IN A significant feat for the country to become a global semiconductor hub, Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday presented the first made-in-India processor, along with test chips from four approved projects, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. The first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, called ‘Vikram,’ has been developed by ISRO’s Semi-conductor Laboratory (SCL). It is designed to withstand the harsh environmental conditions of space launch vehicles, marking a milestone in India’s efforts to reduce dependency on imported chips. Vaishnaw highlighted the rapid progress of India’s semiconductor infrastructure at the ‘Semicon India 2025’ event. “Just a few years ago, we met for the first time to make a new beginning driven by our Prime Minister’s farsighted vision, we launched the India Semiconductor Mission. In a short span of 3.5 years, we have the world looking at India with confidence,” said the minister.

 

“Today, the construction of five semiconductor units is going on at a rapid pace. We just presented the first ‘Made-in-India’ chip to PM Modi,” he told the gathering. India’s semiconductor journey has gained momentum under the Semicon India Programme. The Government has already approved 10 projects in critical areas such as high-volume fabrication units (Fabs), 3D heterogeneous packaging, compound semiconductors, and outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSATs). In addition, design-focused initiatives have supported more than 280 academic institutions and 72 start-ups with advanced tools, while 23 start-ups have been approved under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme. Over three days, the flagship event will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, fireside chats, paper presentations, and six international roundtables. A dedicated ‘Workforce Development Pavilion’ will also highlight career opportunities in microelectronics to attract new talent. With top companies like Applied Materials, ASML, IBM, Infineon, Lam Research, Micron, Tata Electronics, SK Hynix, and Tokyo Electron participating, SEMICON India 2025 is expected to drive India’s next wave of semiconductor innovation and strengthen its position in the global value chain. 

 

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the day is not far when India’s smallest chip will bring the biggest change in the world. Inaugurating ‘Semicon India 2025’ in the national capital, the Prime Minister stressed that India is moving beyond just the backend of the semiconductor industry and is now building a full-stack ecosystem to become globally competitive and ‘Atmanirbhar’. Addressing the global gathering of industry leaders, innovators, and delegates from over 40 countries, PM Modi said, “The world trusts India. The world believes in India. The world is ready to build the semiconductor future with India. In the semiconductor world, oil is often called black gold, while chips are considered digital diamonds.”

 

Prime Minister Modi underlined that India’s semiconductor effort is not just about manufacturing chips but creating a complete ecosystem that will redefine the global industry. The Prime Minister compared the importance of semiconductors in the 21st century to the role of oil in the last century. “Oil shaped the last century, and the fate of the world was tied to oil wells. But in the 21st century, power is concentrated in the small chip. Though tiny, the chip has the strength to drive the world’s progress at great speed,” the PM Modi said. Prime Minister Modi added that the global semiconductor market, currently worth 600 billion dollars, will cross the 1 trillion dollar mark in the coming years, and India is poised to play a significant role in it.

 

Highlighting India’s strong economic performance, PM Modi pointed out that the country registered 7.8 per cent GDP growth in the April–June quarter, exceeding global expectations. “This growth is visible across all sectors and shows the strength of India’s economy,” the Prime Minister said. Welcoming participants to the event, PM Modi noted that the presence of experts from more than 40 countries, along with India’s innovation and youth power, sends out one clear message: “The world trusts India and is ready to build the future of semiconductors with India.” In a veiled rebuttal to the ‘dead economy’ jibe, Modi on Tuesday said the Indian economy grew 7.8 per cent in the first quarter, surpassing all expectations despite global uncertainties and challenges driven by economic self-interest.