The government of India has backed two Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) in Tamil Nadu, located in Manallur and Pillapaikkam. These clusters are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s electronics industry.
The Manallur EMC will span 474.3 acres and is projected to cost Rs 587.47 crore. The Pillapaikkam EMC covers 379.3 acres and will cost Rs 424.55 crore. Together, the two projects cover 853.6 acres and involve more than Rs 1,012 crore in investment.
Since 2014, the government has launched numerous initiatives to boost electronics manufacturing. As a result, production of electronic goods has risen seven times, and about 99.2% of mobile phones sold in India are now made domestically. Exports have also surged elevenfold.
In January 2022, the government introduced the Semicon India Programme. The programme focuses on setting up semiconductor fabs, display fabs, semiconductor packaging, and promoting Indian‑designed chips.
Under this programme, 12 manufacturing projects across Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Punjab, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh have been approved. The total investment commitment for these projects is approximately Rs 1.64 lakh crore.
Recognizing the global AI boom, the government is supporting Indian startups and institutions to develop Large Language Models (LLMs) and Small Language Models (SLMs). This initiative aims to harness AI’s potential for economic growth.
In addition, a scheme to establish 58 Artificial Intelligence Centres of Excellence (AI‑CoEs) has been approved. These centres will be set up across states and union territories with the help of industry partners.
AI also plays a key role in India‑US cooperation. Under the Pax Sillica initiative, both countries plan to provide access to compute and processors for AI, accelerating research and development. This partnership is expected to strengthen India’s position in the global technology landscape.