President Murmu highlights booming manufacturing, PLI-led investment, and rising tech exports as India eyes global supply chain dominance.
India’s electronics manufacturing juggernaut continues to gather momentum. Smartphone exports crossed INR 1 Lakh Cr ($12 Bn approx) in just five months (April–August FY26), President Droupadi Murmu revealed today in her address to the Budget Session of Parliament.
With this milestone, India further solidifies its position as the world’s second-largest smartphone producer, driven by robust domestic manufacturing, export demand, and policy-driven incentives.
Sixfold Growth in Electronics Manufacturing
India’s total electronics output has surged sixfold over the last decade, touching INR 11 Lakh Cr, Murmu said—fueled by marquee initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
- PLI-related investments have already crossed INR 2 Lakh Cr, generating over INR 17 Lakh Cr in production value.
- The sector has created 25 Lakh+ jobs over 11 years, highlighting its rising contribution to the economy.
“From smartphones to semiconductors, India is now a serious player in the global value chain,” Murmu emphasized.
EVs Go Global, Supply Chains Go Deep
On the automotive front, India’s EVs are now exported to over 100 countries, marking a transition from a domestic-only industry to a global supplier of clean mobility solutions.
To support this leap beyond final assembly, India is pushing into component-level manufacturing:
- Earlier this month, the government approved 22 projects worth INR 41,863 Cr under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS).
- These projects span mobile phones, consumer electronics, IT hardware, telecom, and automotive electronics, and are distributed across eight states—indicating a pan-India deepening of the electronics supply chain.
Murmu noted that ECMS builds on approvals from recent months:
- October 2025: 7 projects worth INR 5,532 Cr
- November 2025: 17 projects worth INR 7,172 Cr
Is India ready to become the world’s next big hardware manufacturing hub?
Record Growth Across Manufacturing
The President hailed record growth in the manufacturing sector, enabled by a combination of:
- Rising domestic production
- Expanding exports
- Strong government policy support
This momentum has also spilled over into other sectors:
- Food grain production surpassed 350 Mn tonnes
- India became the largest rice producer and the second-largest fish producer globally
“From farms to factories, the last year reflects the growing might of Bharat’s production economy,” Murmu said.
Startup Ecosystem Expands in Tandem
India’s startup boom continues alongside its manufacturing surge:
- Now the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, India has registered ~2 Lakh startups
- 50,000 new startups were launched in the past year alone
- Over 20 Lakh youth are now employed in the startup ecosystem
- 126 unicorns, 147 soonicorns, and 57 publicly listed new-age tech firms mark the maturing of India’s innovation economy
Notably, 45% of startups have at least one woman director, reflecting increasing gender participation in the new economy.
The Big Picture: From Assembling to Asserting
President Murmu’s remarks come at a time when India is moving beyond final assembly to build a resilient, globally competitive manufacturing ecosystem.
The challenge ahead? Scaling design-led manufacturing, deepening the semiconductor and component ecosystem, and ensuring that India’s electronics growth is both inclusive and innovation-led.
TL;DR:
President Murmu announced that India’s smartphone exports crossed INR 1 Lakh Cr in the first five months of FY26. Electronics output hit INR 11 Lakh Cr, with 25 Lakh jobs created. Supported by PLI, EV exports, and rising tech-led manufacturing, India is positioning itself as a global electronics powerhouse.
AI Summary:
- Smartphone exports: INR 1 Lakh Cr (Apr–Aug FY26)
- Electronics output: INR 11 Lakh Cr, 6X growth in a decade
- PLI-linked investment: INR 2 Lakh Cr; Production worth INR 17 Lakh Cr
- 25 Lakh+ electronics jobs created
- India now exports EVs to 100+ countries
- ECMS clears 22 new projects worth INR 41,863 Cr
- 2 Lakh startups registered; 45% with women directors
