India bets big on chips at Semicon 2025

India’s semiconductor ambitions took centre stage on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Semicon India 2025 in New Delhi, declaring that the country’s smallest chip will bring the biggest change to the world. The three-day event, one of South Asia’s largest industry gatherings, has drawn over 350 exhibitors, global leaders, and innovators from more than 40 countries.

Speaking at the conference, PM Modi emphasised that India is moving beyond its traditional role in backend operations to build a full-stack semiconductor ecosystem. He described chips as “digital diamonds” of the 21st century, comparing their importance to oil in the last century. “Oil shaped the fate of the world in the previous century, but in this century, power is concentrated in the chip. Though tiny, it has the strength to drive the world’s progress at great speed,” he said.

The Prime Minister underlined that India’s semiconductor push is not limited to chip manufacturing but aims to create an entire ecosystem, spanning design, fabrication, packaging, and innovation, that will make the country globally competitive and self-reliant. He noted that design centres in Noida and Bengaluru are already working on some of the most advanced chips in the world.

Highlighting India’s growing role in the global semiconductor market, PM Modi pointed out that the industry, currently valued at $600 billion, is expected to cross the $1 trillion mark in the coming years. India, he said, is poised to play a pivotal part in this growth. Since 2021, 10 semiconductor projects worth $18 billion have been approved, a sign of increasing investor confidence in India’s potential.

“The world trusts India, the world believes in India, and the world is ready to build the semiconductor future with India,” Modi told the gathering, which included top executives, policymakers, and researchers.

The Prime Minister also drew attention to India’s strong economic performance despite global uncertainties. He cited the country’s 7.8 per cent GDP growth in the April-June quarter, which exceeded global expectations. “This growth is visible across all sectors and shows the strength of India’s economy,” he said, positioning India as a “product nation” capable of shaping global technology trends.

Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing the same event, urged global players to manufacture in India. He said the country has laid a strong foundation for its semiconductor industry in a short span and is ready to scale up.

The Semicon India 2025 conference, held at Yashobhoomi from September 2 to 4, is themed “Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse.” Jointly organised by the India Semiconductor Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and SEMI, the global industry association, the event features six country roundtables, four country pavilions, and participation from nine Indian states. Key sessions will cover semiconductor fabs, advanced packaging, R&D, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, and investment opportunities.

With over 15,000 visitors expected, the event underscores India’s ambition to emerge as a hub for cutting-edge technology. Modi said India’s semiconductor vision aligns with its broader goals of digital transformation, manufacturing growth, and youth-led innovation. By combining policy support, international partnerships, and domestic talent, the government aims to position India at the heart of the global chip supply chain.

As the semiconductor industry gears up for exponential growth, India’s pitch at Semicon India 2025 reflects both its aspirations and readiness to claim a larger share of the future digital economy.