PIB Summary - 2nd September 2025 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

SEMICON 2025: Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse

Basics of Semiconductors

• Semiconductors are materials whose electrical conductivity falls between that of conductors and insulators. This unique property allows for precise control over the flow of electrical current.
• Semiconductors are the backbone of modern technology, playing crucial roles in various sectors:
• Healthcare: Used in diagnostics and medical devices.
• Transport: Found in electric vehicles (EVs) and navigation systems.
• Communication: Essential for 5G technology and smartphones.
• Defence: Used in radars and missile systems.
• Space: Integral to missions like Chandrayaan-3, where AI systems rely on semiconductor technology.

Global Dependence:

• Taiwan:. key player in the semiconductor industry, producing 60% of global chips and 90% of advanced chips.
• Vulnerability: The global supply chain is highly susceptible to disruptions, as seen during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war.

India’s Semiconductor Journey (2021–2025)

2021: The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was launched, accompanied by a ₹76,000 crore Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost semiconductor manufacturing.

2023-24: Major investments were announced by global companies, including Micron, Tata-PSMC, AMD, and Foxconn, signaling a strong commitment to India’s semiconductor sector.

2025: Significant milestones are expected, including:

• The establishment of the first end-to-end OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) Pilot Line Facility in Sanand, Gujarat.
• The launch of the first 3nm design centers in Noida and Bengaluru.
• A shift from traditional silicon-based packaging to advanced materials like silicon carbide (SiC) and 3D Glass packaging.
• Approval of 10 projects across 6 states, with a total investment of ₹1.6 lakh crore.

SEMICON India 2025 – Event Overview

Edition: This will be the 4th edition of the event, following successful gatherings in Bengaluru (2022), Gandhinagar (2023), and Greater Noida (2024).

• Scale: The event is expected to feature over 350 exhibitors and attract more than 15,000 visitors from 33 countries and 9 Indian states.
• International Participation: There will be 6 international roundtables and 4 country pavilions, highlighting global interest and collaboration in the semiconductor sector.
• Theme: “Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse,” focusing on India’s potential to become a leading player in the global semiconductor industry.
• Key Focus Areas: The event will emphasize various aspects of semiconductor development, including:
• High-Volume Fabrication (Fabs)
• Advanced Packaging
• Compound Semiconductors
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Smart Manufacturing
• Sustainability
• Supply Chain Resilience
• Workforce Development
• Startups
• Indigenous Design

Special Features of SEMICON 2025

Workforce Development Pavilion

• Need for Skilled Workers: The semiconductor industry in India aims to create 1 million skilled jobs by 2030.
• Student Engagement: Initiatives will focus on engaging students and promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education to build a diverse talent pipeline.

SEMI University Program

• On-Demand Courses: The program offers over 800 on-demand courses covering various aspects of semiconductor technology, including chip design, fabrication operations, safety, and emerging tech trends.

Sustainability Track

• Focus Areas: The track will address key sustainability issues in semiconductor manufacturing, such as water stress, energy consumption, and the circular economy.

International Roundtables

• Strategic Discussions: These roundtables will focus on important topics like supply chain security and manufacturing resilience in the semiconductor sector.

India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) – Core Objectives

• Infrastructure Development: Build advanced fabrication plants, packaging and testing units, and foster a robust chip design ecosystem.
• Secure Supply Chains: Establish reliable supply chains for essential materials like chemicals, gases, and raw materials crucial for semiconductor manufacturing.
• Startup Support: Provide assistance to startups in the semiconductor sector, particularly in using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools.
• Intellectual Property (IP) and Technology Transfer: Encourage the generation of intellectual property and facilitate technology transfer in the semiconductor industry.
• Centres of Excellence (CoEs): Promote the development of CoEs and foster collaboration between industry and academia to drive innovation and research in semiconductor technology.

