Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated Semicon India 2025 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, calling it a landmark moment in India’s journey to becoming a global semiconductor powerhouse. The three-day conference, aimed at catalysing India’s semiconductor ecosystem, has brought together more than 20,000 participants, including CEOs of leading global chipmakers, policymakers, innovators, and students from across the country.
Welcoming delegates from over 40 countries, PM Modi said the presence of global industry leaders, Indian start-ups, and young talent demonstrated a strong global consensus that “the world trusts India, the world believes in India, and the world is ready to build the semiconductor future with India.”
The Prime Minister highlighted India’s rapid economic progress, pointing to the 7.8% GDP growth recorded in the April–June quarter, even as other economies struggle with uncertainty. He said this growth, visible across manufacturing, services, agriculture, and construction, is fueling confidence in India’s ability to emerge as the world’s third-largest economy.
Drawing a parallel between past and future energy sources, PM Modi said, “Oil was black gold, but chips are digital diamonds. If oil determined the fate of the 20th century, semiconductors will shape the 21st.” He noted that the global semiconductor market, valued at $600 billion, is expected to cross $1 trillion in the coming years, and India is determined to claim a significant share of this market.
Outlining the country’s achievements, the Prime Minister said the Semicon India programme, launched in 2021, has already attracted over $18 billion in investments across ten semiconductor projects. Approvals for multiple fabs and chip plants have been cleared, with companies such as CG Power, Kaynes, Micron, and Tata already operationalizing pilot projects. “Our journey may have begun late, but nothing can stop us now. The day is not far when India’s smallest chip will drive the world’s biggest change,” he declared.
PM Modi stressed that India is not limiting itself to backend operations but is building a full-stack semiconductor ecosystem, encompassing design, manufacturing, packaging, and research. He announced that the Design Linked Incentive Scheme is being restructured to boost start-ups and MSMEs, while the recently launched National Research Fund will support the creation of Indian intellectual property in the sector. He also urged states to engage in healthy competition to build semiconductor hubs and strengthen infrastructure.
Highlighting reforms, the Prime Minister said the government is ensuring “the shorter the time from file to factory, the sooner wafer work can begin,” with approvals streamlined through the National Single Window System. He pointed to new semiconductor parks offering plug-and-play infrastructure, coupled with incentives such as Production Linked Incentives (PLI) and design grants.
Addressing young innovators, PM Modi underscored that India accounts for 20% of the world’s semiconductor design talent and urged start-ups to leverage government schemes like the Chips-to-Startup programme. “The government stands shoulder to shoulder with you,” he assured.
Reiterating his mantra of Reform, Perform, Transform, the Prime Minister said India’s semiconductor mission is entering its next phase. He invited global investors to join India’s journey, stating: “Design is ready, mask is aligned. Now is the time for precision execution and delivery at scale. The day is not far when the world will say—Designed in India, Made in India, Trusted by the World.”
Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jitin Prasada, along with the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Odisha, were present at the event.
Vaishnaw presented the first made-in-India 32-bit processor chip to the Prime Minister during the event, marking a milestone in the country’s semiconductor journey. Vaishnaw said five semiconductor units are currently under construction, one pilot line is completed, and more will soon begin production. He invited global investors to take advantage of India’s strong demand and robust electronics growth, adding that “this is the time for you to be in India.”
The conference, themed “Building a Robust, Resilient and Sustainable Semiconductor Ecosystem”, will run until September 4. It will feature sessions on semiconductor fabs, advanced packaging, R&D, AI, workforce development, and state-level policies, along with country roundtables and pavilions dedicated to start-ups and global collaborations.