India’s First Indigenous Semiconductor Chip is Set to Make Us Atmanirbhar

India is at the verge of making a historical technological advancement, the introduction of its own indigenous semiconductor chip by the end of 2025. This success, declared by Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, is a breakthrough in India’s quest to become self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) in high-tech manufacturing, a domain occupied till now by international heavyweights.

India has been dependent on imports to service its semiconductor requirements in the last few decades, which means that the nation is susceptible to global supply chain failures. The new chip which is being produced in the range of 28-90 nanometre (nm) and below is not only a technical achievement but a strategic one at that. That segment alone represents close to 60 percent of worldwide chip demand, used in everything from automotive electronics and telecommunications to industrial power systems and railway technologies. India is catering to the instant market demands and building the foundation of the future developments by targeting this sweet spot.

It was the Semicon India programme of the government that was kicked off in 2022 with an enormous 76,000 crore budget. Six state of art semiconductor fabrication units are being set up within the country with the flagship plant at Dholera in Gujarat being developed in joint venture with Tata Electronics and PSMC of Taiwan. One more large facility is underway in Assam, and a sixth fab is planned in Uttar Pradesh in a joint project between HCL and Foxconn. Such fabs are not only going to manufacture the chips, but also will generate thousands of high-technology employment opportunities and develop a strong research, design, and manufacturing ecosystem.

Semiconductors are the intelligence of all present-day electronics. Producing own chips, India will:

• Lessen the level of import dependence and conserve foreign exchange.
• Enhance national security by making sure that critical infrastructure does not depend on foreign technology.
• Develop engineer, technician, and researcher level high value jobs.
• Boost the Make in India initiative and establish the nation as a manufacturing center of the world.

The government too is buying talent, whereby there is a programme of training 85,000 engineers in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. This will foster the constant availability of professionals to drive the industry.

It is the opportunity of a generation for electronics and computer science students and professionals. The digital economy of the world revolves around the chip industry. With India entering the semiconductor fabrication, the following will be in high demand:

• Chip design engineers Design engineers
• Experts in processes and fabrications
• Quality control specialists
• R&D professionals
• Manufacturing and supply chain managers

With the emphasis on indigenous intellectual property (IP) and design, 25 chips with Indian IP are already being developed, so there is a place for innovations, entrepreneurship, research. Granted, the ecosystem being developed is not only focused on manufacturing but on the whole value chain, including design and deployment.

The launch of this chip is a mere beginning. The goal of the government is to transform India into a global semiconductor supply chain leader by 2047, serving artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), automobiles, telecommunication, and other industries. Through calculated investments, global partnerships, and an emphasis on infrastructure that is fit for the future, India will soon graduate as a technology consumer to a technology creator.

If you are a student who aspires to make a career in the electronic field, or a working professional in the technology industry, or just a proud Indian, the unveiling of the first indigenous semiconductor chip made in India is a tale of ambition, innovation, and self-reliance. It is an invitation to be part of the upcoming period of Indian development where your talent, innovativeness and enthusiasm can make a difference in the future.

So be informed, be competent, and prepare to join the semiconductor revolution in India by pursuing a career in B.Tech via GCSET!