India is set to begin commercial semiconductor chip production in 2026, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday. Speaking to ANI, the minister noted that when the Semiconductor Mission was launched in January 2022, the government had aimed to start commercial production within five years, a target that is now on track.
According to Vaishnaw, the first phase of commercial production will commence in 2026, with four semiconductor plants expected to begin operations during the year. He added that pilot production has already started in three plants in 2025. The minister also highlighted progress in skill development, stating that India has trained around 65,000 semiconductor professionals in just four years, nearing the original target of 85,000 skilled workers set for a ten-year period.
The minister said India’s progress is drawing global attention, with strong support emerging from across the international semiconductor industry. During his visit to the headquarters of ASML in Veldhoven, Netherlands, Vaishnaw remarked that ASML establishing a presence in India would be a major milestone, as several global equipment manufacturers are considering India due to its strong design capabilities, large talent pool, and stable policy environment.
Vaishnaw further revealed that investments at the infrastructure level have crossed $70 billion, with committed investments nearing $90 billion and the potential to reach $150 billion in the coming period. He added that work is progressing across all layers of the semiconductor ecosystem, including energy, in a coordinated manner. The recent semiconductor roundtable, attended by global industry leaders, reflected strong confidence in India’s semiconductor journey and a willingness to actively contribute to its growth.
