India’s Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) revealed that the country’s electronics manufacturing sector has witnessed a substantial increase in job creation and production over the past decade. Nearly 25 lakh jobs have been generated during this period, with production soaring almost seven times. This growth highlights India’s position as a global manufacturing hub, largely propelled by the Make in India initiative.
The mobile manufacturing ecosystem within the sector has been a key contributor to this growth, supporting approximately 12 lakh direct and indirect jobs throughout the value chain. MeitY emphasized that its flagship programs have been instrumental in creating over 5.3 lakh jobs, with around 1.8 lakh positions generated under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing and an additional 3.5 lakh jobs through other significant government initiatives.
Women have played a crucial role in the sector’s expansion, constituting nearly 30% of the electronics manufacturing workforce over the last ten years. Particularly in mobile phone manufacturing, women make up almost 70% of the direct workforce, positioning it as one of India’s leading industries in terms of female employment. The PLI scheme has notably provided employment opportunities for approximately 90,000 women, enhancing their participation in formal manufacturing roles.
In Hosur, Tamil Nadu, one of India’s prominent electronics manufacturing hubs, thousands of young women are actively involved in producing smartphones and electronic components for global markets. Notably, at three major manufacturing facilities operated by a leading electronics manufacturer, close to 80,000 individuals are employed, with women comprising about 65% of the workforce.
The electronics production sector has witnessed a remarkable growth trajectory, surging from Rs 1.90 lakh crore in 2014-15 to an estimated Rs 13.11 lakh crore by 2025-26, indicating nearly a seven-fold increase. Concurrently, electronics exports have expanded even more rapidly, escalating from Rs 38,263 crore to Rs 4.24 lakh crore during the same period, marking an eleven-fold rise. Electronic goods now stand as India’s third-largest export category, with exports totaling $47.96 billion in FY26.
Mobile phone production has seen a significant upsurge, climbing from Rs 18,900 crore in FY15 to Rs 6.27 lakh crore in FY26, reflecting a 33-fold rise. Similarly, mobile phone exports surged from Rs 1,566 crore to Rs 2.60 lakh crore during this period, showcasing an exceptional 165-fold increase. The government attributed much of this growth to the catalytic role played by the PLI Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing.
By March 31, 2026, the PLI Scheme had attracted investments exceeding Rs 20,600 crore, with cumulative production surpassing Rs 11.62 lakh crore and exports exceeding Rs 6.53 lakh crore.
