SEMICON 2.0

 🔆 Semicon 2.0 – Union Cabinet Approval

📍 Why in News?

The Union Cabinet has approved Semicon 2.0 with a total outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore to strengthen India's semiconductor design, manufacturing, research, and talent ecosystem.

📍 Six Pillars of Semicon 2.0

🔹 1. Chip Design

- Promote indigenous semiconductor chip design, IPs, and systems.

🔹 2. Machines & Materials

- Incentivise semiconductor equipment, materials, specialty chemicals, and industrial gases.

🔹 3. More Fabrication Units (Fabs)

- Encourage Silicon, Compound Semiconductor, Discrete Component, and Display Fabs in India.

🔹 4. ATMP / OSAT

- Expand Advanced Packaging and Semiconductor Testing facilities.

🔹 5. Research & Development (R&D)

- Develop next-generation semiconductor technologies beyond the current 28 nm–110 nm process nodes.

🔹 6. Talent Development

- Strengthen semiconductor education and industry-oriented skill development across universities.

📍 Achievements under Semicon 1.0

✅ 12 manufacturing units approved

- Total investment: ₹1.64 lakh crore+

✅ Includes:

- 1 Silicon Fab

- 1 Silicon Carbide (SiC) Fab

- 1 Integrated Gallium Nitride (GaN) & Micro LED Display Fab

- 9 Semiconductor Packaging Units

✅ 3 companies have commenced commercial production.

✅ 24 semiconductor design projects approved for financial assistance.

✅ 105 Startups & MSMEs received access to industry-standard Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools.

✅ 315 universities participated in semiconductor education, training nearly 68,000 students.

📍 Significance

✔️ Develop a complete end-to-end semiconductor ecosystem in India.

✔️ Reduce dependence on imports and strengthen supply-chain resilience.

✔️ Enhance strategic and national security.

✔️ Promote high-precision manufacturing and technological innovation.

✔️ Position India as a global hub for semiconductor design and manufacturing.

🎯 TNPSC Prelims Quick Facts

- Scheme: Semicon 2.0

- Approved by: Union Cabinet

- Outlay: ₹1,27,500 crore

- Focus: Semiconductor Design, Manufacturing, Packaging, R&D, Equipment, and Skill Development

- Goal: Build a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.