PLI scheme a 'game changer' for mobile manufacturing: ICEA

Calling the production-linked incentive scheme a "game changer", industry body India Cellular and Electronics Association on Tuesday said that the scheme will help boost growth in mobile phone manufacturing in India as well as meet exports targets assigned under the National Policy on Electronics (NPE 2019).

"This scheme is a game changer for the nation and the industry," Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA, said in a statement.

Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday launched three major schemes to boost manufacture of electronics in the country.

The minister launched the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) for large-scale electronics manufacturing, Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS), and Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme, which were approved by the Union Cabinet in March.

The three schemes would entail an outlay of about ₹50,000 crore.

According to the IT Ministry, India's production of electronics grew from $29 billion in 2014 to $70 billion in 2019.

The growth in mobile phone manufacturing in particular has been remarkable during this period.

From just two mobile phone factories in 2014, India now has become the second largest mobile phone producer in the world, the IT Ministry said.

Production of mobile handsets in 2018-19 reached 29 crore units worth ₹1.70 lakh crore from just six crore units worth ₹19,000 crore in 2014.

The three new schemes unveiled on Tuesday are expected to attract substantial investments, increase production of mobile phones and their components to around ₹10 lakh crore by 2025 and generate