Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the next phase of India's semiconductor mission, Semicon 2.0, will focus on chip design, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and the broader ecosystem required for chip production. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Vaishnaw highlighted the significant progress made under the Semiconductor Mission since its launch in January 2022 and outlined the strategic priorities for the next phase.
Progress Under the First Phase
Vaishnaw stated that the first phase of the mission has already delivered tangible results, with semiconductor production beginning at approved facilities. He noted that 12 plants have been approved under the mission, two of which have commenced commercial production. These are Micron and Kaynes. Additionally, CG Semi is expected to start commercial production in mid-July 2026, and by the end of the year, four units will be in commercial production.
“We started the journey just on January 1, 2022. In such a short time frame, we have been able to reach this level,” Vaishnaw said, emphasizing the pace of development.
Building a Talent Base
The minister also highlighted the development of a skilled workforce for the sector. “We now have talent, more than 75,000 engineers are trained in this,” he said, underscoring the country's growing human capital in semiconductor technology.
Focus Areas of Semicon 2.0
According to Vaishnaw, Semicon 2.0 will go beyond chip fabrication to strengthen other parts of the semiconductor value chain. “In the Semicon 2.0, our focus will be on getting the other parts of the ecosystem into place, the machines which manufacture semiconductors. These are extremely, extremely complex and highly concentrated in three or four countries. We would like to get those manufacturing and design activities to India. Second, we have a large talent base for designing chips,” he explained.
The minister elaborated that the first phase helped create a semiconductor startup ecosystem, with about 40 startups designing semiconductor chips now receiving venture capital funding. Semicon 2.0 will prioritize design as the number one objective, followed by manufacturing equipment, chemicals, and gases. Vaishnaw noted that approximately 250 chemicals and 50 gases are used in chip manufacturing, and the mission aims to develop these critical inputs domestically.
Global Interest and Future Outlook
Expressing confidence in future growth, Vaishnaw said the progress achieved under the Semiconductor Mission has generated strong interest among global players. “The world certainly will be coming up in much larger numbers in the second version,” he added, indicating that international collaboration and investment are expected to increase.
Semicon 2.0 represents a strategic shift towards building a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem in India, encompassing design, equipment, materials, and talent development. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on a few countries for critical semiconductor manufacturing inputs and position India as a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain.
