'Semicon 2.0' may create up to 2 lakh jobs in next five years: Industry
New Delhi, July 17
India's semiconductor push is expected to create 1.5 lakh-2 lakh direct and indirect jobs over the next five years while transforming the country's electronics industry from an assembly-led manufacturing base into a global hub for chip design, engineering and innovation, industry said on Friday.
According to analysis of NLB Services, the next phase of the semiconductor mission will go beyond manufacturing and focus on building an integrated ecosystem spanning chip design, semiconductor verification, embedded systems, electronic design automation (EDA), AI-enabled manufacturing, advanced packaging and intelligent supply chain operations.
The comments come days after the Union Cabinet -- chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- approved the Semicon 2.0 scheme with a budget outlay of Rs 1.27 lakh crore to strengthen the country's semiconductor design and manufacturing ecosystem.
Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services, said nearly 70 per cent of roles across the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem are expected to evolve by 2030, creating strong demand for high-skilled engineering talent.
He expects a 25-30 per cent increase in semiconductor-focused Global Capability Centres (GCCs) by 2030, further strengthening India's position as a global engineering, research and innovation hub.
He noted that while electronics manufacturing in India has largely been driven by assembly operations, the scheme provides an opportunity to move up the value chain through capabilities in chip design, fabrication, testing and advanced packaging -- areas that generate higher-value intellectual property and long-term competitive advantage.
Earlier, IESA noted that Phase 1 had already helped secure more than $20 billion in announced semiconductor projects and that Phase 2's greater emphasis on fabs, advanced packaging, design, R&D, talent, equipment and materials aims to make India a trusted global partner.
Under Semicon 2.0, the government aims to build the semiconductor ecosystem across six key pillars, including chip design, semiconductor manufacturing equipment and materials, fabrication facilities, ATMP/OSAT units, research and development, and talent development.
So far, the government has approved 12 semiconductor manufacturing projects with cumulative investments exceeding Rs 1.64 lakh crore.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, we're moving beyond just assembling phones and laptops. Chip design and R&D is where the real value lies. But I hope the government also focuses on skilling our graduates—our engineering curriculum needs an upgrade to match industry demands. Otherwise, these jobs will go to expats.
As a woman in tech, I'm cautiously optimistic. The talent development pillar mentioned in the article is crucial—we need more women in semiconductor engineering and design. Let's not make this another boys' club. 🤞
Sounds great on paper, but I've seen too many government schemes flop in execution. Remember the PLI schemes? Bureaucracy and red tape always slow things down. Let's wait and see how many of these 2 lakh jobs actually materialize. Actions speak louder than press releases.
This is exciting news! I work in semiconductor verification and have been seeing more GCCs set up in Bengaluru. The talent pool here is really strong. With 70% of roles evolving by 2030, it's a great time to upskill in areas like AI-enabled manufacturing and EDA.
Good initiative, but where are the incentives for startups? The Semicon 2.0 sounds like it's mostly for big corporates and foreign firms. Our homegrown chip design startups are struggling with funding and infrastructure. We need more support for the grassroots innovators, not just
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