India has emerged as a manufacturing major even as tech majors like Apple and Google have huge plans to produce their devices, especially smartphones, in the country. The mobile phone production in India has increased by more than 1,700% in the last 10 years, the government said.
In response to a question in
Lok Sabha
, IT minister
Rajeev Chandrasekhar
said that from almost insignificant in the global electronics supply chain, India is currently rapidly becoming a significant and trusted player in the electronics global value chain (GVC).
He said that mobile phone manufacturing in the country increased from an estimated Rs 18,900 crore in 2014-15 to an estimated Rs 3,50,000 crore in 2022-23.
“To transform our domestic manufacturing from import substitution to export-led manufacturing, the government has reduced the basic customs duty (BCD) to 10% (from 15%) on the goods covered under mechanics, die-cut parts and others category for use in the manufacturing of mobile phones,” the minister said.
India is second largest mobile phone manufacturer
As per Chandrasekhar, India has become the second largest manufacturer of mobile phones in volume terms in the world.
“The export of mobile phones increased from an estimated Rs 1,566 crore in 2014-15 to an estimated Rs 90,000 crore in 2022-23, making an impressive increase in exports by more than 5,600%,” Chandrasekhar added. The government has a target of domestic electronic manufacturing of $300 billion by 2026. India currently has $75 billion in electronics production.
As per Chandrasekhar, the target can be achieved by building competitiveness and scale by attracting global electronics manufacturers/brands as well as developing sub-assemblies and component ecosystems.
“Government envisions to position India as a global hub for export-driven manufacturing hub and electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) by encouraging and driving capabilities in the country for developing core components, including chipsets, and creating an enabling environment for the industry to compete globally,” he added.