India's semiconductor ambitions are accelerating rapidly, with Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw announcing that three additional plants will commence commercial operations in 2026.

This follows the recent inauguration of the Micron ATMP facility in Sanand, Gujarat, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a pivotal milestone in the nation's push towards technological self-reliance.

The Micron plant, focused on assembly, testing, marking, and packaging, represents the first such facility to enter commercial production in India. Vaishnaw highlighted this as the fulfilment of Modi's promise to establish a domestic semiconductor industry, transforming a long-held vision into tangible reality.

Speaking at a semiconductor-focused conference in Gandhinagar, the minister revealed that a second plant will soon follow suit, paving the way for two more to join by the end of 2026. In total, four of the ten approved semiconductor projects will be operational this year, underscoring the swift momentum in India's manufacturing ecosystem.

Vaishnaw is scheduled to inspect the under-construction Tata semiconductor fabrication plant in Dholera today, a key project expected to bolster India's capacity in advanced chip production. This facility forms part of the broader strategy to position India as a global semiconductor hub.

The surge in activity traces back to the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021, just four years ago. Coupled with the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, these initiatives have catalysed investments and infrastructure development across the sector.

India now boasts ten approved semiconductor projects spanning six states, with a combined investment of approximately Rs 1.60 lakh crore. These endeavours are set to elevate the country to compete shoulder-to-shoulder with international leaders in semiconductor manufacturing.

Semiconductors lie at the core of contemporary technology, powering critical applications in healthcare, transportation, communications, defence, and space exploration. As digitalisation and automation intensify worldwide, these components have emerged as vital to economic security and strategic autonomy.

In a related development, Vaishnaw reaffirmed that the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project remains on track for inauguration in 2027. This high-speed rail corridor, spanning 508 km, benefits from technical and financial support from Japan.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project traverses Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, featuring 12 stations including Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.

Upon completion, the bullet train will slash travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to under two hours, revolutionising connectivity between two of India's economic powerhouses and exemplifying the integration of advanced technology in national infrastructure.

ANI