New Delhi: India’s mobile phone manufacturing has seen a sharp rise over the past four financial years. Back in 2020-21, the production value was ₹2.13 lakh crore. Now, in 2024-25, that figure has hit ₹5.25 lakh crore. And it’s not just the production — exports of mobile phones have also surged, going from ₹22,870 crore to ₹2 lakh crore in the same time frame.
This growth was revealed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. According to him, India’s production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes and the push through the national industrial corridor strategy have helped shift large-scale smartphone manufacturing to the country. The government believes this has led to higher production, new jobs, and increased exports.
Mobile exports jump by 775%
Between FY21 and FY25, mobile phone exports have grown by about 775 percent. That’s almost a nine-fold rise in just four years. It reflects how companies are not just assembling for Indian demand but sending a large chunk abroad too.
“The production of mobiles in India in value terms has increased by around 146 per cent from ₹2,13,773 crore in FY 2020-21 to ₹5,25,000 crore in FY 2024-25,” said Piyush Goyal in Parliament. He added that the increase in exports was a clear result of PLI benefits and domestic infrastructure initiatives.
The government had earlier said the PLI scheme has encouraged many global smartphone companies to shift their manufacturing units to India. This includes players like Apple, Samsung, and other contract manufacturers who now run big factories in states like Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
Not just mobiles: other sectors gain too
The minister pointed out that the success of the PLI scheme goes beyond mobile phones. In the pharmaceutical sector, imports of raw materials have gone down. India has started making its own key ingredients like Penicillin-G. In the medical device space too, companies are now building machines such as CT scanners and MRI units locally.
There’s movement in the electronics and appliance sector as well. The PLI scheme for white goods is driving local production of parts like compressors, motors, copper tubes, and control units for air conditioners. In the LED light segment, Indian companies are now making chipsets, drivers, and components that were once fully imported.
“This shift is significantly reducing import dependency and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities,” said the minister.
Industrial corridors and Make in India 2.0
Another reason for this growth in manufacturing is the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme. As of now, 12 new project proposals worth ₹28,602 crore have been approved. These corridors aim to make it easier for companies to set up factories by improving logistics, infrastructure, and access to industrial land.
The government’s new ‘Make in India 2.0’ scheme is also in place. It now covers 27 different sectors and is being implemented in coordination with various state and central ministries.
Besides, initiatives like the National Infrastructure Pipeline, India Industrial Land Bank, and the National Single Window System are aimed at simplifying investment processes for new manufacturing units.
India aims for global supply chain play
The central message behind all these numbers is India’s push to become a big player in global manufacturing. With production on the rise, especially in smartphones, and exports showing strong growth, India seems to be betting big on becoming the next electronics hub.
The data shared in Parliament shows this is not just an idea on paper. The numbers back it up. Whether this growth sustains or scales further may depend on how well these schemes are implemented in the next few years. But for now, mobile phones are clearly leading the charge.