Major Projects Under ISM (2023–2025)

Micron (Sanand, Gujarat)

• Investment: ₹22,516 crore
• Focus: Advanced Packaging and Testing (ATMP) facility

Tata-PSMC (Dholera, Gujarat)

• Investment: ₹91,000 crore
• Focus: 50,000 wafers per month production capacity

CG Semi OSAT (Sanand, Gujarat)

• Investment: ₹7,600 crore
• Focus: 15 million chips per day production capacity

Tata TSAT (Assam)

• Investment: ₹27,000 crore
• Focus: 48 million chips per day by 2026

HCL–Foxconn JV (Jewar, UP)

• Investment: ₹3,700 crore
• Focus: 20,000 wafers per month production capacity

Kaynes Semicon (Gujarat)

• Investment: ₹3,307 crore
• Focus: Pilot operational for semiconductor manufacturing

SicSem (Odisha)

• Investment: ₹2,066 crore
• Focus: Silicon Carbide (SiC) fab with 60,000 wafers per year capacity

3D Glass Solutions (Odisha)

• Investment: ₹1,943 crore
• Focus: Production of glass panels with 70,000 units per year capacity

CDIL (Punjab)

• Investment: ₹117 crore
• Focus: 158 million units per year production capacity

ASIP (Andhra Pradesh)

• Investment: ₹468 crore
• Focus: 96 million units per year production capacity

Strategic Relevance of India’s Progress

• Diversification of Global Supply Chains: India’s progress in semiconductor manufacturing aims to reduce global dependence on Taiwan and China, enhancing supply chain resilience.
• Materials and Talent Strength: India possesses essential raw materials such as chemicals, gases, and minerals, along with a robust talent pool of 1.5 million engineers graduating annually.
• Design Strength: India is home to 20% of the world’s chip designers, showcasing its significant capability in semiconductor design.
• Research and Development Push: There is a strong focus on advanced research in areas like 3nm chip design, 3D Glass packaging, and Silicon Carbide (SiC) semiconductors.
• Geopolitical Edge: India is strengthening partnerships with countries like the US, Japan, Taiwan, and EU nations to build resilient semiconductor supply chains.

Workforce and Skill Development

• Skilled Workforce: Over 60,000 students have been trained in semiconductor-related programs, contributing to the growing talent pool in this sector.
• Job Creation: New semiconductor projects are expected to create 2,000+ skilled jobs directly, with thousands more indirectly as the industry expands.
• Indigenous Design Ecosystem: The India Semiconductor Mission is collaborating with over 280 institutes and 70+ startups to foster an indigenous design ecosystem, promoting local innovation and design capabilities.

Challenges for India

• Capital Intensity: Establishing semiconductor fabrication plants (fabs) is highly capital-intensive, with each facility requiring an investment of $10–20 billion.
• Water and Power Demand: Chip fabs have stringent requirements for ultra-pure water and stable power supply, posing challenges for resource management.
• Global Competition: Countries like the US (through the CHIPS Act), EU, and Japan are also investing heavily in semiconductor fabs, increasing global competition.
• Supply Chain Bottlenecks: Critical equipment like lithography machines are predominantly produced by ASML in the Netherlands, creating supply chain constraints.
• Skilling Gap: There is a pressing need to train 1 million workers in semiconductor-related skills by 2030, but the current pipeline of trained professionals is insufficient to meet this demand.

Opportunities Ahead

• Chip Design: India can leverage its strength in chip design, an area where it has already proven capabilities.
• OSAT and Packaging: Specializing in Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing (OSAT) and packaging offers lower barriers to entry compared to fabs.
• Materials Supply: India can focus on supplying essential materials like minerals and gases used in semiconductor manufacturing.
• Niche Technologies: Developing expertise in niche technologies such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) is promising, especially for applications in electric vehicles, defence, and space.
• Global Market Share: The global semiconductor market is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, and India can aim to capture 10–15% of this market share.

Conclusion

•  SEMICON India 2025 represents more than just a trade exhibition; it embodies India’s ambitious vision for the semiconductor sector. The country is transitioning from being a mere consumer of semiconductor technology to becoming a key designer and manufacturer of chips.
• With strategic investments, international collaborations, and robust skill development initiatives, India is positioning itself as a reliable and diversified hub in the global semiconductor supply chain.
• The success of this endeavor will hinge on continued policy support, infrastructure readiness, global partnerships, and the cultivation of a skilled workforce. 

Adi Vaani 

Basics of Tribal Languages in India

• India is home to over 700 tribal groups, each with its own unique culture and language. There are more than 400 languages and dialects spoken among these tribes.
• Many of these languages are passed down orally, with little written documentation, making them vulnerable to extinction.
• According to UNESCO, nearly 40% of India’s tribal languages are endangered.
• When a language is lost, it means the disappearance of cultural identity, traditional knowledge, folklore, and access to governance systems.

