New Delhi: India wants to become a major semiconductor hub at a time when chip supply chains are facing disruptions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged international chipmakers and equipment suppliers to increase their operations in the country, saying the country is preparing to take on a larger role in semiconductor manufacturing.
Speaking at SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday (September 17), he said India’s ability to build semiconductors has become more important as countries face disruptions and restrictions in international supply networks.
“I urge the leaders of equipment companies present here not to miss these opportunities,” Modi said. The prime minister also addressed equipment and component manufacturers attending the event.
The government had approved 12 semiconductor projects under the first phase of its programme by July. The government has set a target of training 1 lakh engineering students for semiconductor-related jobs. More than 70,000 students have been trained, according to the prime minister. “Our government has set a target to train 1 lakh engineering students for the semiconductor industry, and we have trained over 70,000 of them…
Three projects had begun rolling out chips, according to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. I call upon the youth – whether they are conducting research in India or abroad – to come forward and participate in the development of advanced technology here,” he said. And SEMICON India being held amid such major achievements is another significant milestone,” Modi said.
Modi also highlighted the workforce needed to support the industry. “India successfully concluded the BRICS Summit. The adoption of the New Delhi Declaration with everyone’s support is one more piece of evidence of India’s global credibility.
A government update in April said commercial production had begun at two plants, with two more expected to start production during 2026. The same update listed investments of about Rs 1.6 lakh crore across 10 approved projects at that stage. India has also begun commercial production at semiconductor packaging facilities.
