PM Modi inaugurates SEMICON India 2026, says India's semiconductor journey enters commercial production phase

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi, saying the country has moved from discussing semiconductor policy to commercial production in just four years.

Inaugurating the three-day semiconductor conference and exhibition at Yashobhoomi, PM Modi said India has launched the second phase of its semiconductor mission with a target of $13.5 billion, against around $8 billion under the first phase.

"Today is also the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti. I extend my best wishes to all citizens on Vishwakarma Jayanti," Modi said.

He said Lord Vishwakarma is regarded in Indian tradition as a symbol of the power of creation and construction.

"And look at the coincidence, the SEMICON India is also being inaugurated today. On one hand, we have our centuries-old tradition of construction and on the other, the technology and vision of the 21st century. This is also the inspiration behind our vision of a self-reliant and developed India," he said.

The prime minister said developments over the past 15 days indicated the direction and pace of India's economic progress.

"Just 10 days ago, the Global Fintech Fest was held in Mumbai. Discussions there focused on inclusive finance through agentic AI, tokenisation and quantum technology. During the same period, around 3,000 kilometres of dedicated freight corridors in India became fully operational," he said.

"I am talking about these 10 days of September, not about something from the past," Modi said.

Referring to India's latest quarterly GDP data, Modi noted that the economy recorded 7.8% growth during a challenging period.

He also cited the upgrade of India's sovereign rating by a Japanese credit rating agency, saying it came after nearly three decades.

"On one hand, India's economy is growing. On the other, the world's trust in India is also increasing," he said.

Modi also referred to the BRICS summit hosted by India, saying the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration by consensus was another "major testament" to the world's trust in India.

"The first edition was held in 2022, and we have met every year since then, but the subject of our discussions has changed each year," Modi said.

"When the first edition was held, we discussed policy. In the subsequent editions, the discussion moved forward. We began discussing projects, including signing of files and laying foundation stones. Last year, we started discussing pilot lines and test chips, and talked about the first samples coming out of India's units," he said.

"This year, we are talking about commercial production. Our chips are now beginning to reach customers in the country and around the world from Indian plants. Commercial production is also beginning at two more plants," Modi said.

He said the government was moving ahead with further reforms in the semiconductor sector.

"Now, international companies can collaborate with our startups, Indian design firms, and OCI-owned entities," he said.

"Whether it concerns policy, funding, or the regulatory framework, the Government of India is taking every necessary step to ensure the success of your projects," Modi said.

SEMICON India 2026 is being held from September 17 to 19 on the theme 'Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem'.

The event brings together global and Indian companies, policymakers, investors, researchers, start-ups, academic institutions and students from across the semiconductor and electronics value chain.

The conference will focus on collaboration, investment, innovation and talent development, with sessions covering developments in the display industry, six country roundtables aimed at facilitating collaboration and joint ventures, and a forum on women's leadership, among others.

The event will showcase the semiconductor value chain from materials and equipment to chip design, fabrication, advanced packaging, electronics and systems.

More than 600 companies are participating in the event, which is expected to attract around 50,000 visitors from 52 countries. It will feature more than 400 executives and over 150 speakers.