Semicon India 2025: India’s Chip Revolution Begins with PM Modi’s Inauguration

Introduction

India has taken a monumental leap in its semiconductor ambitions with Semicon India 2025—a landmark event inaugurated by PM Modi that signifies the nation’s determined stride toward becoming a global semiconductor powerhouse.

Setting the Stage: PM Modi Inaugurates Semicon India 2025

On September 2, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched Semicon India 2025 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi. The three-day summit (September 2–4) brings together over 350 exhibitors from 33 countries, under the theme “Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse”.

Strategic Objectives of Semicon India 2025

The conference underscores India’s concerted effort to strengthen its semiconductor ecosystem through:

• Boosting self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in microelectronics.

• Showcasing semiconductor capabilities across fabrication, R&D, packaging, and AI.

• Highlighting public–private partnerships, startup innovation, and global cooperation.

Key Highlights from the Opening

• Vikram 32-bit microprocessor: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, Vikram, accompanied by test chips from four government-approved semiconductor initiatives, presenting them to PM Modi.

• Role of States: Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the state’s pavilion, emphasizing regional involvement in the national semiconductor vision.

Building the Ecosystem: Innovation, Investment & Infrastructure

• Scale and Scope: The event is a major scale-up from previous editions—boasting 300–350 companies from 18–33 nations, featuring country pavilions, state delegations, and international roundtables.

• Strategic Projects: The Semicon India program has approved 10 strategic projects spanning high-volume fabs, advanced packaging, compound semiconductors, and OSAT facilities.

• Innovation Support: Over 280 academic institutions and 72 startups are now equipped with advanced design tools. Under the DLI (Design-Linked Incentive) scheme, 23 startups have been approved.

Momentum Beyond the Summit

• Global Confidence: International players are stepping in to bridge gaps in India’s semiconductor supply chain, seeing opportunity in the country’s strategic push.

• Investments: U.S.-based Lam Research plans a ₹10,000 crore (~US $1.2 billion) investment in Karnataka, underscoring investor confidence in India’s growing chip infrastructure.

• Talent Surge: The semiconductor sector is witnessing a hiring boom—freshers are being offered ₹6–12 lakh per annum, with internships offering stipends up to ₹50,000/month. The market is expected to soar to $103 billion by 2030, fueling broader growth in electronics.

Why Semicon India 2025 Matters

• Catalyst for Atmanirbhar Bharat: The summit blends manufacturing, design, talent, and innovation to reinforce India’s tech self-reliance.

• Economic Multiplier: The ripple effect extends across job creation, infrastructure development, and supply-chain robustness.

• Global Integration: Bringing global leaders to India helps integrate Indian semiconductor aspirations into international value chains.

• Youth & Innovation: By empowering startups and institutions, the event sets the stage for a burgeoning domestic chip design and fabrication ecosystem.

What Lies Ahead

The unveiling of Vikram and the enthusiastic industry response point to a promising trajectory for India’s semiconductor future. Upcoming developments to watch:

• Take-off of manufacturing units supported by Semicon India-approved strategic projects.

• Growth in internship-to-employment pipelines and workforce capacity through academic labs and fabs.

• Further foreign and domestic investments driven by policy incentives like DLI, PLI, and ECMS.

• The transition from event momentum to a self-sustaining semiconductor ecosystem.

Conclusion

Semicon India 2025, inaugurated by PM Modi, is more than an expo—it’s a statement of intent. With strategic projects, global partnerships, and inspiring innovation, India is actively shaping its future as a semiconductor powerhouse. The summit marks a pivotal step in a journey toward technological sovereignty, economic growth, and global leadership in microelectronics.

Summary Table: Key Stats at a Glance