Daybreak Make in India pushed electronics to deliver volume. Depth is still loading
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Jan 19, 2026 India is rapidly becoming a major player in electronics manufacturing, though design and technology still largely remain outside its borders. The government is now focusing on boosting local component manufacturing and encouraging joint ventures to enhance process efficiency. While firms prioritize volume for sustainability, the path to true design ownership is complex. The discussion also highlights how China successfully transitioned from assembly to a competitive ecosystem and explores early attempts by Indian companies to innovate and control design.
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Scale Drove India's Electronics Rise
- India built electronics by prioritizing scale and assembly to make thin margins work.
- This approach increased volume but left design and core technology largely outside India.
Invest In Engineering, Not Just Capacity
- Invest in engineering capability and long-term R&D rather than relying solely on scale.
- Strengthen domestic component production alongside design and testing to capture more value.
JVs Gave Discipline, Not Design Ownership
- Joint ventures with foreign OEMs accelerated manufacturing discipline but kept design control external.
- R&D spending among big EMS firms stayed under 1%, showing limited investment in product ownership.