The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has outlined the next phase of India’s semiconductor strategy, moving beyond foundational work to scale up the entire industry. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced this at SEMICON India 2026, saying the country now aims to build a complete ecosystem across design, manufacturing, research and skilled workforce development.
What has been announced
The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 will focus on six key areas: chip design, materials and machinery, manufacturing facilities, assembly and testing units, research and development, and workforce training.
Progress so far under ISM 1.0 includes:
- Five semiconductor manufacturing plants are now producing chips commercially
- Around 70,000 design engineers trained over four years against a target of 85,000
- Over 105 chip design startups given access to industry-standard Electronic Design Automation tools
- 400 engineering colleges, including those in smaller cities, provided with advanced EDA tools for students
- 20 startups received venture capital funding
Under ISM 2.0, the Ministry targets at least 200 chip design companies to emerge, which the Minister described as transformative for building India-owned semiconductor intellectual property. The focus on training will expand from chip design to broader system design. The government also plans to train one lakh cleanroom technicians and maintenance workers, though this target may increase based on industry demand.
A manufacturing facility scheduled for commissioning in 2028 already has significant capacity booked by companies, indicating strong investor confidence.
What this means for you
If you are an engineering student, you now have better access to professional design tools and opportunities to see your chip designs manufactured. If you work in smaller manufacturing units, the precision manufacturing push opens possibilities in aerospace, defence and semiconductor supply chains. For those considering careers in semiconductors, the expanded training programmes offer pathways from design to manufacturing technician roles. The broader ecosystem development also signals growing domestic chip manufacturing, which could eventually lead to more affordable electronics and employment opportunities across the sector.