PM’s address at ‘India’s Techade: Chips for Viksit Bharat’ via video conferencing
Speaker: Narendra Modi
Date: 13 Mar, 2024

Namaskar! My cabinet colleague Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw ji, Rajeev Chandrasekhar ji, as well as the Chief Ministers of Assam and Gujarat, Chairman of Tata Group Shri N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of CG Power Vellayan Subbiah ji, and all other dignitaries from the Centre, State, and Industry. Ladies and gentlemen! Today marks a historic occasion as we embark on a journey to create history and take a significant stride towards a brighter future. The foundation stones for three major projects, collectively worth approximately Rs 1.25 lakh crore, dedicated to semiconductor manufacturing, have been laid. These semiconductor facilities, located in Dholera and Sanand in Gujarat, and Morigaon in Assam, will contribute to positioning Bharat as a major global hub for semiconductor manufacturing. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all fellow countrymen for this significant initiative, marking a pivotal beginning and a decisive step forward. It is noteworthy that our friends from Taiwan have also participated in this programme virtually. These efforts by Bharat are also exciting me tremendously! Friends, On this remarkable occasion, we are honoured to be joined by over 60 thousand colleges, universities, and educational institutions from across the country, setting a record in itself! I had specifically requested the Ministry to ensure maximum participation of our youth in today’s program, recognizing it as the cherished dream of the nation’s youth. Today’s event is indeed the beginning of semiconductor projects, but the youngsters, the students seated before me today are the true stakeholders of Bharat’s future, embodying the vigour and potential of our nation. Hence, it was my earnest desire that students from every corner of Bharat witness this historic moment firsthand. Today, they witness Bharat’s comprehensive efforts towards progress, self-reliance, and bolstering its global presence in the supply chain, which in turn will bolster their confidence. As we know, a confident youth has the power to shape the destiny of their nation. I extend a warm welcome and hearty congratulations to every student participating in this programme. Friends, The 21st century is indisputably driven by technology, with electronic chips playing a pivotal role. The development of ‘Made In India chips’, designed in India, holds immense potential in propelling our nation towards self-sufficiency and modernization. Despite being left behind during the first, second, and third industrial revolutions due to various reasons, Bharat is now confidently forging ahead to lead the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0. We are determined not to squander a single moment, exemplified by the rapid progress showcased in today’s programme. It is a testament to our commitment and efficiency in working towards our goals. Two years ago, we initiated the Semiconductor Mission, and within a few months, we signed our first MoUs. Today, within just a few months, we are laying the foundation stone of three projects. India commits, India delivers, and democracy delivers! Friends, Only a handful of countries around the globe are currently engaged in semiconductor manufacturing. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical importance of a reliable and resilient supply chain, prompting Bharat to play a significant role in this domain. Already established as a space, nuclear, and digital power, Bharat is poised to venture into commercial production of semiconductor-related products in the near future. The day is not distant when Bharat will emerge as a global powerhouse in this field. Moreover, the decisions and policies being implemented by Bharat today will confer strategic advantages in the future. Efforts to promote Ease of Doing Business and simplify regulations have led to the elimination of over 40,000 compliances by our government in recent years. Furthermore, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rules have been streamlined to facilitate investment in Bharat, with liberalization extending to sectors such as defence, insurance, and telecom. In recent years, we have also strengthened our position in electronics and hardware manufacturing. Concurrently, initiatives like the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for large-scale electronics manufacturing and IT hardware, as well as incentives for electronic components and electronics manufacturing clusters, have opened up new avenues for progress in the electronics sector. Presently, Bharat ranks as the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer. Additionally, initiatives like the National Quantum Mission and the establishment of the National Research Foundation to promote innovation are underway. The India AI Mission is poised for rapid expansion, indicating our country’s stride not only towards technology adoption but also technological advancement. Friends, The youth of Bharat stand to benefit most from the semiconductor industry. This industry encompasses various sectors, from communication to transportation, and plays a significant role in generating revenue and employment on a global scale, amounting to billions of dollars. Chip manufacturing isn’t just an industry; it represents a pathway to development, brimming with boundless possibilities. Not only will this sector create new employment opportunities in Bharat, but it will also foster significant progress in technological advancements. Presently, the majority of semiconductor chip designs worldwide are conceived by the brilliant minds of Indian youth. Therefore, as Bharat strides forward in semiconductor manufacturing, we are effectively completing this cycle of talent ecosystem. The youth participating in today’s