Our Bureau
New Delhi
Semiconductor investments worth around $12 billion are expected to create more than one lakh jobs in India, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday, as the government expands the country’s chip ecosystem under Semicon 2.0.
Speaking on the sidelines of SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi, Vaishnaw said the investment would support the development of a wider semiconductor ecosystem covering chemicals, industrial gases, equipment, chip packaging and semiconductor design. He also said more than one lakh young people would be prepared for employment opportunities in the sector.
The minister said the next phase of the semiconductor programme would build on the foundation laid by Semicon 1.0. The expanded ecosystem is expected to include chemical and gas manufacturers, equipment makers, new ATMP (assembly, testing, marking and packaging) units and companies working in chip design.
Research and development will also be a key component of the programme. Vaishnaw said the government plans to work with industry and academic institutions on applied R&D projects, with funding to be shared between the government and participating companies. Industry would identify projects that could subsequently be undertaken by academic institutions, he said.
On India’s ambition to develop a semiconductor ecosystem capable of competing globally, Vaishnaw did not provide a specific timeline. He said the industry was highly complex and that India would need a long-term approach to establish all the necessary components of the supply chain.
The minister also highlighted the role of critical minerals in the semiconductor supply chain and said several players in this area were participating in the semiconductor mission. The government is simultaneously focusing on talent development, R&D and strengthening domestic capabilities as India seeks to expand its presence in the global semiconductor industry.