How has the export of mobile phones soared 127 times in a decade?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mobile phone exports increased by 127 times in a decade.
- Total production rose from Rs 0.18 lakh crore to Rs 5.5 lakh crore.
- Number of manufacturing units surged to over 300.
- India's reliance on imports decreased to 0.02%.
- Approximately 25 lakh jobs created in the sector.
New Delhi, Aug 20 (NationPress) India has experienced an extraordinary increase in mobile phone exports, soaring 127 times over the last decade, escalating from merely Rs 0.01 lakh crore in 2014-15 to a remarkable Rs 2 lakh crore in 2024-25, as reported to Parliament on Wednesday.
Officials attribute this remarkable surge to the various reforms and policy initiatives introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, which have successfully established India as a global electronics manufacturing hub.
The production of mobile phones has increased from Rs 0.18 lakh crore in 2014-15 to an impressive Rs 5.5 lakh crore in 2024-25, marking a 28-fold increase, according to Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, during a Lok Sabha question session.
During the same timeframe, the number of mobile manufacturing units has surged from two in 2014 to over 300 in 2025, reflecting a staggering 150 times growth.
This transformation has enabled India, which previously relied on imports for nearly three-fourths of its mobile phone requirements, to now import a minimal 0.02 percent of total units sold.
Overall, electronics production has escalated sixfold over the last decade, from Rs 1.9 lakh crore to Rs 11.3 lakh crore, while electronics exports have surged eight times to reach Rs 3.3 lakh crore in 2024-25.
The government credits this turnaround to flagship initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for large-scale electronics and IT hardware, Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC and EMC 2.0), the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS), and the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017.
These programs have created approximately 25 lakh direct and indirect jobs in the electronics sector across India.
Maharashtra alone accommodates 85 supported manufacturing units, two common facility centers, and one electronics manufacturing cluster as part of these initiatives.
The government has also underscored the significance of the Digital India and Skill India programs in equipping the youth with essential digital skills.
In Maharashtra, over 53 lakh individuals have been trained under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), including nearly 6 lakh from Scheduled Tribes. Furthermore, initiatives such as FutureSkills PRIME and drone technology training programs have broadened employability prospects.