India has dramatically slashed its reliance on imported mobile phones, with imports accounting for just 0.02% of domestic demand in 2024–25, down sharply from 75% in 2014–15, according to data presented in Parliament.
Manufacturing boom: from imports to “Made in India”
The transformation has been driven by a surge in domestic electronics production, which has risen to ₹11.3 lakh crore in 2024–25, a six-fold increase from around ₹1.9 lakh crore in 2014–15.
Mobile phone manufacturing has been at the heart of this shift. The value of phones produced in India jumped 28 times over the decade reaching about ₹5.5 lakh crore in 2024–25, from roughly ₹18,000 crore in 2014–15.
Exports have also witnessed a meteoric rise: shipments of mobile phones from India grew 127-fold, reaching ₹2 lakh crore in 2024-25 from a negligible base in 2014–15.
Government push, policies and ecosystem building
Officials attribute this dramatic turnaround to a sustained push under schemes like the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) and other supportive initiatives aimed at building a full electronics manufacturing ecosystem in India from assembly to components and exports.
Once dependent heavily on imports for consumer electronics, India is now emerging as a global hub for electronics manufacturing. As per government data, the country, with more than 300 mobile manufacturing plants operating today, has become the second-largest mobile phone producer worldwide.
Beyond phones boosting overall electronics and exports
The rise in mobile phone production is part of a broader upswing in electronics manufacturing. The ₹11.3 lakh crore figure for 2024–25 covers a wide range of electronic goods beyond phones.
Industry experts and government officials say this shift is reshaping India’s trade and manufacturing profile: from net consumer/importer to a major exporter and manufacturing powerhouse.
What this means for India’s economy and consumers
Reduced vulnerability to global supply disruptions: Near-zero imports of mobile phones reduce dependence on foreign supply chains.
Job creation and economic stimulus: The growth of domestic manufacturing across phones and electronics supports industry jobs, logistics, exports and allied sectors.
Export competitiveness & global footprint: As exports soar, India is increasingly seen as a global electronics manufacturing hub, boosting foreign exchange inflows and economic diversification.
Value addition and technology ecosystem: With incentives for components, semiconductors and IT hardware under schemes like PLI and others, India is gradually strengthening its electronics value chain beyond mere assembly.
