Chips ‘digital diamonds’, says PM Modi world ready to trust India

By R Anil Kumar 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of chipsets at the Semicon 2025 summit, stating that the future will see products designed and made in India

• PM emphasizes the significance of chips in driving global development, comparing them to digital diamonds

• India will hold a significant share in the global semiconductor market, which is set to reach $1 trillion in size, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, adding that the government is working to ensure faster approvals to reduce the time it takes to start manufacturing semiconductors in India

New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the growing importance of semiconductors while addressing the Semicon India 2025 summit in New Delhi.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Modi said, “We are ready to welcome all the investors…The day is not far when the world will say, “Designed in India, Made in India, Trusted by the World”

“It is said in the semiconductor world that oil was black gold, but chips are digital diamonds. Our last century was shaped by oil… But the power of the 21st century is limited to a small chip. This chip has the power to accelerate the development of the world…” he added

Semicon India 2025:

Top things to know

1) First “Made-in-India” chip presented:

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the Vikram 32-bit processor and test chips from four approved projects to PM Modi at Semicon India.

Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw said, “Just a few years ago, we met for the first time to make a new beginning driven by our Prime Minister’s farsighted vision, we launched the India Semiconductor mission…In a short span of 3.5 years, we have the world looking at India with confidence.

Today, the construction of five Semiconductor units is going on at a rapid pace…We just presented the first “Made-in-India” chip to PM Modi…” Vaishnaw said.

2) ‘World trusts India’:

PM Modi while speaking at Semicon- 2025said that the world is ready to build semiconductor future with India.

“Today am here with the confidence that the world trusts India, the world believes in India and the world is ready to build the semiconductor future with India.” the Prime Minister said.

3) India ready to become full stack semiconductor nation:

The Prime Minister also noted that India is coming out of the backend to become a full stack semiconductor nation. He said, “The day is not far when India’s smallest chip will drive the biggest change in the world. Our journey started late, but nothing can stop us now….” he said.

4) Over Rs. 1.5 lakh investment being made in 10 semiconductor projects:

PM Modi also talked about the progress being made under the Semicon India plan in last few years.

“By the year 2023, India’s first semiconductor plant was approved. In 2024, we approved additional plants. In 2025, we cleared five additional projects. Overall, an investment of more than Rs. 1.5 lakh crore is being made in ten semiconductor projects.

This shows the world’s growing trust in India…We have implemented the National Single Window System. Through this, all the approvals from the Centre and the states are being received on a single platform. As a result, our investors are now freed from a significant amount of paperwork…” he added

PM Modi said that India has been performing better than every expectation, every assessment, citing the GDP numbers for the first quarter of this year released recently.

“At a time when there are concerns in the economy of the world, there are challenges created by economic selfishness; in that environment, India has achieved a growth of 7.8 per cent…,” PM Modi said.

5) What is Semicon India?

Semicon India 2025 is a three day conference being held at the Yashobhoomi, India International Conventions Center in New Delhi. The conference focuses on building a robus, resilient and sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in India.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Semicon India – 2025’, aimed at catalysing India’s Semiconductor ecosystem, at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister acknowledged the presence of semiconductor industry CEOs and their associates from India and abroad.

The PM welcomed distinguished guests from various countries, entrepreneurs associated with start-ups, and young students who had come from different states across the nation.

PM Modi stated that he returned last night from his visit to Japan and China, and today he is present among the audience in Yashobhoomi, a hall filled with aspirations and confidence.

Mentioning his passion for technology has always been natural and well-known, the Prime Minister said that during his recent visit to Japan, he had the opportunity to visit the Tokyo Electron factory along with Japanese Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Shigeru Ishiba.

He mentioned that the CEO of that company is present among the audience. The Prime Minister emphasized that his inclination towards technology repeatedly brings him among such gatherings. He expressed that being present among the audience today brings him great joy.

Noting the presence of semiconductor sector experts from across the globe, with representation from over 40 to 50 countries, PM Modi emphasized that India’s innovation and youth power are also visibly present at the event. He stated that this unique combination sends a clear message, “The World trusts India, the World believes in India and the World is ready to build the Semiconductor Future with India”. The Prime Minister welcomed all distinguished guests attending Semicon India and affirmed that they are important partners in India’s journey towards a developed and self-reliant nation.

Pointing to the GDP figures for the first quarter of this year that were released recently, the Prime Minister said, “Once again, India has outperformed every expectation, every estimate, and every forecast”. He noted that while economies around the world are facing concerns and challenges driven by economic self-interest, India has achieved a growth rate of 7.8 percent.

PM Modi emphasized that this growth is visible across all sectors—manufacturing, services, agriculture, and construction—with enthusiasm evident everywhere. He remarked that India’s rapid growth is infusing new energy across industries and among every citizen. He affirmed that this trajectory of growth is propelling India swiftly towards becoming the third largest economy in the world.

Remarking that in the world of semiconductors, it is often said, ‘Oil was black gold, but chips are digital diamonds’, the Prime Minister stated that oil shaped the previous century, and the fate of the world was determined by oil wells.

The global economy fluctuated based on how much petroleum was extracted from these wells. However, he emphasized that the power of the 21st century is now concentrated in the small chip. Though tiny in size, these chips possess the potential to accelerate global progress significantly. PM

Modi highlighted that the global semiconductor market has already reached $600 billion, and in the coming years, it is expected to surpass $1 trillion. He expressed confidence that, given the pace at which India is advancing in the semiconductor sector, India will hold a significant share in this $1 trillion market.

