India transitions from mobile phone importer to exporter as semiconductor projects advance

The question asked the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to state measures taken to promote semiconductor manufacturing and strengthen the electronics ecosystem, including details on the India Semiconductor Mission, incentives, and impact on employment and exports.

Asked and answered by: Asked by Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam; Answered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw).

What the government said

• Listed major schemes: PLI for Large Scale Electronics, PLI 2.0 for IT Hardware, EMC 2.0, SPECS, and ECMS.
• Electronics production increased from ~1.9 Lakh Cr (2014-15) to ~13.11 Lakh Cr (2025-26).
• Electronics exports increased from ~38 thousand Cr (2014-15) to ~4.24 Lakh Cr (2025-26).
• Mobile phone production increased 33 times and exports increased 165 times between 2014-15 and 2025-26.
• Approximately 99.2% of mobile phones used in India are made in India.
• Smartphones became India's top exported individual commodity in FY 2025-26.
• The electronics manufacturing sector supports approximately 25 lakh jobs (direct and indirect).
• Union Cabinet approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with a budgetary outlay of Rs 62,500 crore.
• Under Semicon India Programme, 12 manufacturing projects were approved across 6 states with total investment commitments of about ₹1.64 lakh crore.
• Commercial production has commenced from three of the approved semiconductor plants.
• Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 on 15.07.2026 with an outlay of ₹1.27 lakh crore.
• Semicon 2.0 focuses on six pillars: Chip Design, Machines/Materials, Fabs, ATMP/OSAT, R&D, and Talent Development.

Also in the document

• The answer states that India transitioned from being a net importer of mobile phones in 2014 to a net exporter.
• The answer notes that three out of the twelve approved semiconductor projects have already commenced commercial production.