India eyes advanced 5-7 nm chips as semiconductor mission enters next phase: Additional Secy MeitY

India is ramping up its semiconductor ambitions, with plans to advance from 28-nanometre fabrication to the cutting-edge production of 5 to 7-nanometre chips. Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, emphasized that the government's investments in this sector aim to position India among the global leaders in chip manufacturing. In a recent interview, Singh outlined the significant progress already made, including the establishment of assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP) plants in collaboration with major industry players like Tata. These facilities are being set up in states such as Gujarat, Assam, and Odisha. While the initial focus has been on 28-nanometre plants, Singh expressed a strong commitment to advancing up the technology scale. "We are determined to accelerate our capabilities to produce advanced chips," he stated, referring to the government's ambitious plans. Looking ahead, the next phase of India's semiconductor strategy will be supported by a robust policy framework. Singh highlighted the upcoming Semiconductor 2.0 initiative and a design-led incentive scheme as key drivers for further advancements in the semiconductor value chain, which will also bolster India's contributions to the AI sector. He noted that advancements in semiconductor technology are crucial for India to compete in the global AI race, including efforts to design AI chips and GPUs domestically. Singh pointed out that semiconductors are pivotal for various sectors, including healthcare, transportation, communication, defense, and space, making their development essential for economic security and strategic independence. Since the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021, the country has made significant strides, with the government committing nearly ₹65,000 crore of the announced ₹76,000 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. A landmark achievement was reached on August 28 with the inauguration of one of India’s first end-to-end Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) Pilot Line Facilities in Sanand, Gujarat, which is expected to produce the first 'Made in India' chip. As of now, the government has approved 10 semiconductor manufacturing projects with a total investment exceeding ₹1.60 lakh crore across six states, including Gujarat, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is actively working on the next phase of this initiative, Semicon 2.0, finalizing its details with various ministries.