Semiconductors have become an important part of India’s industrial policy as the country seeks to expand its electronics manufacturing base and develop domestic capacity for chip design, fabrication, packaging and testing. The effort will be in focus at SEMICON India 2026, which opens at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi on September 17. The three-day event is expected to bring together chipmakers, technology companies, policymakers and investors. Its theme, “Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem”, reflects the wider scope of India’s semiconductor programme.

The semiconductor industry gained wider attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, when shortages disrupted production at automobile factories. The episode highlighted the dependence of several industries on global chip supply chains.

India’s current push is aimed at building a stronger presence in this supply chain, while supporting the electronics manufacturing sector that has expanded considerably over the past decade.

Electronics Came First

India’s semiconductor plans have followed a rapid expansion in electronics manufacturing. Electronics production increased from about ₹1.9 lakh crore in 2014–15 to ₹13.11 lakh crore in 2025–26, according to the government. Electronics exports rose from around ₹38,000 crore to ₹4.24 lakh crore during the same period.

Mobile phone manufacturing has been a major part of this growth. Production increased from ₹18,000 crore to ₹6.27 lakh crore, while mobile phone exports rose from about ₹1,500 crore to ₹2.59 lakh crore. The government says India now manufactures 99.2% of the mobile phones used domestically.

Semiconductor manufacturing is a different stage of the electronics value chain. It requires specialised facilities and equipment, along with expertise in chip design, fabrication, packaging and testing. The government’s semiconductor programme is therefore not limited to setting up fabrication plants.

Broader Semiconductor Programme

The Semicon India programme was launched in 2021 with an outlay of ₹76,000 crore. It covers chip design and fabrication as well as packaging, testing, equipment, materials and talent development. In July 2026, the government approved Semicon 2.0 with an outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore. The programme has six focus areas: chip design, semiconductor equipment and materials, fabrication facilities, advanced packaging, research and development, and talent development.

So far, 12 semiconductor projects have been approved across six states, involving investment commitments of more than ₹1.64 lakh crore. The projects cover silicon and compound semiconductor fabs, display fabrication and advanced packaging. Three facilities have already started commercial production, according to the government.

The spread of projects across different stages of the supply chain is significant because a semiconductor industry involves considerably more than fabrication. A chip has to be designed before it can be manufactured. Once fabricated, it needs to be packaged and tested. The production process also relies on specialised equipment and materials.

Expanding Chip Design

India is also investing in the skills and infrastructure needed for semiconductor design. The government has set a target of creating a pool of 85,000 skilled semiconductor engineers within this decade. Through the Chips to Startup programme, Electronic Design Automation tools have been deployed across 320 academic institutions, with more than 68,000 students trained so far.

By April 2026, 75 institutions had taped out 211 chips. Seven of these had been fabricated at different technology nodes, including nodes down to 12 nanometres. The ChipIN Centre at C-DAC provides access to chip-design tools, fabrication services and specialised training. According to the government, more than one lakh engineers from over 500 organisations have accessed these facilities.

The programme also includes support for smaller companies. Twenty-four semiconductor design projects have been approved for financial support, while 105 startups and MSMEs have received EDA tool support under the Design Linked Incentive scheme.

What Happens After Fabrication plant

Fabs tend to attract the most attention because they are among the most expensive and technically demanding parts of semiconductor manufacturing. But they are only one component of the wider industry.

Packaging and testing, for instance, are essential before manufactured chips can be incorporated into electronic products. Equipment and material suppliers are needed to support fabrication. Research and design capabilities are required to develop new chips.

India’s approved projects cover some of these areas, including advanced packaging and compound semiconductor manufacturing. The government has also included equipment, materials, research and development and talent development in Semicon 2.0, alongside fabrication and design.

A Place in the Global Supply Chain

The semiconductor push is also taking place as countries reassess their dependence on global supply chains. The disruption during the pandemic showed how shortages could affect industries far removed from chip manufacturing. India has subsequently sought a role in wider efforts around semiconductor supply chains.

In 2026, India joined the Pax Silica coalition along with the United States and other partner countries. The coalition focuses on the silicon supply chain, including critical minerals, fabrication, advanced AI systems and related infrastructure.

For India, developing semiconductor capacity could complement its growing electronics manufacturing sector and give domestic companies greater access to parts of the chip value chain.

