India’s smartphone manufacturing sector is making significant inroads globally, with Indian-made smartphones now commanding 13.74 per cent of the US market and 14.31 per cent of the UK market, according to the latest trade data. This rise reflects India’s growing capability as a global hub for electronics production.
In 2024, smartphone exports from India to the US reached USD 7.03 billion, up from USD 4.7 billion in 2023. Exports to the UK rose to USD 1.5 billion, compared to USD 1.039 billion the previous year.
At a media briefing on Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said smartphone exports are a key sector being closely tracked.
Last week, Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said that total smartphone exports globally crossed Rs 2 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, registering a 54% increase over the previous year.
The exports of Apple’s iPhone alone have crossed Rs 1.5 lakh crore. It has become a huge force in the country. Nearly 25 lakh people have gained employment in electronics manufacturing, Vaishnaw had said.
With strong progress in finished goods production, India is now shifting focus to localising electronics component manufacturing.
India, he said, has achieved success in the production of finished goods in the electronics sector; the next step is to focus on component manufacturing.
In line with this, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on April 8 notified the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme.
Vaishnaw said that India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem—comprising component manufacturers and a diverse range of industry players—has developed significantly in recent years. Today, over 400 production units, ranging from small enterprises to large-scale manufacturers, are engaged in producing a wide variety of electronic components.
Outlining the newly launched scheme, the minister explained that it is structured as a horizontal initiative, offering benefits across multiple sectors including consumer electronics, medical devices, automobiles, power electronics, and electrical grids, thereby creating a strong multiplier effect across the economy.
The scheme places special emphasis on the production of passive electronic components, which will be supported directly under this initiative. In contrast, active components will continue to fall under the scope of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
The indicative list of passive components covered includes resistors, capacitors, connectors, inductors, speakers, relays, switches, oscillators, sensors, films, lenses, and more—highlighting the comprehensive scope and ambition of the programme.
The Tribune
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