India eyes electronics export leap as Vaishnaw targets No. 2 spot

MUMBAI: From chips to shipments, India’s electronics story is no longer just assembling pace, it’s exporting ambition. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said India’s electronics industry should now aim to become the country’s second-largest export category, after emerging as the third-largest in 2025, underscoring the sector’s rapid transformation into a major growth engine for the economy.

Speaking at an event in Ranjangaon, Pune, Vaishnaw said the electronics manufacturing industry has grown into a nearly Rs 13 lakh crore sector, driven by the government’s push to position India as a trusted global manufacturing destination.

A few years ago, electronics exports were widely viewed as an unlikely success story. Today, the category has climbed to become India’s third-largest export segment, reflecting the country’s expanding role in global supply chains and manufacturing networks.

“Electronics export was considered unthinkable a few years ago. Today, it is the third-largest export category in the country. Now our target should be to make it the second-largest export category,” Vaishnaw said.

The minister called for a coordinated effort involving the Centre, state governments, industry and young professionals to sustain the sector’s momentum and accelerate growth.

A key pillar of that ambition is semiconductors, an area India has identified as strategically critical for strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities and reducing dependence on imports.

Vaishnaw said two semiconductor plants are already operational and producing at full scale. A third facility is scheduled to be inaugurated in July, while a fourth semiconductor plant is expected to commence commercial production by December 2026.

The progress marks a significant milestone for India’s semiconductor ambitions, with locally manufactured chips now moving from policy announcements to production lines.

The minister described the developments as evidence of India’s growing technological capabilities and manufacturing maturity, adding that they reflect years of policy focus on building domestic capacity in high-value sectors.

The broader objective, he suggested, extends beyond exports alone. As countries diversify supply chains and seek trusted manufacturing partners, India is positioning itself as a credible alternative across electronics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.

With a Rs 13 lakh crore industry, third-largest export status, and four semiconductor plants either operational or nearing production, India’s electronics sector is increasingly moving from the circuit board to the centre of the country’s economic growth narrative.