Technology

PM Modi Leads Semiconductor Roundtable to Strengthen India's Chip Ecosystem

2026-09-17 - ABikram Mondal

Modi Convenes Top CEOs for Semiconductor Push

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a Semiconductor Roundtable in New Delhi on September 16, 2026. He met leading CEOs at Seva Teerth to discuss government and industry roles in building India's technology base. The session focused on talent development, infrastructure and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Modi pointed to India's existing strengths in skilled people, technology adoption and physical facilities. He urged greater private sector involvement in training programs, research and new technology areas. One stated target remains training one crore people in AI skills.

CEOs from companies including SEMI, Micron, Infineon, Applied Materials, ASML, Merck, Tokyo Electron, FujiFilm, AMD, Intel, Tata Electronics, Lam Research, Rapidus, NXP, Foxconn and others attended. Participants voiced commitment to making India a competitive semiconductor and technology centre.

The meeting came one day before the start of SEMICON India 2026. That three-day event runs from September 17 to 19 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi under the theme Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem.

Government Outlay and Project Pipeline

The Semicon India Programme 2.0 carries an outlay of Rs 1,27,500 crore. It covers chip design, semiconductor equipment and materials, fabrication facilities, advanced packaging, research and development plus talent development. Twelve semiconductor projects have received approval across six states. These carry investment commitments exceeding Rs 1.64 lakh crore.

Projects include silicon and compound semiconductor fabrication, display fabrication and advanced packaging. Six of the twelve approved plants are expected in Gujarat, with major activity around Sanand and Dholera. The India Semiconductor Mission continues to drive these efforts.

Modi stressed that government and industry must work together to shape the country's technology future. He noted the combination of India's talent pool and global industry experience can open significant opportunities.

SEMICON India 2026 will bring together chipmakers, policymakers, investors and industry leaders. The event aims to move India's semiconductor efforts from stated ambition toward a full operating ecosystem.

Comparison of Key Investment and Capacity Figures

India's semiconductor programme now sits alongside efforts in other major economies. Actual reported numbers for approved projects and outlays provide a direct view.

Parameter	India (Semicon India 2.0)	United States (CHIPS Act scale)	European Union (Chips Act targets)
Total programme outlay	Rs 1,27,500 crore	Approximately $52 billion	Approximately 43 billion euros
Approved or committed projects	12 projects, over Rs 1.64 lakh crore investment	Multiple fabs announced, tens of billions in private investment	Multiple facilities targeted for advanced nodes
Focus areas	Design, fabrication, packaging, equipment, talent	Leading-edge logic and memory fabs	Advanced manufacturing and research
Timeline emphasis	2026 onward expansion	Production ramps 2025-2027	Capacity targets by 2030

These figures come from government statements and programme documents. Direct plant-by-plant comparisons remain limited because many Indian projects are still in early stages.

What the Numbers Leave Unsaid

Approved investments and outlays show scale. They do not yet reveal actual production volumes, yield rates or the precise process nodes that will be manufactured in India. Many projects involve partnerships with global firms, so technology transfer details and final ownership structures will matter for long-term control.

Training targets such as one crore people in AI skills set a large goal. Delivery depends on curriculum quality, industry absorption of graduates and retention of talent within the country. Infrastructure beyond the announced plants, including reliable power and water supply for fabs, will also determine success.

Global supply chain realities remain. Equipment and materials still come largely from established suppliers outside India. Building domestic capability in these areas forms part of the programme but will take sustained effort.

Who Stands to Gain Most

Indian design houses and startups working on chip architecture and software stand to benefit from expanded local manufacturing options. They gain proximity to fabrication capacity and potential policy support for domestic content.

State governments hosting the twelve approved projects, especially Gujarat, will see direct economic activity through jobs and ancillary industries. Existing electronics manufacturing clusters can integrate more deeply into the value chain.

Global equipment and materials firms already present in the roundtable gain clearer visibility into Indian demand and policy direction. They can plan capacity and partnerships accordingly.

Defence and strategic sectors that require secure, indigenously controlled semiconductor supply may find longer-term advantages once production stabilises. Commercial consumer electronics and automotive applications will follow as volumes and costs improve.

Next Steps After the Roundtable

PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate SEMICON India 2026 on September 17. The event will feature sessions on the full stack from silicon to finished systems. Industry participants expect announcements on further project approvals and skill initiatives.

Follow-through on the framework for MSME and startup participation in related defence technologies, discussed in parallel DRDO meetings, could intersect with semiconductor work. Secure software sharing mechanisms and testing facility access are part of those parallel efforts.

Execution over the coming quarters will show whether the roundtable translates into accelerated project timelines and actual wafer output. The presence of both global foundry players and Indian groups at the table indicates broad alignment on the stated goals.

Market and Policy Context

India has approved semiconductor projects involving more than Rs 1.64 lakh crore in commitments. This marks a shift from earlier focus on assembly and design services toward full fabrication. The programme 2.0 outlay provides dedicated funding across the supply chain.

Policy continuity appears strong. Earlier incentives under the India Semiconductor Mission have now expanded. The roundtable format allows direct feedback from companies that will actually build and operate the facilities.

Competition from established hubs in Taiwan, South Korea and the United States remains intense. India's approach relies on cost advantages, policy support and a large talent base rather than immediate technological parity at the most advanced nodes.

Readers tracking this space should watch for the first commercial wafer starts from the approved projects and the volume of engineers moving into semiconductor roles over the next two years.

The short version. India's semiconductor programme now has concrete project approvals and a fresh government-industry forum, yet actual production volumes and yields will determine real progress.

Sources

Reported from the sources above on 2026-09-17. Figures are as published at the time of writing. If something here has moved on, the linked source is the one to trust.

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