What is Adi Vaani?

• Adi Vaani is India’s first AI-powered platform designed to translate tribal languages.
• It was launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on September 1, 2025.
• The platform was developed by a consortium led by IIT Delhi, including BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, and IIIT Nava Raipur, in collaboration with Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) from various states.
• Features of the Beta Version:
• Real-time translation of text and speech between Hindi, English, and tribal languages.
• Initial languages supported include Santali, Bhili, Mundari, and Gondi, with plans to add Kui and Garo.
• The AI application is available on a web portal and will soon be accessible on mobile platforms.

Key Features of Adi Vaani

• Translation: Offers real-time translation of text and speech between major languages and tribal languages.
• Learning Modules: Provides interactive learning tools for students and early learners.
• Cultural Digitization: Aids in the archiving of folklore, oral traditions, and cultural heritage.
• Inclusive Governance: Ensures health advisories, government speeches, and messages are accessible in tribal languages.
• Entrepreneurship Support: Offers guidance for local businesses in their native languages.
• Research Resource: Serves as an authentic linguistic database for researchers and scholars.

Why Adi Vaani Matters? (Significance)

• Language as Identity: Preserves cultural heritage, oral knowledge, and traditions tied to tribal languages.
• Education Access: Facilitates learning for tribal children in their mother tongue, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• Governance Access: Enhances the delivery of government schemes and services in native languages.
• Entrepreneurship: Supports local businesses by providing tools and resources in tribal languages.
• Digital Inclusion: Ensures tribal communities are part of the Digital India initiative.
• Global Model: Represents the first AI-driven tool for low-resource tribal languages, with potential for global replication.

Institutional Ecosystem Behind Adi Vaani

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Provides policy leadership, funding, and oversight for the initiative.
• Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs): Involved in collecting and validating linguistic data at the community level.
• IIT Delhi Consortium: Responsible for developing the AI models, natural language processing (NLP) systems, and large language models (LLMs) used in Adi Vaani.
• Frugal Innovation: Achieved at a fraction of the cost of commercial translation platforms, demonstrating cost-effective innovation.
• Community Feedback Loop: Incorporates feedback from tribal users to continuously improve the platform and its services.

Alignment with National Initiatives

• Digital India: Promotes inclusive digital empowerment of tribal communities.
• Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat: Fosters linguistic and cultural integration across the country.
• PM JANMAN: Focuses on development initiatives for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
• Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan: Aims at tribal skilling and building leadership capacities.
• Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: Focuses on grassroots upliftment of tribal communities.
• Viksit Bharat 2047: Empowers 2 million tribal change leaders with digital tools and resources.

Challenges Ahead

• Data Scarcity: Many tribal languages lack written scripts, necessitating the digitization of oral corpora.
• Accuracy & Nuances: The complex grammar and dialectal diversity of tribal languages pose challenges for accurate translation.
• Digital Divide: Connectivity issues in remote tribal areas may hinder the platform's adoption and effectiveness.
• Sustainability: Ongoing funding and community participation are crucial for the long-term success of Adi Vaani.
• Training Needs: There is a need to build local AI expertise among tribal youth to support and enhance the platform.

Opportunities & Future Potential

• Scalable Model: Potential to expand from 6 to over 50 tribal languages, increasing the platform's reach and impact.
• AI Innovation: Opportunity to develop India’s own Large Language Models (LLMs) for low-resource languages, enhancing AI capabilities.
• Education Equity: Enables tribal students to access STEM education and competitive exams in their mother tongue, promoting educational equity.
• Healthcare: Facilitates real-time AI translation for healthcare providers in tribal areas, improving healthcare access and quality.
• Governance Transparency: Local bodies can use the platform to communicate government advisories and information in native dialects, enhancing governance transparency.
• Global Diplomacy: Positions India as a soft power model for UNESCO-endorsed language preservation initiatives, showcasing effective language preservation strategies.

Conclusion

• Adi Vaani is more than just a translation tool; it is a vital cultural resource that helps preserve heritage, promotes digital inclusion, and creates new economic opportunities.
• The initiative reflects frugal innovation, active community involvement, and the use of AI for social good.
• If implemented effectively, Adi Vaani could establish India as a leader in AI for low-resource languages globally while empowering millions of tribal citizens to actively participate in the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.