Full Breakdown
India Positions Itself as a Trusted Hub at SEMICON India 2026
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 17, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the fifth edition of SEMICON India 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi. The three-day conference (running to September 19, 2026) is organised by the India Semiconductor Mission, MeitY and the global industry body SEMI.
Background & Context
India’s semiconductor push began with Semicon 1.0, approved in December 2021 with an outlay of INR76,000 crore. In July 2026 the Union Cabinet cleared Semicon 2.0, expanding the budget to INR1,27,500 crore (? $13.5 billion) and adding six pillars: design, machines & materials, new fabs, advanced packaging, R&D, and talent development. The second phase aims to move the ecosystem beyond large-scale fabs to a complete domestic supply chain.
Data & Statistics
- Projects approved: 12 semiconductor projects under Phase 1; government data cite 10 projects with investment commitments of about INR1.6 lakh crore.
- Commercial production: three facilities (Micron, Kaynes Semicon, CG Semi) have begun output; two additional plants (CDIL in Mohali and Suchi Semicon in Surat) were launched at the event.
- Investment: Applied Materials announced a $5 billion “India Vision 2035” plan; Lam Research pledged INR10,000 crore for a silicon-component plant.
- Talent: 70,000 engineers trained to date; the target is 100,000.
- Exhibition scale: >600 companies, >50,000 visitors, six country pavilions and 12 state booths.
Official Statements & Responses
Modi highlighted the rapid transition from policy to “commercial production” and urged industry collaboration on research, talent development and AI-driven chip design.
Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined Semicon 2.0’s six pillars and reiterated the government’s commitment to a predictable policy environment, noting reforms that allow foreign firms to partner with Indian startups and design houses.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You are the pillars of this success of India, you are partners,” — Narendra Modi
- “The world is looking for new and trusted manufacturing destinations; India is steadily preparing itself to meet this need,” — Narendra Modi
On-the-Ground Reports
The exhibition floor featured a “Sand to Silicon to Systems” experience tracing a chip’s journey from silica to finished product. Country pavilions displayed equipment, materials and design tools, while a Startup Pavilion highlighted around 40 emerging companies and a Student Hackathon that engaged thousands of engineering students.
International participants such as ASML, Applied Materials, Lam Research, NXP and IBM Research announced new collaborations, including MoUs for equipment supply and joint R&D. Indian firms—including Tata Electronics, Micron Technology and CG Power—showcased active production lines and upcoming capacity expansions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the number of projects that have entered commercial production. Some outlets report three facilities operating commercially, while others count five, adding the newly inaugurated CDIL and Suchi Semicon units. The discrepancy reflects timing of plant commissioning and the definition of “commercial production.”
No substantive criticism of the government’s semiconductor strategy appears in the sourced material.