Addressing the nation from the Red Fort ramparts in his 13th consecutive Independence Day speech, PM Modi said the entire world would come to a standstill without chips, underlining India’s steady march towards self-reliance in the semiconductor sector. He announced that India will build 5 to 8 more semiconductor plants over the next 7-8 years, adding that three plants have already been established and have started exporting chips.Modi noted that in today’s digital and technology-driven world, chips have become indispensable — powering everything from electronic goods and medical equipment to transportation systems.
This ambition is backed by serious capital: in July, the Union Cabinet approved a rs. 1.27 lakh crore programme called Semicon 2.0, which goes well beyond setting up fabs. The government is building an end-to-end ecosystem spanning chip design and intellectual property, manufacturing equipment and materials, new fabs, advanced packaging, R&D, and specialised talent – a clear signal that India wants to own the entire semiconductor value chain, not just assembly.