Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday, 3 July 2026, highlighted India's transformation from a technology importer to a global manufacturing exporter, pointing to growth in smartphone and electronics exports as evidence of the country's deepening integration into global supply chains.

Context

In his post on X, Rijiju wrote: 'From importing technology to manufacturing for the world, India's journey has been remarkable. With record growth in smartphone and electronics exports, India is strengthening its position in global supply chains and steadily emerging as a trusted global manufacturing hub.' The remarks were tagged under #MakeInIndia and #AatmaNirbharBharat, two of the government's flagship economic frameworks.

The statement reflects a broader government narrative that India has moved decisively away from its historical dependence on imported finished electronics toward becoming an assembly and export base for global technology firms.

Policy Backdrop

The Make in India initiative, launched in September 2014, was designed to raise manufacturing's share of GDP and attract foreign direct investment into sectors including electronics. It set the institutional groundwork for what would later become a more targeted incentive architecture.

From 2020 onward, the government introduced Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes specifically for mobile phones and electronic components, offering manufacturers cash incentives tied to incremental sales. These schemes were a central pillar of the AatmaNirbhar Bharat — or 'self-reliant India' — programme announced that year, which combined import substitution with export promotion across key sectors.

Global supply-chain diversification, accelerated by firms seeking alternatives to China-centric production, has aligned with India's policy push and helped attract large-scale assembly operations to the country.

Stakeholders and Impact

Electronics manufacturers and smartphone exporters stand at the centre of this policy shift. Large global technology companies have expanded or established assembly lines in India, generating employment and boosting merchandise export figures in the electronics category.

For domestic component makers, the PLI framework has created incentives to scale up, though the broader ecosystem for deep component manufacturing — as opposed to final assembly — remains a work in progress. The government's stated ambition is to move up the value chain over time.

Minority communities and workers in manufacturing corridors across states such as Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka are among those whose livelihoods are increasingly tied to this expanding sector.

What's Next

Attention in policy circles is turning to the next Union Budget cycle and whether allocations for PLI electronics will be expanded, and whether new notifications targeting component manufacturing — rather than assembly alone — will follow. Rijiju's post signals that the government intends to keep the manufacturing narrative prominent in its public communication ahead of that fiscal exercise.

As India consolidates its role in global supply chains, sustaining the momentum will require continued investment in infrastructure, skilling, and regulatory ease — areas that parliamentary deliberations are expected to address in the coming sessions.