QUESTION 16
GS3
15 marks
India aims to become a semiconductor manufacturing hub. What are the challenges faced by the semiconductor industry in India? Mention the salient features of the India Semiconductor Mission.
WRITE IN
11 min
250 words
What the examiner wants
Identify the challenges facing India's semiconductor industry and set out the main features of the India Semiconductor Mission.
DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.
Demand-wise check
- 1Challenges: huge capital cost, ultra-pure water and stable power needs, lack of fab ecosystem and suppliers (chemicals, gases), skilled workforce, technology access controlled by few firms and countries, long gestation, global overcapacity cycles≈65 words
- 2ISM (2021, ₹76,000 crore): 50% fiscal support for fabs, display fabs, ATMP/OSAT units, compound semiconductors; Design Linked Incentive scheme; Semicon India programme; state top-ups≈65 words
- 3Progress: Tata–PSMC fab at Dholera, Micron ATMP at Sanand, CG Power and Kaynes OSAT units; first 'Made in India' chips in 2025≈65 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Why chips matterChallengesISM featuresProgressGapsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Not naming ISM's components (fab, OSAT, DLI)
- Listing challenges in general without India-specific ones (water, power, suppliers)
Draw this
- Value chain: design → fab → ATMP/OSAT, marking India's projects at each stage
Value addition
- FactThe Semicon India programme was approved in December 2021 with an outlay of ₹76,000 crore.Ministry of Electronics and IT
- ProjectTata Electronics with PSMC (Taiwan) is building India's first commercial fab at Dholera, Gujarat.India Semiconductor Mission
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 38 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 38 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Mayank Purohit · AIR 33 · Page 9 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 11 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 11 minutes, then get it checked.