India Forges Ahead in Semiconductor Manufacturing and Innovation
India has achieved a significant milestone in its technological journey with the unveiling of the country's first domestically produced semiconductor chips. This development is a crucial step towards achieving self-reliance in advanced electronics manufacturing and underscores India's commitment to strengthening its domestic technology ecosystem. The chips were developed under initiatives spearheaded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and are supported by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), which recently concluded its SEMICON India 2025 event (September 2-4).
Further bolstering the semiconductor sector, Indian startups are actively contributing to domestic semiconductor design across various applications, including broadband, surveillance, smart energy meters, motor control, and space technologies. In a move to democratize computing access for Indian researchers and startups, AMD announced it would provide 100,000 hours of free access to its AMD Developer Cloud (ADC) over the next year. This initiative removes cost and complexity barriers by offering on-demand access to advanced GPUs for AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) workloads. AMD also committed to training 100,000 STEM graduates in AI and GPU programming in India over the next three years.
Growing Focus on AI and Deep Tech for Future Growth
India continues to solidify its position as a global hub for technological innovation, ranking third worldwide in startup funding, with a distinct emphasis on deep tech, AI, and research and development (R&D) as key drivers for future economic growth. The government has allocated substantial funds, including ā¹20,000 crore for a new Research, Development, and Innovation initiative and ā¹10,300 crore for the IndiaAI Mission, aimed at boosting private-sector research and fostering emerging technologies.
In a move towards ethical AI governance, India is set to roll out four Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI) solutions on its upcoming AI platform, AIKosh. These tools, focusing on machine learning, bias mitigation, risk evaluation, and fairness assessment, are part of the 'Safe and Trusted AI' pillar of the IndiaAI Mission.
Indigenous Drone Revolution Takes Flight
India is experiencing a "silent drone revolution," with over 600 firms, both private and public, now manufacturing drones and associated equipment. This burgeoning domestic industry is significantly reducing India's reliance on foreign companies for drone technology. Government initiatives, such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme and an additional allocation of $234 million (ā¹20 billion) for the local drone industry, have played a crucial role in stimulating this growth. The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is at the forefront of this revolution, actively developing India's maiden stealth-armed uncrewed platform, known as Ghatak, anticipated to make its public debut in 2026.
Promoting Scientific Temper and Addressing R&D Challenges
To cultivate scientific thinking and innovation among students, new initiatives are being launched. In Raipur, Chhattisgarh, science clubs will be established in 101 schools, and workshops focusing on space and satellites will be conducted in over 200 schools over 75 days. Similarly, the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST) is organizing special sky-watching sessions for a Total Lunar Eclipse on September 7-8, aiming to inspire curiosity about the universe among students and the general public.
Despite these advancements, government assessments highlight persistent challenges within India's science and technology institutes. These include complex accounting systems, low funding for R&D (stagnant at 0.6-0.7% of GDP), and minimal private sector participation. To address these issues and foster a new era of scientific leadership, a new technology and innovation conclave is scheduled for November, intended to showcase cutting-edge research and deep-tech breakthroughs. Furthermore, there is a recognized need to increase funding for basic research and PhD programs to drive breakthrough technologies.