Tata's Assam Semiconductor Plant Set to Produce 4.83 Crore Chips Daily with Indigenous Tech

In a significant stride for India's technology and manufacturing sectors, Tata Group has embarked on an ambitious project to establish a semiconductor plant in Assam, capable of producing 4.83 crore chips daily. This groundbreaking facility, located in Jagiroad, Morigaon district, is a testament to India's growing capabilities in high-tech industries, particularly in semiconductor technology. 

On a notable Saturday, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran performed the Bhumi Pujan for the Rs 27,000-crore semiconductor assembly and test facility. The project, approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 29, 2024, is moving forward at an impressive pace. Construction began merely five months after approval, underscoring the project's importance and urgency.

The plant is expected to become operational in 2025, and once up and running, it will manufacture around 4.83 crore chips every day. What sets this facility apart is its use of entirely indigenously-developed technologies, marking a significant milestone in India's self-reliance journey. These chips will be integral to a wide range of applications, including electric vehicles, communication infrastructure, and 5G technologies. Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that almost every major company producing vehicles and communication equipment will be using chips from this plant.

Semiconductors are foundational to modern technology, acting as the backbone for countless devices and systems. The establishment of a semiconductor unit typically spurs substantial downstream and upstream employment opportunities due to the complexity and vastness of the ecosystem. The Assam plant is expected to create 27,000 jobs, with 15,000 direct positions and 12,000 indirect roles, significantly boosting local employment and economic growth.

The India Semiconductor Mission is a crucial part of this endeavor, aiming to develop 85,000 skilled professionals for the industry. In alignment with this mission, nine institutes across the northeast, including NITs in Silchar, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Agartala, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, along with the North Eastern Hill University and NIT in Meghalaya, are dedicated to talent development for the semiconductor sector.

The establishment of this plant aligns with Prime Minister Modi's "Act East" policy, which emphasizes the development of India's eastern regions. The semiconductor facility in Assam marks a significant milestone in this policy, fostering technological advancement and economic growth in the region.

In addition to the Assam plant, Tata Electronics is also setting up India's first wafer fabrication unit in Dholera, Gujarat, with an investment of Rs 91,000 crore. This plant will produce 50,000 wafers per month, with the first chips expected by December 2026. This dual initiative by Tata underscores the company's commitment to positioning India as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing.

As India advances in the semiconductor domain, these projects symbolize the nation's growing technological prowess and its strategic push towards self-reliance in critical industries. The Tata semiconductor plant in Assam is not just an industrial project; it is a beacon of progress, innovation, and a brighter economic future for the region and the country.