Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, putting the spotlight on India’s growing semiconductor manufacturing ambitions and its efforts to build a stronger technology ecosystem.
Speaking at the event, Modi said India has moved beyond simply planning for semiconductor production, with chips now reaching customers. He said the country is working to position itself as a trusted destination for global semiconductor manufacturing and urged the industry to prepare India for an early leadership role in emerging technologies.
The fifth edition of SEMICON India is being held from September 17 to 19 under the theme “Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem”. The event brings together semiconductor companies, policymakers, investors, researchers, startups and other stakeholders from India and abroad.
Semicon 2.0 Gets Bigger Push
Modi highlighted the expansion of the India Semiconductor Mission as the government moves into its second phase.
Semicon 2.0 has been approved with a total outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore, building on the ₹76,000-crore Semicon 1.0 programme. The government has so far approved 12 semiconductor projects, while three of the projects have already started commercial production, according to official data.
The Prime Minister said the global semiconductor industry needs additional reliable manufacturing locations and that India is preparing to play a larger role in the supply chain.
He also stressed the need for a policy environment that remains predictable and responsive so that companies can make long-term investment decisions.
Modi Points to Fast-Moving Indian Economy
The Prime Minister also referred to several developments from September to underline the pace of India’s economic and infrastructure growth.
He pointed to the Global Fintech Fest held in Mumbai, where discussions included technologies such as agentic AI, tokenisation and quantum technology. He also referred to the completion of around 3,000 kilometres of dedicated freight corridors, saying the expansion would improve logistics and support manufacturing.
Modi further cited India’s latest quarterly GDP growth figure of 7.8 per cent and said the country’s economic expansion was accompanied by growing international confidence.
Focus on Semiconductor Ecosystem
Modi said India needs to develop the complete semiconductor ecosystem rather than concentrating only on chip manufacturing.
He highlighted areas including compound semiconductor production and the integration of silicon photonics, particularly as the demand for infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence continues to grow.
The government has also been supporting semiconductor design, research and innovation. Official data says design tools have been made available to more than 332 academic institutions and 105 startups, while 24 startups have been approved under the Design Linked Incentive scheme.
The Prime Minister urged equipment manufacturers and other companies in the semiconductor supply chain to consider the opportunities emerging in India.
SEMICON India Brings Global Industry Together
SEMICON India 2026 is designed to cover the semiconductor and electronics value chain, including manufacturing, technology, supply chains, AI and digital transformation, research, startups, skills and product development.
The government had said before the event that more than 600 exhibitors, around 300 international companies and delegations from more than 40 countries were expected to participate.
The three-day event is intended to provide a platform for companies, investors, policymakers and researchers to explore partnerships and opportunities as India seeks to expand its semiconductor manufacturing and electronics capabilities.
