Centre Launches ECMS Portal to Boost Domestic Electronics Manufacturing

The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), along with its dedicated portal, has been launched by the government. The Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the scheme with a promise of attracting huge domestic and international investments.

The scheme was approved earlier by the Union Cabinet and is aimed at building robust manufacturing capacities. It seeks to deepen India's integration into global value chains. In a very real sense, it seeks to put electronics production back in India and make India a hub for it.

Industry Growth Sets the Stage

At the launch event, Vaishnaw emphasized the incredible growth curve India has shown in electronics manufacturing. Over the last few years, the sector has seen production increase five times, and exports have surged six times, with both figures achieving compound annual growth rates of more than 17% and 20%, respectively. Major contributors to this upward trend are sectors like mobile phones, servers, laptops, and IT hardware. According to Vaishnaw, the electronics industry is poised to grow even faster now, thanks to the friendly government initiatives and the rising investor confidence that has come in recent months.

ECMS to Fuel Broad-Based Industrial Growth

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the ECMS as a "horizontal scheme" whose reach would go far beyond the electronics sector and benefit many others, particularly those involved in industrial production, power, and automotive manufacturing. He noted that a comprehensive, resilient electronics manufacturing ecosystem is emerging across India and voiced his confidence in the industry's capabilities. ECMS would play a big part in achieving this, he said.

The minister stressed that without a focus on innovation, quality couldn't be achieved. He noted that many of the firms involved in the electronics sector have set up design teams that he believes must accompany any serious conversation about achieving the quality that ought to be a hallmark of the products coming out of the electronics sector. He made clear that achieving Six Sigma must become the norm. With regard to electronics manufacturing in India, the minister voiced optimism about the diversification of knowledge.

A Digital Future Fueled by Innovation

Launched along with broader initiatives to place India at the forefront of tectonic advancements in technology, the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) could make the country a major global player when it comes to the electronic gadgetry on which our modern lives depend.

The scheme, which will invest INR 23,000 crore in push subsidies over six years, will stabilize the component supply chain and is likely to attract global players into an India that aspires to a share in the massive electronics market. In promising to splurge on semiconductors, we now have, in push and pull terms, a national-level strategy to establish the semiconductor value chain inside India.