In a historic move, the Union Cabinet has given its nod to three significant proposals for semiconductor plants, marking a monumental step towards bolstering India’s capabilities in the semiconductor industry. Among these proposals, the Tata Group and Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) will spearhead the establishment of India’s first semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat, at an estimated cost of Rs 91,000 crore.
Tata’s JV in Semiconductor Fabrication
Announcing this groundbreaking development, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed that the Tata joint venture (JV) is set to create India’s inaugural semiconductor fab with a noteworthy capacity of 50,000 wafers per month. The decision reflects a strategic move to strengthen India’s position in the semiconductor manufacturing landscape.
“Today the Prime Minister has taken an important decision to set up a semiconductor fab in the country. The first commercial semiconductor fab will be set up by Tata and Powerchip-Taiwan, whose plant will be in Dholera. After Micron semiconductor plant in Sanand, now a fab to come up in Dholera,” said Vaishnaw.
Assam and Gujarat to House Semiconductor Units
In addition to the Dholera project, the Cabinet has approved Tata Semiconductor Assembly Test’s semiconductor assembly and testing unit in Assam, representing a substantial investment of Rs 27,000 crore. This move underscores the government’s commitment to dispersing semiconductor capabilities across the country.
Furthermore, CG Power and Japan’s Renesas have received approval to establish a semiconductor plant in Gujarat’s Sanand, set to produce 15 million chips per day at an estimated cost of Rs 7,600 crore. This diversification aims to create regional hubs for semiconductor manufacturing, promoting decentralized growth in the sector.
India’s Semiconductor Ambitions
The recent greenlighting of these semiconductor projects aligns with the Ministry of IT’s earlier announcement that India will soon house two semiconductor fabrication plants, accompanied by several chip assembly and packaging units. These strategic initiatives are poised to impact India’s semiconductor landscape significantly, reducing dependence on imports and positioning the country as a formidable player in the global semiconductor industry.
These semiconductor projects come on the heels of a Rs 22,516-crore chip assembly plant being established by US-based memory chip maker Micron, signalling a comprehensive approach to developing a robust semiconductor ecosystem within the country.
The proposed investments, totalling an estimated Rs 1.26 lakh crore, reflect the government’s dedication to fostering innovation, technology, and self-reliance in critical sectors, ultimately positioning India as a global semiconductor manufacturing player.
