India is on the brink of a significant technological breakthrough, with its first homegrown semiconductor chip slated for release by the end of 2025. Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, confirmed that five semiconductor production units are currently in progress, adhering to the planned timeline. This ambitious endeavour falls under the Semicon India programme, a government initiative aimed at bolstering the nation's semiconductor capabilities. The project is a collaborative effort involving Tata Electronics and Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC). The manufacturing will take place at the forthcoming Dholera fabrication plant in Gujarat.

Dholera Fab: The Heart of India's Chip Production

The Dholera fabrication facility is poised to become the cornerstone of India's semiconductor manufacturing landscape. Approved in December 2021 with a substantial budget allocation of ₹76,000 crore, the plant is expected to commence operations with the unveiling of the inaugural chip around September or October 2025.

Advancing in the AI Arena

Beyond hardware advancements, Minister Vaishnaw highlighted India's proactive strides in artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasised that India is not lagging in the AI race and is poised to be among the leading nations harnessing AI's potential. Notably, the country is developing its own Large Language Model (LLM), underscoring its commitment to AI innovation.