PM inaugurates Semicon India 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked-off ‘Semicon India 2025’ by saying “the world trusts India and is ready to build the semiconductor future in India.” He highlighted India’s strong economic performance, noting that the country’s GDP grew by 7.8% in the first quarter of the year. Without taking any names, the PM took a dig at Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian goods and said that India achieved this growth despite global economic concerns and challenges caused by what he described as “economic selfishness”.
He went on to compare the importance of semiconductors to that of oil in the past century, adding that while oil once drove global progress, in the 21st century, chips have become the real driving force, with the power to speed up development worldwide. “It is said in the semiconductor world that oil was black gold, but chips are digital diamonds,” he said.
In his 79th Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India’s first locally made semiconductor chip will be ready for the market by the end of 2025. He said India had lost opportunities 50–60 years ago when plans for semiconductor manufacturing were dropped. But now, the government is working in “mission mode” to grow this sector.
When will PM Modi inaugurate Semicon India 2025? Details here
Keeping his word, PM Modi inaugurated ‘Semicon India 2025’ on Tuesday at 10 am in New Delhi. The event, being held at Yashobhoomi, is part of the government’s push to make India a global centre for semiconductor research and manufacturing. PM Modi will also take part in the conference on Wednesday and attend the CEOs roundtable, a statement issued by the PMO on Monday said.
What does the three-day Semicon India conference entail?
The conference brings together experts, global leaders, industry professionals, and startups to discuss the future of this critical technology. With the goal of ‘Atmanirbharta‘, the focus of this event is to strengthen the country’s semiconductor ecosystem.
A variety of sessions will be held which will cover a wide range of topics. These include the progress of the Semicon India programme, updates on semiconductor fabrication units (fabs), advanced packaging projects, and the India’s readiness in terms of infrastructure and smart manufacturing.
Discussions will also focus on innovations in research and development (R&D), the use of artificial intelligence, new investment opportunities, and how states are creating policies to support growth in this sector.
Design Linked Incentive Scheme – All you need to know
Another highlight of the event will be the government’s Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, which is aimed at encouraging startups to design chips in India. The programme was launched by the government in December 2021 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Its main purpose is to strengthen India’s ability to design semiconductors within the country.
It is part of the larger Rs 76,000 crore Semicon India Programme, which focuses on making India more self-reliant in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
The scale of participation in the conference is going to be massive. More than 20,750 people are expected to attend, including over 2,500 delegates from 48 countries, more than 150 speakers, including 50 top global leaders, and over 350 exhibitors.
The event will also feature roundtable discussions involving six countries, special country pavilions, and dedicated areas focused on workforce development and startups.
PM Modi had earlier pointed out that six chip-making units are already being built and four more have been approved, with a total investment of about Rs 1.6 lakh crore across six states.
Linking this effort to the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, Modi stressed the importance of self-reliance in key technologies. He also said that along with the first Indian-made chip, a Made-in-India 6G network will also be ready soon, showing that India is now moving fast to catch up in technology.