What India Needs to Build

The scale of the current programme is considerable, but semiconductor manufacturing is a long-term industrial undertaking. India has approved 12 projects and begun commercial production at three facilities. It is also expanding support for chip design and training thousands of students and engineers.

The next stage will involve building connections between these different parts of the industry. Fabrication facilities need suppliers and trained workers. Chip designers need access to manufacturing and testing. Packaging and testing facilities need a steady flow of chips and customers. SEMICON India 2026 comes as these different efforts are being brought together under a broader semiconductor strategy. The event itself is only a snapshot of that effort. The more important question is how these investments, companies, institutions and skills develop once the event is over.

For India, the semiconductor programme is ultimately an attempt to move further into the electronics value chain—building on the manufacturing capacity created over the past decade while developing capabilities that have so far largely been concentrated elsewhere.

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has taken a significant step towards integrating artificial intelligence with management education by exchanging a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with philanthropists Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Ranjan Tandon to establish the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at the institute.

The MoU was exchanged in New Delhi in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, while Vinay Kwatra, Ambassador of India to the United States, joined virtually from the US.

The School will be established through a $12 Million ( ₹100-crore) endowment by Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon, an alumna of IIMA’s PGP Class of 1975, and her husband Ranjan Tandon. Positioned as a pioneering School of Artificial Intelligence within a management institute in India, the new School aims to operate at the intersection of technology, management, and public impact.

Dharmendra Pradhan said in a media statement that he was happy to witness the exchange of the MoU for setting up the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at IIM Ahmedabad. He said the MoU, signed in the lead-up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, reflected the concrete actions India is taking to become a global AI superpower under the leadership of Narendra Modi.

Pradhan said that artificial intelligence would act as an enabler for powering people, progress, and the planet, adding that India’s AI leadership would be shaped not only by technology but also by the strength of its institutions and human capital. He appreciated Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Ranjan Tandon for their philanthropic contribution, noting that the endowment strengthened the tradition of alumni giving back to their alma mater.

He further said in the statement that the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence would work towards boosting India’s AI capabilities, democratising AI, creating jobs from India for the global AI economy, and harnessing AI to improve lives and advance social good. As a School of Artificial Intelligence housed within a management institute, it will focus on responsible and effective AI applications while addressing India’s complex developmental challenges with a strong global outlook.

Anchored in IIMA’s long-standing legacy of leadership, governance, and institution-building, the School aims to influence how artificial intelligence is developed, deployed, and governed to generate long-term business and societal value. It is also envisioned as a natural extension of IIMA’s mission to advance management education in an increasingly AI-driven global economy.

Designed as a hub for business-focused and translational AI, the School will bring together faculty, industry leaders, policymakers, and global partners. Its research agenda will be application-led and case-based, focusing on translating cutting-edge AI research into deployable solutions, decision-making tools, and scalable systems for industry, government, and society.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Education and IIMA, including Secretary (Higher Education) Vineet Joshi and Director of IIMA Bharat Bhasker, were present at the event.

Sharing his views on the partnership, Bharat Bhasker said in a media statement, “The world is at an unprecedented inflection point where data and artificial intelligence are reshaping how businesses think, decide, and grow. At IIM Ahmedabad, we are committed to building leaders who stay ahead of the curve and can harness these technologies to make strategic decisions, drive innovation, and create greater impact. We are grateful to Ms. Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Ranjan Tandon for their generous contribution, which reflects their deep commitment to advancing education, institution-building, and the responsible application of artificial intelligence for societal good. Through its focus on translational AI, management-anchored research, and cross-sector partnerships, the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI will make a meaningful contribution to business and society, setting a global benchmark for AI research aligned with real-world impact.”

Explaining her motivation behind establishing the School, Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon said in a media statement, “It is an honour and privilege to be able to contribute to my beloved alma mater, IIMA, in such a pivotal area—one that I believe will redefine business and society in the years to come. I hope the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence will allow us to train a new generation of far-thinking visionary leaders and help India address some of the most significant needs using the best technology and minds. Many of these lessons and learning will also be relevant to the world. It promises to be an exciting journey ahead.”

Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon is a business leader, philanthropist, and global advocate for education and the arts. An alumna of IIM Ahmedabad and former partner at McKinsey, she is the founder of Tandon Capital Associates and has played a key role in institution-building across the US and India. Ranjan Tandon, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and Harvard Business School, is the founder and chairman of Libra Advisors and manages the Tandon family office. Together, the Tandons have supported academic institutions globally through faculty chairs, schools, and long-term philanthropic initiatives.

