Archive · 31 Aug 2026
India Expands Semicon 2.0 With 100,000 Engineer Target
India has started a new plan called Semicon 2.0 to make its chip industry stronger.
The plan aims to train 100,000 more engineers who can design and build semiconductors.
Semiconductors are tiny components used in phones, computers, cars and many other products.
The programme will support factories, chip design, equipment, materials, advanced packaging and scientific research.
India says it has already trained 85,000 semiconductor engineers.
Students at 355 universities have designed more than 250 chips.
The government is also supporting 12 chip-related projects in six states.
It hopes the plan will help India become an important part of global semiconductor supply chains.
India’s ₹1.27-lakh-crore Semicon 2.0 programme targets 100,000 additional semiconductor engineers.
The programme expands beyond fabrication plants to cover design, equipment, materials, packaging, research and talent development.
India says it has already developed 85,000 semiconductor engineers in four years, ahead of its original 10-year target.
Design programmes now cover 355 universities, where students have designed more than 250 chips, including 255 cited by the government.
Twelve projects have been approved across six states, with three reportedly in commercial production and two more expected by the end of 2026.
- Who
- The Indian government and Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- What
- The launch and notification of Semicon 2.0, including a target to develop 100,000 additional semiconductor engineers and expand support across the chip value chain.
- When
- Announced and notified on August 31; three projects reportedly began commercial production in 2026, with two more expected by the end of 2026.
- Where
- India, with approved projects across six states and design programmes at 355 universities.
- Why
- To build domestic semiconductor capabilities, strengthen India’s global supply-chain role and address an expected worldwide shortage of skilled semiconductor workers.
- Programme size
- Semicon 2.0 is structured as a ₹1.27-lakh-crore programme.
- Engineer target
- The government aims to develop 100,000 additional semiconductor engineers.
- Previous achievement
- India says it developed 85,000 semiconductor engineers in four years, against an earlier 10-year target.
- Six programme pillars
- Design; equipment and materials; fabrication; ATMP/OSAT packaging; research and development; and talent development.
- Design priorities
- The programme prioritises compute, memory, radio frequency, power, networking and sensor chips, with around 100 chips selected for development.
- Project pipeline
- Twelve semiconductor projects have been approved across six states, including a silicon fab, compound-semiconductor and display facilities, and nine ATMP/OSAT projects.
- Expected economic impact
- The government expects around ₹4 lakh crore in investment, ₹2 lakh crore in production and ₹1 lakh crore in exports from Semicon 2.0.
- Market projections
- India’s semiconductor market is estimated at about $52 billion currently and projected by the government to reach $110-120 billion by 2030.
