India has been making semiconductors since the time of Indira Gandhi, will soon become a global hub

Today's world cannot run without semiconductor, because the chip of every electric device is made of it. India also entered the world of semiconductor about 40 years ago during the time of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. But gradually it lagged behind China.

Today India is loudly inviting foreign especially Taiwanese companies to come and set up semiconductor factories in the country. Keeping in view the needs of the changing future, the government has also launched PLI scheme for this sector, but do you know that semiconductor production in the country started 40 years ago. Let's know its story…

Yes, semiconductor is not a new thing for India, but 'Semi Conductor Laboratory' (SCL) was established in Mohali adjacent to Chandigarh in the year 1982 when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister. Then it was a government research center, which Now the country's semiconductor dream can get new wings.

SCL is still special

Even today no one knows the name of SCL present in Mohali, but it is still special for India. The reason for this is that it has proved its capability in the defense and space sector. At the same time, it has expertise in making 180nm chipsets in the country. This fulfills 60 percent of the demand for this chipset. Therefore, SCL still has the capacity to meet the global demand for semiconductors in this segment in the coming times.

India's fate can change

Many foreign companies are working on plans to set up their semiconductor plants in India. But it will take at least four years to reach the ground. In such a situation, the semiconductor laboratory can give good results quickly only after a little effort. The attention of the government has also gone towards this and it has also made SCL a partner in its PLI scheme.

The government is paying attention to the modernization of SCL. Plans are underway to set up a brownfield semiconductor factory (a new extension of the existing factory) here, which will be set up as a joint venture.

Indian factory built before Taiwan

SCL was established in 1982 as a research institute. It started making semiconductors in 1984, which is three years before the establishment of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest semiconductor company today.

Although TSMC manufactures 54 percent of the world's semiconductors today. In the year 2022, its revenue has been 60 billion dollars. On the contrary, SCL is surviving somehow. Its revenue has been only 5 million dollars in 2022.