India Approves ₹1.55 Lakh Crore for Chip Projects, 27K Jobs Expected

New Delhi, July 23 — The Indian government has approved six semiconductor manufacturing projects with a total investment of around ₹1.55 lakh crore, expected to create over 27,000 direct jobs, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said the projects fall under the ‘Semicon India Programme’, which has a total budget of ₹76,000 crore to build India’s semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem.

Semiconductor manufacturing involves highly skilled work and complex processes. These projects are also expected to boost employment in related sectors and supply chains, creating a multiplier effect.

Prasada also highlighted progress under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, which offers financial support to startups and MSMEs working in chip design:

• 22 design companies have been approved so far.

• Of these, 3 are based in Telangana, and 3 in Tamil Nadu.

• In Telangana, 11 companies have received support for design infrastructure.

• In Tamil Nadu, 6 companies have received similar support.

Under the Chips to Startup (C2S) programme, the government is helping engineering institutions build skilled talent for the chip industry:

• 22 institutes in Telangana and 6 in Tamil Nadu are getting design tools and funding.

• The programme aims to train 85,000 skilled workers for the semiconductor sector.

• Already, over 45,000 students from 100 institutions have enrolled.

In addition, a SMART Lab (Skilled Manpower Advanced Research and Training) was launched in NIELIT Calicut in 2022 to train 1 lakh engineers across India. So far, over 42,000 engineers have been trained.

The government is also working closely with major industry players and global universities such as Lam Research, IBM, and Purdue University to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

These efforts are part of India’s broader push to become a global hub for semiconductor design and manufacturing, reduce import dependence, and create high-quality jobs in advanced technology sectors.