India’s entrepreneurial story is increasingly being written by founders who have not yet turned 40—but among them, a striking cohort stands out. At just 36 years of age, these entrepreneurs are already leading companies that are reshaping mobility, energy, e-commerce, aerospace, health, and digital infrastructure.

According to the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U40 List 2025, the 10 youngest entrepreneurs on the list represent a generation that has combined technological depth with scale, ambition with execution, and innovation with institutional maturity.

Together, they reflect a broader shift in India’s economic leadership—from inheritance to invention, and from early success to long-term value creation.

The Youngest 10 Entrepreneurs in India (Age 36)

1. Sanjay Byalal Jagannath | Exponent Energy (Bengaluru)

The youngest entrepreneur on the U40 List, Sanjay Byalal Jagannath is co-founder of Exponent Energy, a company working on rapid-charging solutions for electric vehicles. At a time when EV adoption hinges on charging infrastructure, Exponent Energy’s focus on speed and scalability places it at the heart of India’s clean mobility transition.

2. Vivek Mishra | Raphe mPhibr (Noida)

Vivek Mishra leads Raphe mPhibr, a rare Indian startup operating at the intersection of aerospace, defence, and advanced manufacturing. The company reflects India’s growing push for self-reliance in high-technology defence systems, an area traditionally dominated by global majors.

3. Saurav Kumar | Euler Motors (New Delhi)

As founder of Euler Motors, Saurav Kumar is focused on electrifying India’s commercial vehicle segment. While much of the EV narrative revolves around personal mobility, Euler Motors is addressing last-mile logistics—one of India’s most emissions-intensive sectors.

4. Sanjeev Barnwal | Meesho (Bengaluru)

Sanjeev Barnwal, co-founder of Meesho, has helped build one of India’s most influential social commerce platforms. Meesho has enabled millions of small sellers—many from non-metro regions—to participate in the digital economy, redefining entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.

5. Mohit Kumar | Ultrahuman (Dubai)

Mohit Kumar heads Ultrahuman, a company operating at the convergence of wearable technology, metabolic health, and performance optimisation. Ultrahuman represents a new class of Indian-origin consumer health brands with global ambitions and science-led design.

6. Vishesh Khurana | Shiprocket (New Delhi)

Vishesh Khurana is co-founder of Shiprocket, a logistics and fulfilment platform powering India’s fast-growing e-commerce ecosystem. By simplifying shipping for small and medium sellers, Shiprocket has become a critical layer in India’s digital retail infrastructure.

7. Swapnil Babanlal Jain | Ather Energy (Bengaluru)

Swapnil Babanlal Jain is a co-founder of Ather Energy, one of India’s most prominent electric two-wheeler manufacturers. Beyond vehicles, Ather’s investment in charging networks and software ecosystems highlights how mobility is becoming a systems-level innovation challenge.

8. Swapnil Jain | Observe.AI (San Francisco)

Swapnil Jain leads Observe.AI, a company building AI-driven tools for contact centres and enterprise communication. Observe.AI illustrates the global footprint of Indian founders in advanced artificial intelligence and enterprise SaaS markets.

9. Ishaan Bector | Mrs. Bector’s Food Specialities (Gurugram)

Representing next-generation leadership, Ishaan Bector is steering Mrs. Bector’s Food Specialities, a well-established food company with strong consumer recall. His role reflects how legacy businesses are being reimagined through modern branding, scale, and governance.

10. Enbasekar D | MediBuddy (Bengaluru)

Enbasekar D is founder of MediBuddy, a healthtech platform focused on insurance, wellness, and healthcare access. As healthcare digitisation accelerates, MediBuddy sits at the intersection of policy, technology, and patient services.

What This Cohort Reveals About India’s Future

Several patterns emerge from this youngest group on the U40 List:

• Sectoral diversity: From aerospace and clean energy to healthtech and social commerce
• First-generation dominance: Most are self-made founders rather than inheritors
• Global outlook: Indian entrepreneurs are building companies for both domestic and international markets
• System-level thinking: These businesses are not just products, but platforms and ecosystems

Collectively, the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U40 cohort leads enterprises valued at USD 357 billion, employs over 4.4 lakh professionals, and signals how early leadership responsibility is becoming the norm rather than the exception in India’s startup economy.

Editorial Note

This article is based on the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U40 List 2025, with youngest entrepreneurs determined by birth month, as outlined in the methodology of the report