What is India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)?

About India Semiconductor Mission (ISM):

• ISM is a specialized and independent Business Division within the Digital India Corporation.
• It aims to build a vibrant semiconductor and display ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.
• ISM has all the administrative and financial powers and is tasked with the responsibility of catalysing the India Semiconductor ecosystem in manufacturing, packaging, and design. 
• ISM has an advisory board consisting of some of the leading global experts in the field of semiconductors.
• ISM has been working as a nodal agency for the schemes approved under the Semicon India Programme. 

Key Facts about Semicon India Programme:

• The ISM was launched in 2021 with a total financial outlay of Rs. 76,000 crore sunder the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), Government of India.
• It is part of the comprehensive program for the development of sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystems in the country. 
• The programme aims to provide financial support to companies investing in semiconductors, display manufacturing, and design ecosystem.
• It also promotes and facilitates indigenous Intellectual Property (IP) generation and encourages, enables, and incentivizes the Transfer of Technologies (ToT).
• The following four schemes have been introduced under the aforesaid programme:
  • Scheme for setting up of Semiconductor Fabs in India.
  • Scheme for setting up of Display Fabs in India.
  • Scheme for setting up of Compound Semiconductors/Silicon Photonics/ Sensors Fab and Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP)/OSAT facilities in India.
  • Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme.

Q1: What are Semiconductors?

These are materials that have electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. They are the foundation of modern electronics and power a vast array of technologies such as computers, smartphones, solar panels, and medical devices. 

Source: Cabinet approves fifth semiconductor unit in India