India surpasses decade-long semiconductor training target in just four years

India has trained 85,000 semiconductor design engineers in just four years, reaching a target originally set for a decade under the country’s Semiconductor Mission. The announcement was made by Union Minister for Railways and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighting a major acceleration in India’s technology capacity-building efforts.

According to the Minister, advanced Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools have been introduced in 315 universities nationwide, enabling students to design real semiconductor chips as part of their academic training. The chips are subsequently fabricated and tested at the Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali, providing hands-on exposure across the full value chain – from design and manufacturing to validation.

Vaishnaw noted that the global semiconductor industry, currently valued at approximately US$800–900 billion, is projected to grow to US$2 trillion in the coming years.

According to ANI, a partner of TV BRICS, this expansion is expected to generate demand for nearly two million skilled professionals worldwide, presenting significant employment opportunities for India’s young workforce.

Under the expanded Semicon 2.0 phase, the initiative will now extend to 500 universities across all states, broadening access to specialised training in chip design, manufacturing, testing and validation. The move is designed to create a sustainable and continuous talent pipeline capable of supporting long-term industry growth.