India becomes world’s second-largest mobile phone maker as electronics exports hit record high
New Delhi: India’s electronics manufacturing sector has emerged as a major driver of economic growth and employment, with the country becoming the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer and mobile phones emerging as India’s largest export product, according to the Centre.
The government said electronics production has increased nearly seven-fold from ₹1.9 lakh crore in 2014-15 to ₹13.11 lakh crore in 2025-26, while exports have grown eleven-fold to ₹4.24 lakh crore. Mobile phone exports alone touched ₹2.6 lakh crore, making smartphones India’s top export category during the fiscal year.
The sector has also emerged as a significant source of employment, generating around 25 lakh jobs over the past decade. Of these, the mobile phone manufacturing ecosystem accounts for nearly 12 lakh direct and indirect jobs, with women constituting almost 70% of the direct workforce.
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), mobile manufacturing units in Hosur and Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, and Bengaluru in Karnataka, together employ more than one lakh workers, highlighting the sector’s role in creating skilled jobs.
The government said India’s mobile phone production has grown 33-fold, from ₹18,900 crore in 2014-15 to ₹6.27 lakh crore in 2025-26, while exports have surged 165-fold during the same period.
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing has attracted investments exceeding ₹20,600 crore, resulting in cumulative production of more than ₹11.62 lakh crore and exports worth over ₹6.53 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026.
The Centre also highlighted the increasing localisation of manufacturing, stating that domestic value addition in electronics has risen from 15% to 23%, supported by more than 40 major component manufacturers and an expanding supplier ecosystem.
Describing electronics as a key pillar of the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, the government said the sector has strengthened India’s position in global supply chains while creating quality employment, particularly for women, and boosting the country’s competitiveness in advanced manufacturing.
