A Roadmap for Growth of Electronics Industry

Draft National Policy on Electronics 2011                                                                                          

Information Communication Technologies and Electronics have been contributing significantly to the economic growth of India and have the potential to script India’s future across the economy, society and government and epitomize what modern, resurgent and youngIndia is capable of accomplishing. Achievements in the recent past in the IT and Telecom sectors have been spectacular and unprecedented in India’s history. Yet, it is the future that holds even more breathtaking possibilities. In October 2011, a combination of three interdependent and synergistic policies for IT, Telecom and Electronics were formulated by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

Of the three sectors – IT, Telecommunications and Electronics - Electronics presents special challenges. Lack of a strong base, an adverse international environment and failure to build an enabling eco-system are among the major barriers. The Government recognizes that a stage has now been reached where not only the lofty aspirations for the future, but even sustaining growth trends in IT and Telecom is critically dependent on India’s ability to foster a strong electronics systems design and manufacturing (ESDM) base in the country. The silver lining is the strong chip design and substantial R&D capability that has developed in the country.

It is in this context that the draft National Policy on Electronics, 2011 has tremendous importance. The Policy envisions creating a globally competitive ESDM industry including nano-electronics to meet the country's needs and serve the international market. One of the important objectives is to achieve a turnover of about USD 400 Billion by 2020 involving investment of about USD 100 Billion and employment to around 28 million by 2020. This is a quantum jump from production level of about USD 20 Billion in 2009. This interalia, includes achieving a turnover of USD 55 Billion of chip design and embedded software industry, USD 80 Billion of exports in the sector. Moreover, the policy also proposes setting up of over 200 Electronic Manufacturing clusters. Another important objective of the policy is to significantly upscale high-end human resource creation to 2500 PhDs annually by 2020 in the sector.

Some of the major strategies proposed in the policy include:

·         Providing attractive fiscal incentives across the value chain of the ESDM sector through Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS).

·         Setting up of Semiconductor Wafer Fab facilities and its eco-system for design and fabrication of chips and chip components.

·         Providing Preferential Market Access for domestically manufactured/ designed electronic products including mobile devices, SIM cards with enhanced features, etc. with special emphasis on Indian products for which IPR reside in India to address strategic and security concerns of the Government consistent with international commitments.

·         Providing incentives for setting up of over 200 Electronic Manufacturing Clusters with world class logistics and infrastructure.

·         Creating an “Electronic Development Fund” for promoting innovation, R&D and commercialization in ESDM, nano-electronics and IT sectors including providing support for seed capital, venture capital and growth stages of manufacturing.

·         To use innovation and R&D capabilities to develop electronic products catering to domestic needs and conditions at affordable price points.

·          Setting up Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) specific Incubation Centres across country.

·         Developing an India microprocessor for diverse applications/ strategic needs.

·         Creating a 10 year stable tax regime for the ESDM sector.

·         Setting up a specialized Institute for semiconductor chip design.

·         Encouraging greater participation of private sector in human resource development for the sector. Also encouraging setting up of skill-oriented courses for electronic designs along with hands-on laboratories enabling graduates from other disciplines to migrate to ESDM.

·         Developing and mandating standards for electronic products specific to Indian conditions of power, climate, handling etc.

·         Creating linkages for long term partnership between domestic ESDM industry and strategic sectors like Defence, Atomic Energy and Space.

·         Setting up of Centres of Excellence in the area of Automotive electronics, Avionics, and Industrial electronics.

·         Adopting best practices in e-waste management

·         Setting up of a National Electronics Mission with industry participation to advance the implementation of various programmes in this policy.

·         The Department of Information Technology to be renamed as Department of Electronics and Information Technology to reflect the desired focus on electronics.

It is expected that these policy initiatives will provide necessary impetus to Electronics Manufacturing in India and help in building an environment that will nurture an Electronics System Design and Manufacturing ecosystem.          (PIB Feature).  ****

*Inputs from the Department of Information Technology.