PM Modi inaugurates SEMICON India 2026, pitches India as global semiconductor hub
New Delhi, Sept 17 (TNT) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the fifth edition of SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi and called for strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem, highlighting the country’s growing manufacturing capabilities, engineering talent and energy infrastructure.
Addressing the event, Modi said India had moved from policy discussions and project planning to pilot lines and commercial semiconductor production since the launch of the Semiconductor Mission in 2022.
Chips manufactured in India had started reaching customers in the country and abroad, while commercial production had begun at two new plants in Mohali and Surat, he said.
The Prime Minister announced the USD 13.5 billion second phase of the Semiconductor Mission and said regulatory reforms were being undertaken to facilitate collaboration between international companies, startups and design firms.
He stressed the need to develop a complete domestic semiconductor supply chain, including fabless companies, intellectual property, silicon photonics, equipment, chemicals, gases and other materials.
Referring to the 12 approved semiconductor projects and the expanding demand pipeline, Modi urged industry players to capitalise on the opportunities and said the government wanted the entire ecosystem to grow together.
Highlighting India’s engineering talent, he said the government had set a target of training one lakh engineering students in chip design, with around 70,000 already trained.
Modi also called for greater industry participation in domestic research and development in advanced semiconductor technologies, saying stronger industry-research linkages would benefit both businesses and India’s young talent.
He said the rapid growth of artificial intelligence was changing semiconductor requirements, with the focus increasingly extending beyond transistor size to system integration, memory placement and heat management.
The Prime Minister also highlighted energy security as a key requirement for semiconductor manufacturing and AI data centres.
He said India’s solar capacity had crossed 160 GW and noted the government’s initiatives to expand nuclear power, including opening the sector to private participation and developing small modular reactors.
Modi said India was taking steps to create conditions that would make it a preferred destination for semiconductor companies and invited global industry players to participate in the country’s expanding semiconductor ecosystem.
Highlighting recent economic developments, he cited 7.8 per cent quarterly GDP growth, the operationalisation of a 3,000-km Dedicated Freight Corridor and a sovereign rating upgrade by a Japanese credit rating agency as indicators of India’s economic progress and growing global confidence.
Referring to the recently concluded BRICS Summit hosted by India, Modi said the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration reflected international confidence in the country.
Drawing a parallel with Vishwakarma Diwas, the Prime Minister said India’s traditional culture of creation and craftsmanship, combined with 21st-century technology, represented the country’s vision of a self-reliant India and Viksit Bharat.
TNT KM
