Archive · 25 Aug 2026
India Offers BIS Exemptions Framework for High-Tech Manufacturers
India wants more high-tech companies to build factories there.
Some Japanese companies said that certification rules were making it harder to bring in special machines and parts.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the government is creating a plan to make some of these rules easier for high-tech manufacturers.
The plan could help individual companies, whole industries, specific products or special projects.
The government says this will support its Make in India program.
India hopes its electronics market will grow to $150 billion by 2032.
It also wants to attract about $50 billion in semiconductor investment through its newer program.
India is building skills by training students in chip design at hundreds of universities.
The government expects a new semiconductor fabrication plant to be commissioned in 2028.
India will develop a framework to exempt high-tech manufacturers from some BIS certification requirements for imported equipment and components.
The proposal follows concerns from Japanese companies, including Tokyo Electron, about delays and regulatory complexity.
Exemptions could apply at the company, industry, product or project level to support timely supplies.
India expects electronics demand to reach $150 billion by 2032, while Semicon 2.0 could help generate about $50 billion in investment.
The government is expanding chip fabrication, packaging, research and training, with 68,000 students trained across 315 universities.
- Who
- Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the Bureau of Indian Standards, India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Japanese high-tech companies including Tokyo Electron and Fuji Electric.
- What
- India is preparing exemptions from some BIS certification requirements for equipment and components imported by high-tech manufacturers.
- When
- The announcement was made on Tuesday; the government expects a new semiconductor fabrication plant to be commissioned in 2028.
- Where
- The proposal concerns companies establishing manufacturing operations in India and was discussed at a semiconductor and artificial-intelligence roundtable in Tokyo.
- Why
- The government aims to prevent import delays, attract investment and support India's Make in India and semiconductor-development programs.
Industry Concerns
Government Response
BIS compliance
Industry Concerns
Japanese semiconductor and artificial-intelligence companies said mandatory certification requirements could delay imports of specialised equipment and components needed for manufacturing.
Government Response
The government has instructed the Bureau of Indian Standards and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to create exemptions that allow timely supplies.
Regulatory complexity
Industry Concerns
Companies, including Fuji Electric, raised concerns about regulatory complexity and the need for support when establishing operations in India.
Government Response
Goyal said the central government would provide support and would also stand behind companies at the state and local levels.
- Proposed relief
- Exemptions from BIS certification for specialised equipment and components needed by high-tech manufacturers.
- Possible scope
- Company-level, industry-level, product-based, project-based or bulk exemptions.
- Companies raising concerns
- Japanese firms including Tokyo Electron and Fuji Electric raised concerns about certification and regulatory complexity.
- Electronics demand
- India expects demand to reach up to $150 billion by 2032.
- Semiconductor investment
- The government says Semicon 2.0 could seed about $50 billion in investment; the reports describe its support as ₹1,27,500 crore in one account and another $15 billion commitment in another.
- Existing semiconductor program
- Semicon 1 reportedly provided about $10 billion and seeded roughly $19 billion through 13 approved projects.
- Training and timeline
- According to Goyal, 315 universities are training students in chip design, 68,000 students have been trained, and a new fabrication plant is expected in 2028.
