, showcasing the deep engagement of India&rsquo;s youth in high-tech sectors.
In a parallel push for AI innovation, the government has launched AIKosh, an open-source artificial intelligence platform featuring 880 datasets and over 200 pre-trained models. This initiative is aimed at empowering students, researchers, and startups nationwide.
Highlighting the broader impact, Vaishnaw shared that India&rsquo;s electronics exports have soared to $40 billion, marking an eight-fold growth over 11 years. Meanwhile, electronics production has grown six times, with a double-digit CAGR.
As of mid-2025, six semiconductor fabrication units have either been approved or are under development. While the legacy SCL in Mohali continues to operate, upcoming fabs promise to introduce next-gen semiconductor capabilities, further positioning India as a global hub in this critical industry.

India Targets Top 5 Spot in Global Chipmaking Race

Ashwini Vaishnaw says India is building full ecosystem to lead in semiconductor technology

India Targets Top 5 Spot in Global Chipmaking Race

Ashwini Vaishnaw says India is building full ecosystem to lead in semiconductor technology

July 20, 2025 | 18:04 IST