Semicon India 2025: PM Modi Unveils First Made-in-India Chip
On September 2, 2025, New Delhi witnessed a landmark moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Semicon India 2025 event. Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the first-ever “Made in India” semiconductor chip to PM Modi, marking the country’s official entry into the global semiconductor manufacturing race. The atmosphere was one of pride and anticipation. For decades, India has been seen as a software giant but dependent on imports for critical hardware. With this chip, India signaled its determination to close that gap.Modi’s Vision: Chips as “Digital Diamonds”Addressing the summit, PM Modi drew a powerful parallel between oil in the 20th century and semiconductors in the 21st century. “Oil may be black gold, but chips are digital diamonds,” he said, emphasizing that while oil wells defined past global power equations, semiconductors will shape the world’s future. Highlighting India’s resilience, Modi noted that while several economies are slowing, India clocked an impressive 7.8% GDP growth in FY26 Q1. The $1 Trillion OpportunityThe semiconductor market is currently valued at $600 billion and is expected to cross $1 trillion in the next few years. Modi expressed confidence that India will not just participate in this trillion-dollar industry but also emerge as a global leader. Since the launch of the Semiconductor Programme in 2021, India has cleared projects worth $18 billion across ten approved ventures. The first semiconductor fabrication plant received approval in 2023, and construction of four major units is already underway. For a nation of 1.4 billion people, with one of the world’s largest pools of engineers and researchers, the chip industry is not just about economic gains; it is about creating future-ready jobs, reducing dependence on imports, and building technological sovereignty.First “Made-in-India” Chip and ProcessorUnion IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the first “Made in India” chip under the Semicon Mission, developed by CG Power. Two additional plants are expected to roll out chips in the next two to three months, accelerating India’s chip ecosystem. Vaishnaw also unveiled the Vikram 32-bit microprocessor, developed by ISRO’s Semi-Conductor Lab. The processor is designed to withstand extreme conditions, making it ideal for use in launch vehicles and space exploration, an area where India already has global recognition.From Software Coders to Chip DesignersFor decades, India has been celebrated as the IT outsourcing capital of the world. Millions of young Indians became software engineers, writing code for companies across the globe. But until now, they were dependent on chips manufactured abroad. The semiconductor mission changes that narrative. It empowers the next generation of Indian engineers not only to design but also to manufacture chips.As Vaishnaw pointed out, India has set a target of training 85,000 semiconductor professionals by 2030. For young students in engineering colleges, this means opportunities in cutting-edge industries and jobs that could prevent brain drain and instead make India a destination for global innovation. Semicon India 2025 was not just a tech event; it was a vision statement. The unveiling of India’s first homegrown chip and processor signals a turning point in the nation’s technological history. From being the world’s back office for software, India is now stepping forward as a semiconductor nation, ready to power everything from smartphones and satellites to AI systems and electric vehicles.