New Delhi, 06 November (H.S.): The Semicon India 2.0 Web Application Portal was launched on Friday, alongside the announcement of 12 applicants approved under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). On the occasion, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the expansion of the electronics industry as an important step towards achieving self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. He said India was progressing systematically from manufacturing finished products to modules and components, and subsequently to raw materials.

Speaking about the Semicon India 2.0 Web Application Portal, Vaishnaw said the government would begin accepting applications under the second, third and fourth pillars of the semiconductor programme. He described the initiative as another step towards strengthening India's electronics and semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

He said that, following the latest approvals, a total of 118 units related to electronics component manufacturing were being established across the country. Many of these units would be capable of meeting domestic demand while also contributing to the growth of exports.

Vaishnaw recalled that when mobile phone manufacturing began in India, the Opposition had dismissed it as merely 'screwdriver technology'. However, he said the country was now manufacturing not only the components required for electronic devices but also the materials and machinery used in their production.

The minister said the electronics industry currently provides employment to around 2.5 million people. India had earlier been heavily dependent on a single foreign country for critical components such as battery cells and anode and cathode materials. However, domestic manufacturing of these products was now helping reduce dependence on imports.

He added that India was also manufacturing products such as anode and cathode materials, copper foil, flexible and 20-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs), optical transceivers, relays and capacitors.

During the event, S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), said the web portal had been launched to invite applications in three major areas under Semicon India 2.0, including semiconductor equipment and materials. The scheme was launched with a total financial outlay of Rs. 1.27 lakh crore and is structured around six pillars.

Krishnan said 12 new projects were being initiated under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, involving an investment of Rs. 7,503 crore. The projects are aimed at developing domestic capabilities in the upstream segments of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.

He further said that investment proposals worth a total of Rs. 77,051 crore had been approved so far. The production target had been increased from Rs. 4.56 lakh crore to Rs. 5.73 lakh crore. The employment target under the scheme stands at 91,600, against which employment opportunities for 81,755 people have already been generated.

Under the ECMS, a total of 118 applications covering 34 products across 16 states have also been approved.

The launch of the portal and the latest project approvals are part of the government's broader efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities and build a more comprehensive electronics and semiconductor supply chain in India.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar