Skill Surge: Govt Drives Semiconductor Talent Revolution with ₹1.275 Lakh Crore Roadmap

Skill Surge: Govt Drives Semiconductor Talent Revolution with ₹1.275 Lakh Crore Roadmap​

India has committed decisively to building a robust and comprehensive talent pipeline across the entire semiconductor value chain. As part of the Semicon India Programme, recently augmented by Semicon 2.0, the government has introduced a multi-pronged roadmap aimed at cultivating a skilled workforce ready for chip design, fabrication, advanced packaging, assembly, and testing (ATMP).

This strategic push underscores national ambition to secure leadership in the semiconductor domain, transforming academic infrastructure into industry readiness hubs nationwide.

Cultivating Design Expertise through Targeted Initiatives​

A core focus of the government's strategy involves integrating specialized semiconductor education directly within existing engineering institutes and colleges. To fuel chip design expertise, the Chips to Startup (C2S) programme was launched, providing access to cutting-edge EDA tools at no cost to industry partners.

Currently, over 68,000 individuals have been trained under this initiative, while 175 designs have been successfully taped out from SCL Mohali. The use of these advanced chip design tools has collectively exceeded 240 lakh hours.

Simultaneously, NIELIT Calicut established a Skilled Manpower Advanced Research and Training (SMART) Lab. This facility aims to train one lakh engineers in VLSI, Embedded Systems, and IoT domains, having already trained over 1 lakh candidates. Furthermore, AICTE has launched new undergraduate curricula in the semiconductor domain following the recommendations of the "Semicon India Future Skills Talent Committee Report."

Boosting Manufacturing through Advanced Skilling Programs​

Building talent for fabrication and ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging) is equally critical to national growth. The government has taken several targeted steps to strengthen manufacturing capabilities.

MeitY approved a project titled "Setting up of Semiconductor Assembly & ESD Training Laboratory at NIELIT Guwahati." This facility will establish state-of-the-art training for ATMP in the North Eastern Region, supporting the growing ecosystem.

In partnership with Lam Research, ISM is conducting a large-scale training program focused on nanofabrication and process engineering skills. This initiative is set to generate 60,000 skilled professionals within the next decade, significantly augmenting the workforce for advanced packaging.

Strategic Industry Partnerships Anchor Talent Growth​

The government has proactively forged partnerships with leading industry giants to ensure that skilling translates directly into job-ready expertise. The FutureSkills PRIME programme, run by MeitY and NASSCOM, offers online courses for upskilling and reskilling in semiconductor technologies via its portal [https://futureskillsprime.in].

An MoU between ISM and NAMTECH is aimed at building India's talent pool through structured certification programs. This collaboration seeks to train approximately 5,000 professionals over the next five years, facilitating internships and apprenticeships across various fab and design houses.

Furthermore, an MoU with IBM has established a dedicated semiconductor research centre in India. This center will focus on R&D, IP sharing, chip prototyping, and innovation in advanced semiconductor technologies. International collaboration is also strong, with MoUs signed between ISM and Purdue University, USA, and Arizona State University to bolster joint R&D and workforce development.

Semicon 2.0 Cementing the Future Vision​

The national commitment reached a major milestone with the Union Cabinet approving Semicon 2.0 on July 15, 2026. This comprehensive initiative represents a massive investment of ₹1.275 lakh crore into the nation's semiconductor ecosystem.

Semicon 2.0 is built on dual pillars: dedicated resources for research and development in advanced technologies, and robust talent development programs targeting both design and manufacturing capabilities across India.