New Delhi, September 10 (ANI): India is preparing to take its semiconductor programme to the next level, shifting focus from 28-nanometre fabrication plants to the production of advanced 5–7 nanometre chips, according to Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

 

Singh explained that the government’s continued investments in this sector aim to close the gap with leading global players in chip manufacturing. “Our policies and funding are meant to help India reach global standards in semiconductor technology,” he said in an interaction with ANI.

 

Highlighting the progress already achieved, Singh noted that several Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) units and fabrication facilities have been launched in collaboration with major industry partners. “We began with multiple ATMP plants, with fabrication support from Tata and other companies, in states like Gujarat, Assam and Odisha. Additional units have also received approval,” he added.

 

Although India initially started with 28-nanometre fabs, Singh stressed that the long-term vision is to quickly scale up to far more sophisticated levels. “The plan is not to stop at 28 nanometres. The government is determined to move ahead to 5–7 nanometre chip production in the coming years,” he said.

 

The upcoming phase of this initiative, Singh mentioned, will be backed by stronger policy frameworks and incentive programmes. “With Semicon 2.0 and the design-led incentive scheme, India aims to move higher in the semiconductor value chain and strengthen its role in the global ecosystem,” he remarked.

 

He further pointed out that the mission goes beyond just manufacturing. “Our focus also includes designing chips for artificial intelligence and GPUs within India. Achieving this will allow us to overcome several challenges and establish India’s position in the AI revolution,” Singh stated.

 

Semiconductors form the backbone of modern digital infrastructure, powering healthcare, defence, communication, transport and space technology. With the world increasingly dependent on automation and digitalisation, semiconductors are now a matter of economic and strategic importance.

 

Since the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021, India’s journey has moved rapidly from concept to implementation. To fuel this transformation, the government introduced a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme worth ₹76,000 crore, with nearly ₹65,000 crore already committed.

 

A major milestone was achieved on August 28 with the launch of one of India’s first end-to-end Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) pilot facilities in Sanand, Gujarat. CG-Semi, the company behind the project, is expected to roll out the first “Made in India” chip from this centre soon. In June 2023, approval was also granted for the establishment of a semiconductor unit in Sanand.