India’s mobile manufacturing boom reshapes global tech
India’s electronics manufacturing sector has expanded sixfold over the past decade, climbing from $21 billion in output during 2015 to $128 billion by 2025. Mobile phone production has driven this surge, transforming the nation from a major importer into the world’s second-largest handset manufacturer. Factories have multiplied from just two facilities in 2014 to more than 300 currently, churning out roughly 330 million devices annually while generating 2.5 million jobs.
Government programs like the Production Linked Incentive scheme and the National Policy on Electronics have attracted major international brands, including Apple, Samsung, and Foxconn, to establish Indian operations. Mobile handset exports have jumped from $171 million during the 2014-15 period to $22 billion in 2024-25, with iPhone shipments alone accounting for $12.8 billion. The country became the top smartphone supplier to the United States during the second quarter of the current fiscal year.
More than 85 percent of Indian households possess smartphones, enabling millions to access digital payment platforms, government services, and agricultural information through affordable devices and inexpensive data plans. Officials aim to build a $500 billion electronics manufacturing base by 2030-31 as part of efforts toward economic self-reliance.