Stating that he wished to highlight the speed at which India is progressing, PM Modi recalled that in 2021, the Semicon India programme was launched. He added that by 2023, India’s first semiconductor plant had been approved, in 2024, several more plants received approval and in 2025, five additional projects were cleared.

He further stated that in total, ten semiconductor projects are now underway, involving an investment of over eighteen billion dollars — more than Rs. 1.5 lakh crore. The Prime Minister emphasized that this reflects the growing global trust in India.

Emphasising that in the semiconductor sector, speed matters, Modi said, “the shorter the time from file to factory, and the lesser the paperwork, the sooner wafer work can begin”. He stressed that the government is working with this very approach.

The National Single Window System has been implemented, enabling all approvals from both the Centre and States to be accessed on a single platform. As a result, investors have been freed from extensive paperwork, he further added.

The Prime Minister highlighted that semiconductor parks are being developed across the country under a plug-and-play infrastructure model, which offer facilities such as land, power supply, port and airport connectivity, and access to a skilled worker pool. He remarked that when such infrastructure is combined with incentives, industrial growth is inevitable.

Whether through PLI incentives or Design Linked Grants, India is offering end-to-end capabilities. This is why investment continues to flow in, he emphasised. Affirming that India is moving beyond backend operations and progressing towards becoming a full-stack semiconductor nation, PM Modi reiterated that the day is not far when India’s smallest chip will drive the world’s biggest change. He stated, “Our journey began late… but nothing can stop us now.” The Prime Minister informed that CG Power’s pilot plant commenced operations on August 28, just 4–5 days ago. He added that the pilot plant of Kaynes is also about to begin. Test chips from Micron and Tata are already in production.

He reiterated that commercial chip production will begin this year, underscoring the rapid progress India is making in the semiconductor sector. Emphasizing that India’s semiconductor success story is not confined to a single vertical or a single technology, the Prime Minister stated that India is building a comprehensive ecosystem— one that encompasses designing, manufacturing, packaging, and high-tech devices, all within the country.

He clarified that the Semiconductor Mission is not limited to establishing a single fab or producing a single chip. Rather, India is creating a robust semiconductor ecosystem that will make the nation self-reliant and globally competitive, the Prime Minister added.

Underlining another key feature of India’s semiconductor mission, PM Modi said that the country is advancing in this sector alongside the world’s most advanced technologies. He stated that India’s focus is to empower emerging technologies through chips manufactured domestically. The Prime Minister noted that design centres being developed in Noida and Bengaluru are working on some of the world’s most advanced chips—capable of storing billions of transistors. He emphasized that these chips will power the immersive technologies of the 21st century.

Addressing the challenges faced by the global semiconductor sector, the Prime Minister affirmed that India is actively working to overcome them. He remarked that while towering buildings and impressive physical infrastructure are visible in cities, their foundation lies in steel. Similarly, the foundation of India’s digital infrastructure is built on critical minerals.

PM  Modi stated that India is currently working on the National Critical Mineral Mission and is committed to meeting its demand for rare minerals domestically. He added that over the past four years, significant progress has been made on critical minerals projects.

Underscoring that the government envisions a significant role for start-ups and MSMEs in the growth of the semiconductor sector, the Prime Minister highlighted that India contributes 20 percent of the world’s semiconductor design talent, and that the country’s youth represent the largest human capital factory for the semiconductor industry.

Addressing young entrepreneurs, innovators, and start-ups, PM Modi urged them to come forward, assuring that the government stands shoulder to shoulder with them. He emphasized that the Design Linked Incentive Scheme and the Chips-to-Startup Programme are specifically designed for them. He also announced that the Design Linked Incentive Scheme is being restructured to better serve its objectives.

The Prime Minister stated that the government is committed to developing Indian intellectual property (IP) in this sector. He added that the recently launched National Research Fund will also support this effort through strategic tie-ups. Noting that several states are actively participating in the semiconductor mission, with many having formulated special policies for the sector, the Prime Minister said that these states are focusing on developing dedicated infrastructure. He called upon all states to engage in healthy competition with one another to build semiconductor ecosystems and enhance the investment climate within their regions.

“India has reached this stage by following the mantra of Reform, Perform, and Transform. A new phase of next-generation reforms will soon be initiated”, stated the Prime Minister affirming that work is underway on the next phase of the India Semiconductor Mission.

Addressing all investors present, he expressed India’s readiness to welcome them with an open heart and said, “Design is ready. Mask is aligned. Now is the time for precision execution and delivery at scale”. He emphasized that India’s policies are not short-term signals but long-term commitments and assured that every investor’s needs will be met.

“The day is not far when the world will say: Designed in India, Made in India, Trusted by the World”, said the Prime Minister. He concluded by expressing his wish that every bit of India’s efforts be successful, every byte be filled with innovation, and the journey remain error-free and high-performance.

Union Ministers, Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mr. Jitin Prasada, Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Odisha, Mr. Mohan Charan Majhi were present among other dignitaries at the event.

Background

Semicon India – 2025 is a three-day Conference, from 2nd to 4th September, will focus on advancing a robust, resilient, and sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in India. It features sessions on the progress of the Semicon India Programme, semiconductor fab and advanced packaging projects, infrastructure readiness, smart manufacturing, innovations in R&D and artificial intelligence, investment opportunities, state-level policy implementation, among others. Additionally, the event will highlight initiatives under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, the growth of the startup ecosystem, international cooperation, and the future roadmap for India’s semiconductor sector.

Over 20,750 attendees will participate including more than 2,500 delegates from over 48 countries, over 150 speakers, including over 50 global leaders, and more than 350 exhibitors. It will also include 6 countries Round Table discussions, country pavilions and dedicated pavilions for Workforce Development & Start-Ups among others.