Mumbai/New Delhi (March 28, 2026): In a historic milestone for India’s manufacturing sector, the country has officially overtaken China to become the world’s second-largest manufacturer of smartphones. This landmark achievement, announced in a joint report by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and international analysts, marks a massive victory for the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
The Power of ‘Make in India’
India’s rise from a smartphone importer to a global manufacturing powerhouse has been phenomenal.
- Exponential Growth: In just ten years, India has gone from assembling smartphones to manufacturing complex components domestically.
- Global Giants: Major players like Apple (Foxconn/Wistron/Pegatron), Samsung, and Google have significantly shifted their supply chains to India, setting up massive manufacturing hubs in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Export Hub: India is no longer just manufacturing for its domestic market; smartphone exports have surged by over 350% in the last five years, reaching a record high this quarter.
Key Highlights of the Achievement:
- Job Creation: The smartphone manufacturing ecosystem has created over 20 lakh direct and indirect jobs across India.
- Economic Boost: This achievement significantly contributes to the country’s GDP and strengthens the ‘Digital India’ mission by making smartphones more affordable domestically.
- Viksit Bharat Vision: Analysts say this positions India as a trusted and resilient partner in the global electronics supply chain, challenging China’s decade-long dominance.
