In 2014, India relied on imports to meet 75% of its mobile demand. A decade later, in 2025, that number has dropped to just 0.02%. The strategic reforms, government-backed incentives, and a massive push in domestic manufacturing make this thing happen. Now India has emerged as the second-largest mobile phone manufacturing country in the world.
According to official data shared by Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT, Shri Jitin Prasada, in the Lok Sabha, India’s transformation in electronics and mobile production has been nothing short of a manufacturing miracle.
📈 10-Year Growth Snapshot (2014–2025)
| Sector | 2014–15 | 2024–25 | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronics Production | ₹1.9 Lakh Cr | ₹11.3 Lakh Cr | 6x |
| Electronics Exports | ₹38,000 Cr | ₹3.27 Lakh Cr | 8x |
| Mobile Manufacturing Units | 2 | 300 | 150x |
| Mobile Production | ₹18,000 Cr | ₹5.45 Lakh Cr | 28x |
| Mobile Exports | ₹1,500 Cr | ₹2 Lakh Cr | 127x |
| Mobile Imports | 75% of total demand | 0.02% | — |
What Powered This Growth?
✔️ PLI Scheme (Production Linked Incentive)
Launched in 2020 under the National Policy on Electronics (NPE) 2019, the PLI scheme has become the backbone of India’s electronics transformation. Key outcomes:
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Attracted ₹12,390 Cr in investments (LSEM)
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Generated cumulative production worth ₹8.4 Lakh Cr
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Created 1.3 Lakh+ direct jobs
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Contributed ₹4.65 Lakh Cr in exports
A second PLI phase for IT hardware brought in ₹717 Cr in investments and created 5,000+ jobs.
What Is Backward Integration—and Why It Matters
India is also embracing “backward integration”—a strategy where companies start producing components they earlier sourced externally. This increases control over quality, lowers costs, and boosts domestic value creation.
The Centre for Development Studies (CDS) notes that if India aligns itself with Global Value Chains (GVCs) using backward integration, it could challenge China and Vietnam in electronics dominance.
Mobile Sector: A Case Study in Exponential Growth
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Exports surged from $0.2 billion (2017–18) to $24.1 billion (2024–25) — a jaw-dropping 11,950% growth. According to a new study by the Centre for Development Studies (CDS).
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According to PIB (April 26, 2025, 7:46 PM), India’s electronics sector grew sharply over the last decade:
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Production rose from ₹1.90L Cr (2014–15) to ₹9.52L Cr (2023–24)
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Exports jumped from ₹0.38L Cr to ₹2.41L Cr
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Electronics became India’s 3rd largest export in FY 2024–25
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India is now the 2nd largest mobile phone manufacturer globally
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- The Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) reports that the mobile sector alone added over 17 lakh jobs in 2022–23.
Jobs related to exports grew 33 times, accompanied by a sharp rise in average salaries.
From Net Importer to Global Exporter
With such rapid progress, India’s electronics sector is no longer import-reliant. Instead, it is setting benchmarks globally. The government estimates value addition in electronics now averages 18–20%, with foreign direct investment (FDI) crossing $4 billion since FY 2020–21.
India’s decade-long journey in electronics manufacturing—especially in mobile phones—is proof that policy, incentives, and global integration can transform an entire industry. With the continued push for Make in India, PLI, and FDI reforms, the country is well on track to becoming a global electronics manufacturing hub.
