The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology highlighted India’s progress in semiconductor manufacturing and design at SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the country has moved from planning its semiconductor ambitions to actually executing them at scale. The event brought together policymakers, global semiconductor companies, Indian industry players, researchers and students.
What India is building
The government is now rolling out ISM 2.0, the next phase of the Indian Semiconductor Mission, building on achievements from ISM 1.0. That earlier phase, planned for six years, met its targets in just four years. ISM 2.0 focuses on six areas: chip design, machines and materials, setting up more manufacturing plants, strengthening assembly and testing facilities, research and development, and training engineers.
Under ISM 1.0, more than 105 chip design startups got access to advanced design tools. Around 20 of these startups have received venture capital funding. The government trained approximately 70,000 chip design engineers in four years, working towards a goal of 85,000. Five out of twelve manufacturing plants approved under the first phase have begun commercial production.
The Minister expects at least 200 chip design companies to emerge under ISM 2.0, creating Indian intellectual property in semiconductor technology. Officials also highlighted opportunities in memory chips, advanced packaging, materials, chiplets and high-bandwidth memory as areas where India can build deeper capabilities.
Day 2 of the conference saw 25 memorandums of understanding and announcements involving Indian and global partners. These covered areas ranging from semiconductor materials and manufacturing to power electronics, logistics and workforce training.
Three international roundtables were held: India and Singapore discussed combining Singapore’s manufacturing expertise with India’s engineering talent; India and Europe explored cooperation in equipment, materials and design; and India and South Korea looked at strengthening ties across the full semiconductor value chain.
What this means for you
If you are studying engineering or looking for work in semiconductor design, manufacturing or related fields, India is creating more job opportunities and training programmes. Companies setting up plants and design centres will need skilled workers across chip design, manufacturing, packaging and supply chain management. India’s push to become a trusted semiconductor partner also means more foreign investment and technology coming into the country, potentially creating better career prospects across the sector.