India needs to develop and manufacture its own machinery and high-precision components for semiconductor production, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said during a visit to Bengaluru-based deep-tech manufacturing company Ethereal Machines on November 14.
Vaishnaw, who holds the portfolios of Electronics and Information Technology, Information and Broadcasting, and Railways, said the Centre was committed to building a domestic semiconductor ecosystem. The remarks were reported by the Press Information Bureau in Karnataka in a post on X.
The minister said developing this manufacturing capacity would strengthen India’s industrial ecosystem and reduce dependence on imported technologies and components. He described Ethereal Machines’ work in advanced machinery and precision manufacturing as part of that effort.
According to an official statement cited in the report, Ethereal Machines designs, develops and operates advanced computer numerical control machines and manufactures high-precision industrial components for critical applications across multiple sectors. Its components are manufactured with tolerances ranging from 2 microns to 20 microns.
Vaishnaw said components with this level of precision had traditionally been manufactured in countries including Germany and Japan. The domestic production of such equipment and components is being positioned as a supporting capability for the government’s broader semiconductor programme.
The minister said the components could be used in aerospace, defence, medical technology, semiconductors and electronics. Their production in India, he added, would help reduce the country’s reliance on imported technologies and components.
The focus on machinery and components highlights a part of semiconductor manufacturing that extends beyond chip fabrication plants. A functioning semiconductor ecosystem also requires specialised equipment, precision engineering, industrial suppliers and manufacturing capabilities that can meet demanding technical specifications.
The Centre’s semiconductor programme is intended to support the development of these domestic capabilities, according to the official statement. Vaishnaw said the effort was aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission and that indigenous manufacturing of specialised machines and components would contribute to building a more robust industrial base.
The official statement did not provide details on specific production targets, additional facilities, investment commitments or implementation timelines for domestic semiconductor machinery. The next steps will depend on the development of manufacturing capacity and the integration of Indian-made equipment and components into the country’s semiconductor and electronics supply chain.
