India Ready to Lead in Semiconductors, Says PM Modi at Semicon India 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the Semicon India Conference 2025 on Tuesday, said the world now trusts India and is ready to partner with it in building the future of semiconductors. His remarks signaled India's growing ambition to become a key player in the global semiconductor industry.

Delivering the inaugural address at the three-day conference, PM Modi said the government would soon introduce the “next generation of reforms” to further strengthen the sector.

“The day is not far when the world will say: Designed in India, Made in India, and Trusted by the World,” he said. “Even the smallest chip made in India will drive the biggest change globally.”

Highlighting the strategic importance of semiconductors, Modi drew a powerful analogy: “Oil was black gold, but chips are diamonds.”

He also announced that India is developing a Critical Minerals Mission to ensure the supply of rare earth elements and other key materials essential for chip manufacturing.

Since 2021, the government has approved 10 semiconductor projects with a combined investment of $18 billion, a figure Modi called a strong indicator of global confidence in India's potential.

Touching on India’s economic resilience, he pointed to the country’s 7.8% GDP growth in the first quarter of FY 2025-26. “At a time when many economies are struggling due to economic selfishness, India has outperformed every expectation. This growth is across every sector,” he said.

Emphasising the need for speed and efficiency in the semiconductor industry, Modi quipped, “The less paperwork there is, the more wafer work there will be.” He added confidently, “Our journey in this sector may have started late, but nothing can stop us now. Commercial chips will begin rolling out from India this year.”

In a symbolic moment during the event, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented Modi with the first made-in-India chip, as well as the Vikram 32-bit processor and test chips from four approved projects.

The Semicon India 2025 conference is focused on accelerating India’s semiconductor ecosystem. It includes sessions on fab and advanced packaging projects, infrastructure readiness, R&D, AI innovations, manufacturing, and state-level policies. The event aims to position India as a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing and innovation.