Clipped from: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/fast-tracking-creation-of-semiconductor-ecosystem/article65075484.ece
Ashwini Vaishnaw Kamal Narang
Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says govt working with laser focus
The two-decade-long goal of manufacturing semiconductors in India is finally being realised with the government fast-tracking the development of an ecosystem for the multiple-use product.
“The government has moved very fast and has a comprehensive, long-term plan. What the industry too appreciates is that we have given a 20-year commitment. We are the only country that has committed to create 85,000 semiconductor engineers in our top-class institutes,” Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology, told BusinessLine in an interview.
He underlined the detailing India has done, including nurturing and developing talent and trained professionals as part of the long-term plan.
“We are on the verge of completing discussions with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) where we are finalising a curriculum in BTech/MTech programmes, what would be the skill required down to the technician level, what would be the PhD programmes we have to go for ultra-advanced design processes,” Vaishnaw said.
He added that the Centre has factored in all the five elements of a semiconductor ecosystem — silicon fab, display fab, compound semiconductors, semiconductor packaging and design — all of which will be made in India.
Recently, the government received five applications for semiconductor and display fabs involving Rs. 1,53,750-crore investments from companies like Vedanta in a joint venture with Foxconn, IGSS Ventures and ISMC.
“Global players are impressed with India’s attention to detail, seriousness and commitment. The question is how fast we close the first set of applications we have received … we are working with a laser-sharp focus on that,” he said.
Data Protection Bill
On the Personal Data Protection Bill, Vaishnaw said certain issues have to be examined in context. On exemptions granted to the government, he said the domestic law provides for merely four points while the international precedent goes up to eight.
“The scope for exemptions is wider in the global context. I would urge the think tanks and civil society organisations to take this into consideration,” he said.
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