Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) experts have warned that India risks being left vulnerable in future conflicts driven by artificial intelligence (AI), cyber warfare and space technologies unless it builds domestic semiconductor capabilities, aiming for self-reliance.
The warning comes as the government pushes to make India a global semiconductor powerhouse by 2047, focusing on indigenous chip design, manufacturing and materials.
India generates 20% of the world’s AI data but hosts only 3% of its AI data centres. Although the country accounts for 20% of the global chip-design workforce, around 90% of its semiconductor industry remains dependent on imports. The figures highlight the gap between India’s design talent and its domestic manufacturing capacity.
DRDO Calls for Strategic Leadership in Semiconductor Technology
Speaking at a curtain-raiser event ahead of the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026, DRDO officials said India may not lead every part of the semiconductor supply chain by 2047 but must establish expertise in strategically important areas.
Anesh Sharma, director of DRDO’s Solid State Physics Laboratory, said India should aim to lead selected domains to strengthen its position in international technology partnerships. He set a target of manufacturing 2-nanometre chips, developing three-dimensional chip structures, and establishing at least two foundries among the world’s top 10, with the ambition of contributing at least 20% to advanced niche technologies.
He also stressed that semiconductor self-reliance must extend beyond chip fabrication to the materials required for production. India identified quantum computing, photonic integrated circuits, and neuromorphic computing as areas where it could pursue early intellectual property leadership.
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DRDO Conclave to Focus on Indigenous Chips and Defence Systems
Scheduled for October 27–29 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, ESTIC 2026 will bring together 12 Union government scientific ministries and departments and feature 12 thematic sessions. DRDO is coordinating the session on ‘Semiconductors and Next-Gen Chips’, bringing together industry, academia, chip developers and defence electronics specialists.
Micron India vice-president and managing director Anand Ramamoorthy will deliver the keynote address. Speakers include Bharat Semi chief executive Vrinda Kapoor, Netrasemi chief executive Jyothis Indrabhai and IIT Madras director Professor Kamakoti. A panel moderated by DRDO director general (Electronics and Communication Systems) B K Das will include representatives from DRDO, Qualcomm, Tata Semiconductor, Bharat Electronics, Anant Systems and BITS Pilani.
Discussions will cover semiconductor technologies, AI system-on-chips, edge computing, and microprocessors.
Also Read: India Semiconductor Mission Enters ‘Production Phase’ as Investments Cross $20 Billion Mark
India Semiconductor Mission Targets Domestic Capability
The government approved 12 chip plants under the ₹76,000-crore India Semiconductor Mission 1.0, including a Tata Group fabrication facility and packaging and assembly units involving Micron Technology, Kaynes Semicon and CG Semi. Some projects have begun commercial production, while others remain at different stages of completion.
In July 2026, the Union Cabinet cleared India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 with an outlay of ₹1.27 lakh crore, offering support across chip design, manufacturing, assembly and the wider supply chain. The semiconductor market is expected to exceed $200 billion by FY 2035.
Samarjit Kaur is a journalist and communications professional covering technology & emerging digital trends. With a focus on clarity and context, she reports on developments shaping industries and governance. When not reporting, she chooses to plug-in and relax on her playlists and plan her next bucket-list trips!