programme understand the emerging opportunities unfolding in the country. Bharat has opened up sectors such as space and mapping for its youth. The incentives and encouragement that our government has given to the start-up ecosystem are unprecedented. Remarkably, Bharat has ascended to become the third-largest startup ecosystem globally within a short span. Following today’s event, our startups will find fresh avenues in the semiconductor sector. I am confident that this new initiative will provide our young generation with opportunities to embark on advanced technology careers. Friends, You may recall my declaration from the ramparts of the Red Fort: “This is the moment, the opportune time.” When we formulate policies and decisions with this mindset, we see results. Bharat has now transcended old ideologies and approaches, forging ahead with swifter decision-making and policy implementation. While we may have lost precious decades that could have been used towards semiconductor manufacturing, we refuse to squander another moment, and such stagnation shall not recur. Bharat first aspired for semiconductor manufacturing back in the sixties. Despite this aspiration, governments of those times failed to capitalize on the opportunities. The primary hindrances were a lack of will, inability to translate resolutions into achievements, and failure to make bold decisions for the nation’s benefit. Consequently, Bharat’s semiconductor dream remained unfulfilled for years. The leadership of those times adopted a complacent attitude, believing that progress would naturally occur in due course. They regarded semiconductor manufacturing as a future necessity, overlooking its immediate relevance. Governments believed that semiconductor manufacturing was a future necessity, so why address it presently? They failed to prioritize the country’s needs and lacked the foresight to recognize its potential. They viewed Bharat as a poor nation incapable of managing high-tech industries like semiconductor manufacturing. Using Bharat’s poverty as an excuse, they neglected investments in modern requirements. While indulging in scams worth thousands of crores, they neglected investments of similar magnitude in semiconductor manufacturing. Such thinking hinders a country’s development. Therefore, our government adopts a forward-thinking and futuristic approach. Today, we are advancing in semiconductor manufacturing with ambitions that rival those of developed countries. All the priorities of our country have been duly addressed. On one hand, we are constructing pucca houses for the poor, while on the other, Bharat is investing lakhs of crores of rupees to foster research. Simultaneously, we are spearheading the world’s largest sanitation campaign while advancing in semiconductor manufacturing. Furthermore, we are swiftly alleviating poverty while simultaneously enhancing Bharat’s infrastructure and fostering self-reliance. In 2024 alone, I have inaugurated schemes worth over Rs 12 lakh crore, symbolizing Bharat’s rapid progress. Yesterday we witnessed the 21st century Bharat’s strides in defence technology with a glimpse of the self-reliant defence sector in Pokhran. Just two days ago, Bharat witnessed its entry into the exclusive league of nations with the Agni-5. Moreover, the Drone revolution started in the country’s agriculture sector just 2 days ago, with thousands of drones distributed to women through the Namo Drone Didi scheme. Additionally, Bharat’s preparations for Gaganyaan have gained momentum, and the country celebrated the unveiling of its first domestically produced fast breeder nuclear reactor. These collective endeavours and projects are propelling Bharat towards its developmental objectives at an accelerated pace. Undoubtedly, the significance of these three projects unveiled today will further contribute to this trajectory of progress. And friends, You are likely aware of the prevalent discourse surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI). Bharat’s talent pool holds significant sway in the AI domain globally. Perhaps you have observed the series of speeches I have delivered over the past few weeks. Some young individuals approached me and expressed their desire to disseminate every word of my speeches to every village, in every language. Leveraging AI tools, they have enabled you to soon listen to my speeches in your native language. Whether it’s Tamil, Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, Oriya, or any other language, this technological marvel, orchestrated by the youth of our nation, is remarkable. This is the miracle of AI. I extend my gratitude to this team of youngsters for their exceptional AI-driven initiative, facilitating the interpretation of my speeches in all Indian languages. It brings me immense joy and satisfaction. Soon, our message will transcend language barriers through AI as well. What I wish to convey is that Bharat’s youth, brimming with potential, require opportunities. Our semiconductor initiative has presented a significant opportunity for the youth of our nation. Friends , Once again, I extend my best wishes to all of you. I wholeheartedly agree with Himant Ji that no one in the NorthEast region had ever imagined that such significant initiatives could be undertaken, but we have resolved to do so. I firmly believe that as our ties with Southeast Asia strengthen, the North East will emerge as the most influential region for fostering connections with Southeast Asia. I foresee this clearly, and I see the commencement of this transformation. Therefore, today, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the people of Assam and the entire North East region. Friends, I urge all of you to continue contributing to Bharat’s progress, to keep forging ahead. I assure you, ‘Modi’s guarantee’ is unwaveringly behind you, supporting you and your future endeavours. Thank you very much.