India's Semiconductor Mission: From Chip Design to its Production

India launched its Semiconductor Mission in 2021 to strengthen its presence in the global chip ecosystem. The current global semiconductor market is valued at around USD 600 billion (₹60,000 crore) and is projected to reach USD 1 trillion (₹1,00,000 crore) in the coming years. Semiconductors, often described as the “digital diamond”, form the backbone of the modern digital era. They are indispensable for powering supercomputers, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, defense systems, and smartphones. Until now, the world’s leading semiconductor production has been concentrated in Taiwan, South Korea, and the United States. India has long contributed to the sector through design centers of global companies like Intel and Qualcomm in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Noida. For the first time, however, actual chip production has begun in India, with Micron Technology, in partnership with Tata Electronics, setting up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. A defining moment in India’s semiconductor journey came during Semicon India 2025, held on September 2–3, 2025, in New Delhi. At the event, the nation unveiled its first indigenously developed 32-bit microprocessor chip, named Vikram-32. Developed at ISRO’s Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh, Vikram-32 is a space-grade processor designed to function under the extreme conditions of rocket launches and space missions. Beyond space, it also holds applications in defense systems, aerospace technologies, automotive electronics, and high-reliability energy systems. Parallel to this, Tata Electronics is establishing a ₹27,000 crore (~USD 3.6 billion) chip assembly and testing facility at Jagiroad, Assam. Scheduled to begin operations in mid-2025, this facility is expected to create 25,000–30,000 jobs, providing a major boost to India’s semiconductor ecosystem and employment landscape.