India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem Targets 5 to 6 Operational Projects by End of 2026: MeitY

NEW DELHI — India's semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem is progressing toward a new phase of expansion, with five to six projects projected to reach commercial production by the end of 2026, according to Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary S Krishnan.

Speaking on Tuesday, Krishnan announced that the fifth edition of Semicon India 2026 will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2026, at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi. Three major semiconductor projects approved under the first phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM 1.0) have already entered commercial production, following the prime minister's inauguration of the first project on February 28.

The upcoming commercialization milestones are expected to demonstrate the practical execution of ISM 1.0 and reinforce India's standing within the global semiconductor supply chain. Building on this initial phase, the Union Cabinet recently approved ISM 2.0, which aims to broaden government backing across several domains, including chip design, manufacturing, advanced packaging, specialized equipment, materials, research and development, and talent development.

Under ISM 2.0, state support will extend toward advanced technologies and niche segments such as silicon photonics and power semiconductors. A core focus of the program remains workforce development. While India maintains a notable share in global semiconductor design, the MeitY secretary noted that expanding the manufacturing workforce is a critical priority to meet both domestic requirements and potential international demand.

"We have repeatedly made this point that while we have a substantial presence in the design workforce, almost 20 per cent in the manufacturing workforce, there is still work to be done, and once we start training people for manufacturing of semiconductors, then it will be relevant not just for India but for other countries of the world as well," Krishnan stated.

Preparations for Semicon India 2026 are currently underway. The event is projected to attract over 240 international companies, more than 150 industry speakers, delegations from over 40 countries, and six country-specific pavilions. Government projections indicate that domestic demand for semiconductors could double from $100 billion to approximately $200 billion, opening up substantial commercial prospects for domestic enterprises and global participants alike.

"The transition of initial semiconductor projects into commercial production is a critical milestone for India's technology hardware ambitions. With the rollout of ISM 2.0 and the upcoming Semicon India 2026 event, the focus is rightly shifting toward building a comprehensive supply chain that spans design, advanced packaging, and localized manufacturing talent. For the broader business and entrepreneurial ecosystem, this creates downstream opportunities in hardware design, specialized engineering, and supporting infrastructure." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes