India is preparing to enter a new phase in its electronics sector, with plans to introduce homegrown smartphone brands targeting global markets within the next 18 months. The announcement was made by Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the World Economic Forum in Davos, indicating a strategic shift from India’s role as a manufacturing base to that of a creator of globally competitive technology products.
Over the past decade, India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem has expanded rapidly. In 2014, the country had only two mobile phone manufacturing units. That number has now grown to more than 300. This expansion has also translated into higher domestic production, with over 99 percent of telephone equipment sold in India being manufactured locally in 2024, compared with just 26 percent in the 2014–15 financial year.
Officials say the country is close to achieving end-to-end capability in smartphone production, covering design, research and development, and large-scale manufacturing. Government-backed initiatives such as production-linked incentive schemes and investments in semiconductor fabrication are expected to play a critical role in enabling Indian companies to compete with established global brands.
Industry experts view the move as a significant step toward reducing dependence on foreign smartphone manufacturers while strengthening domestic innovation. Analysts also expect the emergence of Indian smartphone brands to generate employment in design, research, and advanced manufacturing, while improving India’s standing in the global technology market.
