Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s announcement that the nation’s first domestic semiconductor chip, aimed at the strategically significant 28-90 nanometer technology segment, will make its debut by the end of 2025 marked a significant turning point in India’s ambitious march toward semiconductor self-reliance.
This historic accomplishment, which was unveiled on May 29, 2025, at the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Annual Business Summit, is the result of a concentrated three-year manufacturing program that started in 2022 and signifies India’s admission into the global semiconductor fabrication ecosystem.
The announcement highlights India’s strategic approach to gaining a sizeable share of the global chip market, with a focus on a technology node that supplies vital applications in power systems, railways, automobiles, and telecommunications and accounts for about 60% of global semiconductor demand. This development puts India in a position to become a major player in the global semiconductor supply chain and lessen its reliance on imported chips, with six fabrication units presently under construction and a larger semiconductor ecosystem emerging under the ₹76,000 crore India Semiconductor Mission.
With significant ramifications for the nation’s technological sovereignty and economic competitiveness, the introduction of India’s first domestic semiconductor chip marks a well-planned entry into the global semiconductor manufacturing scene. According to Minister Vaishnaw’s disclosure at the CII Summit, this accomplishment is the result of a “focused approach” that specifically targets a market sector that accounts for 60% of the demand for semiconductors worldwide. India’s pragmatic awareness of market dynamics and its dedication to building a commercially viable foundation for its semiconductor sector are reflected in this strategic positioning.
This announcement’s timing is especially noteworthy because the global semiconductor market is expected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030. India is well-positioned to benefit from rising global demand and meet its own technological needs thanks to its entry into the chip industry during this time of unparalleled expansion. The minister’s focus on developing “not just fabrication capacity but an entire ecosystem” reflects India’s all-encompassing strategy, which goes beyond simple manufacturing to include product design, standardization, and intellectual property creation.
A sophisticated grasp of commercial prospects and technological realities is shown in the decision to concentrate on the 28–90 nm technology segment. The 28-90 nm range is still essential for industrial and embedded applications, giving India instant utility and commercial traction even though lower nanometer measurements offer higher processing power and energy efficiency. This calculated move lays the groundwork for future development to more advanced technological nodes and is consistent with India’s wider manufacturing capabilities.
A sophisticated and adaptable platform, the 28–90 nanometer technology segment forms the foundation for many vital applications in a wide range of sectors. Nanometer measurements are used in semiconductor manufacturing to determine the size of transistor features; the 28–90 nm range provides the best trade-off between manufacturing complexity, cost-effectiveness, and performance. Maintaining roughly 7.5% of the foundry market share, this technological node has demonstrated its commercial durability. As the foundry business grows to $200 billion by 2030, this represents a significant $15 billion market opportunity.
The adaptability of 28 nm technology has been emphasized by industry experts, who point out that it may be used in a wide range of applications, such as home entertainment systems, wearable technology, smartphones, tablets, central processing units, and graphics processing units. This wide range of applications guarantees that India’s early attempts at semiconductor manufacture will simultaneously target several market sectors, generating economies of scale and lowering market risk. Because manufacturing procedures are well-established due to the technology’s maturity, India’s entry into the semiconductor fabrication industry has fewer technical obstacles.
In one of the most important technology industries in the world, the successful introduction of India’s first domestic semiconductor chip lays the groundwork for future expansion and scientific improvement. According to some reports, beginning manufacturing is anticipated to begin in September or October of 2025. These schedule projections establish tangible benchmarks for tracking advancement and sustaining momentum. The government’s dedication to ongoing R&D spending guarantees that early manufacturing capabilities will eventually give way to more sophisticated technologies.
India’s success in the semiconductor industry has strategic ramifications that go beyond economic factors to include technical sovereignty and national security. Capabilities for domestic chip fabrication lessen reliance on potentially unstable global supply chains while opening up possibilities for the development of specialized semiconductors that are suited to particular Indian needs. As semiconductors become more extensively incorporated into defense systems, strategic technologies, and essential infrastructure, this capability becomes more and more significant.
The growth of India’s semiconductor industry also opens doors for more advantageous international alliances and technological cooperation. India will become a more alluring partner for nations and businesses looking for trustworthy semiconductor supply sources, especially for applications needing the 28–90 nm technology sector. These collaborations can facilitate the development of more sophisticated manufacturing capabilities, open up global markets, and speed up technology transfer.
The initial 28-90 nm manufacturing initiative’s success provides a foundation for future advancements toward more advanced technological nodes. Experience in supply chain management, manufacturing, and quality assurance lays the groundwork for future advancement to 14 nm, 7 nm, and beyond. India’s semiconductor ecosystem will continue to move toward higher-value activities and more sophisticated technologies thanks to the growth of design capabilities, intellectual property, and standardization abilities.
The upcoming introduction of India’s first domestic semiconductor chip in the 28–90 nm technology range is a game-changing accomplishment that establishes the nation as a new participant in the global semiconductor market. Three years of concentrated development since 2022 have effectively developed production capabilities that target 60% of the worldwide semiconductor market demand, according to Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s announcement at the CII Annual Business Summit. With its uses in power systems, railway, automotive, and telecommunications technologies, the 28-90 nm segment was chosen strategically to show India’s practical approach to entering the semiconductor manufacturing industry with immediate commercial viability and market relevance.
With six fabrication units currently under construction, significant government investment through the ₹76,000 crore Semicon India program, and strategic partnerships with global technology providers, the ecosystem development approach guarantees that India’s semiconductor initiative goes beyond individual manufacturing successes to include a sustainable industrial transformation. Continued technological advancement and competitive differentiation in the global marketplace are made possible by the integration of start-up innovation, research and development capabilities, and culturally based AI development.
