New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the fifth edition of SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting India’s progress from semiconductor policy planning to commercial production and outlining the next phase of the country’s chip ecosystem.
Addressing the gathering, Modi welcomed participants from India and abroad and said the event represented an important stage in India’s semiconductor journey.
He linked the inauguration with Vishwakarma Diwas, describing the combination of India’s traditional culture of creation and craftsmanship with 21st-century technology as an inspiration for a self-reliant and developed India, according to an official statement.
The PM also said India had made significant progress in the semiconductor sector since the launch of SEMICON India in 2022. He recalled the journey from policy discussions and project planning to pilot lines and commercial production, noting that chips produced in India had now started reaching customers in the country and across the world.
He also highlighted the start of commercial production at two new plants in Mohali and Surat, describing the development as a significant achievement in India’s efforts to build a semiconductor ecosystem.
Modi said building such an ecosystem required capabilities across several areas, including chip design, equipment manufacturing and testing. He credited industry leaders and partners for contributing to the rapid development of these capabilities.
Looking ahead, the PM announced the second phase of the Semiconductor Mission with an outlay of USD 13.5 billion. He also highlighted regulatory reforms aimed at facilitating collaboration among international companies, startups and semiconductor design firms.
He stressed that India’s semiconductor ambitions extend beyond manufacturing chips. He called for the development of fabless companies, intellectual property and silicon photonics, particularly in view of the growing requirements of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
He also urged companies involved in equipment, chemicals, gases and materials to make use of the opportunities created by the 12 approved semiconductor projects and the expanding demand pipeline.
Modi emphasised the importance of ensuring that the entire semiconductor ecosystem grows together.
Artificial intelligence is also changing the nature of semiconductor requirements, the PM noted. He further said that the industry was increasingly moving beyond a focus on transistor size towards broader system integration, including memory placement and heat management.
Modi further highlighted the importance of reliable energy supplies for high-performance computing and semiconductor manufacturing. He pointed to India’s expansion in the power sector, including solar capacity of more than 160 GW, the opening of nuclear energy to private players and work on small modular reactors.
According to the PM, uninterrupted power is essential for AI data centres as well as semiconductor manufacturing facilities. He said India’s investments in the power sector were therefore an important part of creating conditions for industrial growth and making the country a preferred destination for semiconductor companies.
Talent development was another key focus of his address. Modi highlighted India’s large pool of engineering talent and said the government was working towards training one lakh engineering students in chip designing. More than 70,000 students had already been trained, he said.
The PM also encouraged young engineers and researchers in India and abroad to participate in the development of advanced technologies within the country. He called on industry leaders to strengthen domestic research and development, saying this would create benefits for both the industry and India’s young talent.
Modi also referred to India’s recent economic and diplomatic developments. He highlighted discussions on inclusive finance at the Global Fintech Fest, the operationalisation of a 3,000-kilometre Dedicated Freight Corridor and quarterly GDP growth of 7.8%.
He also mentioned a recent sovereign rating upgrade by a Japanese credit rating agency, saying India’s economic growth was accompanied by growing international confidence.
Referring to the recently concluded BRICS Summit hosted by India, Modi highlighted the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration and described it as another indication of international confidence in India.
