India’s electronics manufacturing sector has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, moving from basic assembly of finished products to the domestic production of sophisticated modules and critical components, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
Speaking about India’s electronics manufacturing journey, Vaishnaw highlighted the growing depth of the country’s domestic capabilities and said the sector is rapidly strengthening both self-reliance and export potential.
From Assembly to Advanced Component Manufacturing
According to Vaishnaw, Bharat’s electronics manufacturing journey initially focused largely on assembling finished products. Over time, the industry progressed to manufacturing modules and has now moved further down the value chain to producing individual components.
He showcased several components that are now being manufactured in Bharat, underlining the technological advancement achieved by the domestic electronics ecosystem.
One of the key examples he cited was the printed circuit board, or PCB. While a PCB may appear extremely thin, Vaishnaw explained that the particular board he displayed contains 32 layers of circuits within its compact structure.
He compared its construction to a 32-storey building being flattened into a very small space, illustrating the complexity and technological sophistication involved in modern PCB manufacturing.
These advanced circuit boards contain multiple complex circuit structures and are increasingly being produced domestically. Importantly, India has also begun exporting such components, indicating that domestic manufacturing capabilities are moving beyond meeting internal demand.
Wide Range of Electronics Components Made in India
Vaishnaw pointed to a broad range of components now being manufactured within the country. These include speaker modules, transducers, enclosures, capacitors, filters and heat sinks.
He also highlighted camera modules used in mobile phones, inductors and inductor coils, along with other specialized components required for modern electronic devices.
Several of these products are not merely being manufactured for the Indian market but are also finding their way into international markets through exports.
The development reflects a significant shift in India’s electronics manufacturing strategy, with greater emphasis on building a complete domestic supply chain rather than relying heavily on imported components.
India Moving Towards Electronics Self-Reliance
Vaishnaw said India is becoming increasingly self-dependent in the production of several electronics components. In areas where domestic manufacturing is capable of meeting the country’s requirements, the industry is simultaneously developing export capacity.
This combination of domestic demand and global exports is emerging as a major strength for India’s electronics manufacturing sector.
The expansion of component manufacturing is also expected to strengthen the broader electronics ecosystem by encouraging investment, improving supply-chain resilience and creating opportunities for Indian manufacturers to participate in global value chains.
Electronics Becomes India’s Third-Largest Export Category
The minister also pointed to the dramatic rise of electronics as an export category over the past decade.
According to Vaishnaw, electronics manufacturing exports have climbed from being India’s ninth-largest export category roughly 10 years ago to becoming the country’s third-largest export category last year.
He described the progression as a steady climb from ninth place to eighth, seventh, sixth, fifth and fourth, before reaching the third position.
The rapid rise reflects the accelerating growth of India’s electronics production capacity and its increasing integration with international markets.
India has emerged as a major manufacturing base for mobile phones and other electronic products, while the expansion into components is adding another layer of depth to the sector.
Electronics Manufacturing Creates 25 Lakh Jobs
Beyond exports and industrial growth, Vaishnaw emphasized the employment impact of the electronics manufacturing sector.
He said electronics manufacturing is currently providing employment to around 25 lakh young Indians, making the sector an important source of jobs for the country’s growing workforce.
The expansion of component manufacturing could further increase employment opportunities across manufacturing facilities, supply chains, logistics, research and development, design and associated services.
A New Phase for India’s Electronics Industry
India’s transition from assembling finished products to manufacturing sophisticated components represents a significant evolution in its electronics industry.
The development of domestic capabilities in PCBs, camera modules, inductors, enclosures, filters, capacitors and other components indicates that the country is gradually building a more comprehensive electronics manufacturing ecosystem.
With electronics now ranking among India’s largest export categories and supporting millions of jobs, the sector is becoming an increasingly important pillar of the country’s manufacturing and economic growth story.
Vaishnaw’s remarks underline a broader ambition, Bharat is no longer seeking to remain only a destination for assembling electronic products. It is increasingly positioning itself as a producer of the complex components that power those products—and as a competitive exporter to global markets.
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