India is likely to have five to six semiconductor projects in commercial production by the end of 2026, marking the next phase in the country’s efforts to build a semiconductor ecosystem, MeitY secretary S Krishnan said on Tuesday.Speaking at a press conference to announce the fifth edition of Semicon India 2026, Krishnan said three major projects cleared under the first phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM 1.0) have already started commercial production. More are expected to be inaugurated before the close of the year.“The Prime Minister inaugurated the first of those on February 28, followed by two more, and there is a likelihood that more will be inaugurated before the end of this year,” he said. “We should touch about five or six before the end of this calendar year.”Krishnan said the projects moving into commercial production would provide evidence of the “actual on-ground success” of ISM 1.0 and help reinforce India’s credibility as a destination for the global semiconductor industry.The government is also looking to broaden the scope of its semiconductor push through ISM 2.0, which has received Union Cabinet approval. The new phase will cover areas including chip design, manufacturing, advanced packaging, equipment, materials, R&D and development of skilled talent.Under ISM 2.0, the government will support research and development and encourage the adoption of more advanced technologies, while also promoting areas such as silicon photonics and power semiconductors, Krishnan said.Building a workforce for semiconductor manufacturing will be another focus area. While India has a substantial presence in semiconductor design, Krishnan said the manufacturing workforce still needs to be strengthened.“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…” he said.He said such training could help India meet its own requirement for skilled semiconductor manufacturing personnel while also creating a talent pool for other countries.
Semicon India 2026 to bring global industry together
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the fifth edition of SEMICON India 2026 on September 17 at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre) in New Delhi.The event is expected to see participation from more than 240 international companies, over 150 globally renowned speakers and delegations representing more than 40 countries. Six country-specific pavilions are also expected to be part of the event.Krishnan said India’s semiconductor opportunity is also expanding, with domestic demand expected to double to around $200 billion from $100 billion.Against this backdrop, he said the growing pipeline of semiconductor projects would create significant opportunities for global companies and expressed hope that Semicon India 2026 would help promote greater industry partnerships and investment.
