New Delhi, September 2, 2025 Marking a historic step in Indias technological journey, Union IT and Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday presented the countrys first indigenously developed semiconductor chip to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of Semicon India 2025 in New Delhi.

The chip, named Vikram, is a 32-bit microprocessor built by the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) of ISRO and is specially designed to operate in the extreme conditions of space launch vehicles. Alongside Vikram, Vaishnaw also presented test chips from four other government-approved semiconductor projects, symbolizing Indias accelerating push to establish itself as a global hub for advanced chip design and manufacturing.

Indias Semiconductor Vision Becomes Reality

Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw reflected on the countrys progress since the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was launched in 2021.

Just a few years ago, we started with the Prime Ministers vision of building a semiconductor ecosystem. In only three and a half years, the world now looks at India with confidence. Construction of five semiconductor units is advancing rapidly, and today, we proudly present the first Made-in-India chip to the Prime Minister, Vaishnaw said.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the event in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Jitin Prasada, among other dignitaries.

Strategic Importance of Semiconductors

Semiconductors lie at the core of modern technology, powering critical sectors such as healthcare, transport, telecommunications, defence, and space exploration. For India, developing domestic chip-making capability is not only an economic priority but also a matter of strategic autonomy in an era where technology supply chains are deeply tied to national security.

The government has backed this mission with massive incentives. Out of the 76,000 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, nearly 65,000 crore has already been committed to semiconductor projects.

Major Milestones Achieved

Indias semiconductor roadmap has seen a series of milestones in recent months:

• OSAT Facility in Gujarat: On August 28, India launched one of its first end-to-end Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) pilot facilities in Sanand, Gujarat. Semiconductor company CG-Semi is expected to deliver the first commercial Made in India chips from this plant.
  
  

• Chip Design Boost: Through the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, the government has sanctioned 23 chip design projects. Startups like Vervesemi Microelectronics are already developing advanced chips for applications in defence, aerospace, electric vehicles, and renewable energy.
  
  

• Manufacturing Expansion: So far, 10 semiconductor manufacturing projects with a cumulative investment exceeding 1.60 lakh crore have been approved across six statesGujarat, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
  
  

Semicon India 2025: Setting the Global Stage

The three-day Semicon India 2025 conference at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Delhi, aims to showcase Indias growing semiconductor ecosystem and its potential to become a global hub for chip innovation and production. This years theme emphasizes building a robust, resilient, and sustainable semiconductor supply chain, aligning with global industry shifts towards diversification and security of critical technologies.

Why Vikram Matters

The unveiling of the Vikram processor is more than a symbolic milestone. It signals that India has moved from being largely a consumer of chips to becoming a creator and innovator in a field dominated for decades by a handful of countries. The fact that Vikram is qualified for harsh aerospace applications demonstrates the high reliability and world-class standards Indian engineers are now achieving.

Looking Ahead

With billions of dollars in committed investments, government-backed incentives, and a rapidly expanding base of startups and research institutions, India is positioning itself to play a pivotal role in the global semiconductor supply chain.

The presentation of Vikram to PM Modi is not just the debut of a processorit is a signal of confidence that India can reduce dependency on foreign chipmakers and lead the next wave of innovation in a sector central to the 21st-century economy

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