106 ECMS Projects to Generate 75,000 Direct Jobs, Says Ashwini Vaishnaw

India’s efforts to build a stronger domestic electronics manufacturing ecosystem are gaining momentum, with 106 projects now approved under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS).

Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the approved projects are expected to create around 75,000 direct jobs, while the broader employment potential across the electronics ecosystem could reach 2.5 lakh once the projects become fully operational.

The development signals a shift in India’s electronics strategy-from primarily assembling finished products to developing a deeper domestic ecosystem for components, design, manufacturing and supply chains.

106 projects approved under ECMS

The government initially envisioned approving around 60 companies under the ECMS programme. The number has now crossed 100, with 106 projects receiving approval.

The latest round saw approvals for 31 applications, representing an additional ₹7,877 crore investment and approximately 9,500 new jobs.

The projects span several components and sub-components used across the electronics manufacturing ecosystem, including:

• Capacitors
• Coils
• Speakers and microphones
• Optical transceivers
• Acetylene Black
• Other critical electronic components

As these facilities move into production, the employment impact is expected to extend beyond direct factory jobs into areas such as logistics, engineering, quality, procurement, maintenance, design and supply-chain operations.

Investment commitments surpass initial target

The ECMS has also exceeded its original investment expectations.

According to Vaishnaw, projects approved under the programme have attracted investment proposals worth approximately ₹69,000 crore, exceeding the government’s initial target of ₹59,000 crore.

This represents a significant increase in the scale of investment being directed towards domestic electronics component manufacturing.

The government is now looking beyond attracting investment and focusing on ensuring that approved projects translate into actual manufacturing capacity.

38 projects already in production

The transition from policy approval to operational manufacturing is already underway.

Of the approved projects, 38 have started manufacturing, while another 16 projects are currently under construction.

The pace of execution will be critical in determining the eventual employment and economic impact of the programme. Faster commissioning of facilities could accelerate job creation while also helping Indian manufacturers integrate more deeply into global electronics supply chains.

MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan described ECMS as one of the ministry’s fastest-moving programmes, with approval meetings being conducted frequently in response to industry demand.

India looks to reduce component import dependence

The next phase of the electronics manufacturing strategy is expected to focus heavily on localising components that are currently imported.

Vaishnaw has urged manufacturers to examine their bills of materials and identify components and sub-components that can be produced domestically.

This approach could help India move further up the electronics value chain.

Rather than relying heavily on imported components for domestic assembly, greater local manufacturing could create opportunities for Indian companies across component production, engineering, tooling, materials and technology development.

Talent and design capability become key priorities

The expansion of manufacturing capacity will also create demand for specialised talent.

The government has highlighted design capabilities, supply-chain expertise, quality management and talent development as important areas for the industry’s next stage of growth.

The emphasis on talent is particularly significant because electronics manufacturing requires a combination of technical and operational skills, ranging from engineering and product design to factory operations, quality control and supply-chain management.

Industry-specific workshops have also been proposed to identify opportunities for further supply-chain localisation.

From manufacturing jobs to a wider employment ecosystem

The projected 2.5 lakh jobs represent more than direct employment within electronics factories.

As the ecosystem expands, additional opportunities could emerge across:

Engineering and R&D: Product development, component design and testing could create demand for specialised engineers.

Manufacturing: Production facilities will require technicians, operators, supervisors and plant management professionals.

Supply Chain: Procurement, logistics, warehousing and vendor management roles are likely to expand alongside manufacturing capacity.

Quality and Compliance: As Indian companies integrate with global supply chains, quality assurance and international standards will become increasingly important.

Technology and Digital Operations: Automation, data analytics and digitally enabled manufacturing will create additional demand for technology professionals.

The next challenge: turning approvals into scale

While the investment and employment projections are significant, the next stage will depend on execution.

Moving projects from approval to construction and ultimately full-scale production will determine how quickly India can translate policy support into manufacturing output and employment.

The government’s focus is now shifting towards deeper localisation, higher design capabilities and stronger domestic supply networks.

For India’s electronics sector, this could represent an important transition-from being primarily a destination for assembly to becoming a more comprehensive manufacturing and innovation hub.

A growing opportunity for India’s talent market

The ECMS expansion could have a meaningful impact on India’s employment landscape over the coming years.

With 75,000 direct jobs expected from the 106 approved projects and overall ecosystem employment potentially reaching 2.5 lakh, demand could rise for engineers, manufacturing professionals, supply-chain specialists, quality experts, technicians and technology talent.

If the projects continue progressing from approvals to operational facilities, India’s electronics manufacturing expansion could become not only an investment story, but also a major jobs and talent story-strengthening the country’s position in global electronics supply chains.