Union information technology and electronics minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday that India’s first semiconductor chip, ranging from 28 to 90 nm, will be introduced this year.

Speaking at the CII Business Summit, Vaishnaw addressed critics who doubted India’s ability to enter the semiconductor manufacturing sector. He explained that the strategy targeted a segment covering 60 per cent of the market volume through a focused approach.

“We currently have six units under construction and will roll out the first made-in-India chip this year. Our manufacturing journey began in 2022," Vaishnaw said.

At the CNN-News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025 in Delhi last month, the minister said that India would start producing chips this year, and plants are currently being set up while validation is in process. “We will have a made-in-India chip this year," he said.

The minister has also frequently referred to the work done under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), which was set up in December 2021 to incentivise semiconductor manufacturers to set up their facilities and operational plans in India. The mission’s incentive package includes financial support for companies establishing semiconductor fabrication units, display fabrication units, compound semiconductor units, semiconductor assembly, testing, marking and packaging units, along with design-linked incentives.

In December 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Semicon India programme with a total outlay of Rs 76,000 crore for the development of a semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country. The programme aims to provide financial support to companies investing in semiconductors, display manufacturing, and design ecosystems.

According to a Reuters report, India’s semiconductor market is projected to reach $63 billion by 2026.