India sets goal to be a chip powerhouse by 2047

The defence ministry says real self-reliance in chips means design, testing and making, all in India.

Semicon Weekly · 31 October 2026

In short

The defence ministry says India wants to be a strong, self-reliant chip country by 2047.
It shared this after ESTIC 2026, a big science and technology meeting in New Delhi, where DRDO led a session on chips.
The message: real self-reliance needs chip design, testing and large-scale production, not just factories.

Key numbers

2047Target year (100 years of independence)

27–29 OctESTIC 2026, New Delhi

12Government science ministries and departments taking part

3Steps India must master: design, test, make

ESTIC 2026 (Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave) was held in New Delhi from 27 to 29 October.
DRDO, India's defence research body, led a session called "Semiconductors and Next-Gen Chips".
Micron India's head, Anand Ramamoorthy, gave the main talk on AI chips, smart "edge" chips and microprocessors. Experts from Qualcomm, Tata and others joined a panel.
Afterwards, the defence ministry said India aims to be a globally competitive chip powerhouse by 2047, and that this needs strength in design, testing and production.

Design: planning the chip on computers (RTL, verification, physical design).
Test: checking every chip works before it goes into a product.
Make: printing chips on wafers in a fab and packaging them, at large scale.

Defence systems like radar, missiles and secure communication need chips India can trust.
A clear long-term goal helps companies and colleges plan.

Defence and government chip work needs Indian engineers who can design and test chips, so these skills will stay in demand for years.
Watch for openings at DRDO labs, BEL, ISRO and their partner companies.
Skills to build: Verilog/SystemVerilog, verification (UVM), and chip testing (DFT) basics.

Making our own chips protects India from supply problems and outside pressure.
India keeps more of the value when it designs and makes chips, not only uses them.

DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation, India's defence research agency.
Self-reliant (Atmanirbhar): able to do something without depending on other countries.
Edge chip: a chip that does smart work inside a device, like a camera, instead of in a data centre.