NEW DELHI — India’s electronics manufacturing sector has entered a defining phase as global value chains shift and the country cements its role as a trusted production and export hub, the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) said on Thursday.
According to the industry body, India’s ambition of building a $500 billion electronics sector will require sustained scale, enhanced competitiveness, and a predictable policy environment across all major manufacturing states. ICEA said the nation has already built a strong foundation under current fiscal support frameworks, with mobile phones leading the expansion.
“Mobile phone production has expanded by more than 2,700 per cent, whereas exports have multiplied by 130 times, and over 13 lakh jobs have been created in the last ten years,” ICEA said in a statement.
A significant share of these workers are first-time employees, particularly women, who now form the backbone of the country’s modern electronics workforce.
The rapid growth in mobile phone manufacturing has also spurred expansion across related industries, including components, PCBA, chargers, wearables, audio devices, industrial and aerospace electronics, and even toy manufacturing. ICEA said these sectors collectively deepen India’s supply-chain capacity and strengthen long-term integration into global value chains. Continued investment from major global manufacturers further underscores India’s growing credibility in high-tech production.
ICEA noted strong industry interest in the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), which is expected to help build local capabilities in components and sub-assemblies, expand the domestic value chain, and nurture future Indian champions in electronics manufacturing.
Karnataka’s contribution has been particularly notable. The report said the state has played a central role by fostering an innovation-driven electronics ecosystem supported by a technology-ready workforce and a strong culture of design and engineering excellence. The state now accounts for more than 21.3 percent of India’s mobile phone exports and about 20 percent of overall electronics exports.
“Of Karnataka’s total electronics exports, mobile phones comprise nearly 65 per cent,” the industry association said.
State Large and Medium Scale Industries and Infrastructure Development Minister M. B. Patil said Karnataka is focused on expanding its role in the sector.
“We had detailed discussions with ICEA on opportunities to expand the electronics and mobile manufacturing sector in Karnataka. The state’s investment-friendly environment, strong government incentives and the vision document under preparation position Karnataka to attract more investments, create quality jobs and expand advanced technical opportunities for our people,” he said.
ICEA said the coming decade presents a major opportunity for all leading states to work with industry and the central government to strengthen India’s electronics value chain. Sustained outreach, ecosystem development, and long-term policy stability will be essential to achieving India’s global electronics ambitions. (Source: IANS)
