India's semiconductor push targets chips for cars, TVs, power infra: Vaishnaw

India is ambitiously expanding its semiconductor capabilities to encompass various everyday products and critical infrastructure, including automobiles, televisions, refrigerators, and power systems, according to Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The minister outlined the country's vision for building a robust chip-making industry during a recent interview.

As part of the government's efforts to establish a stronger presence in the global semiconductor value chain, a significant ₹1.27 lakh crore has been allocated in the second phase of the semiconductor program to bolster the domestic ecosystem and attract global investments. Investor interest has reached approximately ₹1 lakh crore, with major announcements such as Applied Materials' $5 billion investment plan for India through 2035, Lam Research's proposed ₹10,000-crore investment, Tata Electronics' 363-acre vendor park in Dholera, and Fujifilm's ₹800-crore semiconductor materials plant.

Vaishnaw emphasized that India should be designing and manufacturing chips for cars, power systems, televisions, refrigerators, and other appliances within the next five years. He highlighted the importance of chips in automobiles, power transmission lines, transformers, and converters, and consumer electronics like televisions, refrigerators, and other household appliances.

Vaishnaw described the semiconductor as the "brain and heart" of these devices, stating that once India moves in this direction, it will be highly beneficial.

An example of India's growing semiconductor capabilities is a display-control module plant in Uttar Pradesh, which will manufacture the module that controls how a television displays the final picture. The minister also noted the planned LED display fabrication facility by Crystal Matrix, which has moved from a 90-micron complex level to a more intricate 40-micron level and is establishing a research and development facility in India.

Vaishnaw stated that many large-screen LED displays will be manufactured and designed in India, further solidifying the country's commitment to developing its semiconductor industry.