Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Monday that ‘Bharat’ is set to emerge as a significant player in the entire electronics ecosystem, encompassing design, manufacturing, operating systems, applications, materials, and equipment.

In a post on X, the minister mentioned that a significant achievement for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and “our aspiration to transform into a producer economy” is that Apple is projected to ship mobile phones worth $50 billion in 2025.

He observed that electronics production has multiplied six times over the past 11 years, and exports of electronics have surged eightfold under PM Modi’s dedicated leadership. This advancement has positioned electronics products among the top three items exported from the country, Vaishnaw stated.

He also mentioned that to enhance the ecosystem, 46 projects focused on component manufacturing as well as manufacturers of laptops, servers, and hearing devices are making electronics manufacturing a crucial component of the manufacturing economy.

“Four semiconductor plants are anticipated to begin commercial production this year,” the minister disclosed, adding that the electronics manufacturing sector now accounts for 2.5 million jobs, with many factories employing above 5,000 workers at a single site. Some facilities are hiring up to 40,000 employees in one location, he noted, claiming, “this is merely the beginning.”

Last week, the industry expressed its approval for the government’s endorsement of 22 new initiatives under the third tranche of the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), describing it as a pivotal turning point in India’s quest for extensive manufacturing and the establishment of globally competitive Indian leaders in electronics components.

With this latest development, the total count of ECMS-approved initiatives has reached 46, resulting in cumulative approved investments exceeding Rs 54,500 crore. Previous tranches saw the approval of seven projects valued at Rs 5,532 crore on October 22 and 17 projects totaling Rs 7,172 crore on November 17. The swift expansion across tranches highlights the robust industry response and the increasing confidence in India’s vision for components manufacturing.

As per the IT Ministry, the 22 projects sanctioned in the third tranche are anticipated to generate production valued at Rs 2,58,152 crore and create 33,791 direct employment opportunities.