India has reached a milestone in electronics manufacturing, with 99.2% of mobile handsets used domestically being produced within the country, according to Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology. Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, the minister highlighted India’s transition from being a major importer of mobile phones in FY 2014-15, when 74% of handsets were imported, to becoming a mobile exporting nation.
The domestic electronics sector has witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade, surging from ₹1,90,366 crore in FY 2014-15 to ₹9,52,000 crore in FY 2023-24, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 17%.
Prasada acknowledged the challenges faced by the sector, including higher capital expenditure requirements, longer gestation periods, scaling production, and maintaining global competitiveness in quality and pricing. Despite these hurdles, the sector has generated approximately 25 lakh jobs, both direct and indirect, as per industry estimates.
To further boost the industry, the government has approved the ₹76,000 crore Semicon India programme, aimed at developing a robust semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem. Additionally, initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for large-scale electronics and IT hardware manufacturing and the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS) are driving the sector’s growth.
India’s electronics industry is now positioned as a key player in the global market, fostering employment and advancing technological self-reliance.
