Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said India’s rapidly expanding electronics manufacturing ecosystem has created favourable conditions for the emergence of Indian-owned mobile phone brands. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Vaishnaw highlighted the impact of Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes in strengthening domestic manufacturing and supply chains.
The minister noted that India has become the world’s second-largest mobile phone producer, with nearly 99 per cent of handsets sold in the domestic market now manufactured locally. He added that mobile phone production is projected to reach USD 75 billion by the financial year 2025–26, underlining the scale and pace of growth in the sector.
According to Vaishnaw, the next phase of development would involve Indian companies moving beyond contract manufacturing to building their own global consumer brands. He said the ecosystem now includes component manufacturing, skilled manpower, logistics, and policy support, which together can enable Indian firms to compete internationally.
The remarks have drawn mixed reactions. Supporters see the development as a major step towards technological self-reliance and value creation within the country. However, critics have cautioned that building successful consumer-facing brands remains challenging, pointing to past failures such as the Freedom 251 smartphone episode and the dominance of established global players like Apple and Samsung.
Industry observers note that while manufacturing capabilities have expanded significantly, sustained investment in research and development, design, marketing, and after-sales support will be critical if Indian brands are to succeed in a highly competitive global smartphone market.
-OdishaAge
