Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday presented the first made-in-India chip to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vaishnaw presented the Vikram 32-bit processor and test chips of four approved projects to Modi at Semicon India 2025.
Modi inaugurated the event in Delhi, in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, apart from Vaishnaw.
"Just a few years ago, we met for the first time to make a new beginning driven by our prime minister's farsighted vision, we launched the India semiconductor mission... In a short span of 3.5 years, we have the world looking at India with confidence. Today, the construction of five semiconductor units is going on at a rapid pace...We just presented the first "Made-in-India" chip to PM Modi..." Vaishnaw said.
Developed by ISRO's Semiconductor Lab, Vikram is India's first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, qualified for use in harsh launch vehicle conditions
Semiconductors are at the heart of modern technology. They power essential systems in healthcare, transport, communication, defence, and space. As the world moves toward greater digitalisation and automation, semiconductors have become integral to economic security and strategic independence.In just four years, since the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021, India has transformed its semiconductor journey from vision to reality.
To support this vision, the government announced a Rs 76,000 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, of which nearly Rs 65,000 crore has already been committed.
Additionally, on August 28, a major milestone in India's semiconductor journey was achieved with the launch of one of the country's first end-to-end Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) Pilot Line Facilities in Sanand, Gujarat.
Semiconductor company CG-Semi is expected to roll out the first 'Made in India' chip from this pilot facility.
Through the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, 23 chip design projects have been sanctioned to support startups and innovators. Companies like Vervesemi Microelectronics are creating advanced chips for defence, aerospace, electric vehicles, and energy systems, showing that India is no longer just a consumer but a creator.
In June 2023, the government approved the first proposal for establishing a semiconductor unit in Sanand.
As of date, the government has approved 10 semiconductor manufacturing projects with a cumulative investment of more than Rs 1.60 lakh crore in six states: Gujarat, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
Semicon India 2025 is a flagship event aims to catalyse India's growing semiconductor ecosystem and position the country as a global hub for chip design, manufacturing, and technology development.
The three-day conference will focus on building a robust, resilient, and sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in India.