India is moving closer to building its own globally competitive smartphone brands, according to Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, the minister reportedly stated that India has laid the groundwork required to launch indigenous smartphone brands within the next 12 to 18 months.

The statement highlights India’s growing confidence in its electronics manufacturing ecosystem and aligns with the government’s broader push to strengthen domestic technology capabilities, particularly in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.

Strong Electronics Ecosystem Paves the Way

Ashwini Vaishnaw reportedly emphasised that India already has a “very substantial electronics ecosystem,” with most of the components required to build smartphones now being manufactured domestically. This ecosystem includes suppliers of displays, batteries, camera modules, printed circuit boards, and other critical components.

According to a report by The Times of India, Vaishnaw said:

“This is the time when we will be going for getting our own Indian brands in mobile phones. We have done all the homework that is required to be done.”

The minister noted that India has reached a stage where it no longer depends entirely on imports for key smartphone components, significantly reducing barriers to launching fully home-grown brands.

Timeline: Indian Smartphone Brands in 12–18 Months

During the WEF event, Vaishnaw reportedly held discussions with multiple stakeholders from the global and domestic electronics ecosystem. These include manufacturers involved in producing the “thousands of components” that go into making a modern smartphone.

Based on these interactions, the minister indicated that India could see the emergence of new Indian smartphone brands within the next 12 to 18 months. These brands are expected to be more deeply integrated into India’s manufacturing and design ecosystem than existing players.

How This Differs From Existing Indian Brands

The announcement has also sparked debate, as India already has home-grown smartphone brands such as Lava and AI+, which have been operating for several years and even cater to international markets.

However, these brands largely rely on external chipsets and global supply chains. It remains unclear whether Vaishnaw’s statement refers to:

Smartphones designed entirely in India

Devices powered by locally fabricated chipsets

Deeper government-backed manufacturing and R&D integration

The distinction suggests that the upcoming “Indian smartphone brands” may represent a new generation of devices with stronger control over core technologies, particularly semiconductor design and fabrication.

Semiconductor Push Plays a Key Role

India’s ambitions in smartphones are closely linked to its aggressive push into semiconductor manufacturing. The country has already announced new chip fabrication facilities, including a major plant in Noida launched in 2025, which is expected to focus on advanced nodes, reportedly including 3nm chip designs.

A domestic semiconductor supply would significantly enhance India’s ability to create truly end-to-end smartphone products, from chip design to final assembly.

ASML Partnership and Dholera Chip Fab

Further strengthening this vision, Vaishnaw recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) that ASML, the Dutch semiconductor company and the world’s only supplier of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, has shown strong interest in partnering with India.

The minister also confirmed that India’s upcoming chip fabrication facility in Dholera, Gujarat, will use ASML’s advanced equipment. EUV machines are essential for manufacturing cutting-edge chips, and access to this technology places India in a stronger position within the global semiconductor value chain.

What This Means for India’s Tech Future

If executed successfully, the launch of new Indian smartphone brands could mark a major shift in India’s role in the global electronics industry. Instead of being primarily a manufacturing hub for foreign brands, India could emerge as a creator of globally competitive consumer technology products.

Key potential impacts include:

Reduced dependence on imports

Stronger domestic innovation and R&D

Job creation across design, manufacturing, and software

Increased global visibility for Indian tech brands

Conclusion

Ashwini Vaishnaw’s remarks at the World Economic Forum underline India’s growing ambition to move beyond assembly-line manufacturing and into full-scale technology ownership. With a maturing electronics ecosystem, significant investments in semiconductor fabrication, and potential partnerships with global leaders like ASML, India appears well-positioned to introduce a new wave of home-grown smartphone brands within the next 18 months.

While details around these upcoming brands remain limited, the announcement signals a decisive step toward India’s long-term goal of becoming a global technology powerhouse—not just a manufacturing base, but a creator of world-class products.

Follow Before You Take on:

Stay informed, Stay Connected!

The post India to Get Its Own Smartphone Brands in 18 Months, Confirms IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw appeared first on Before You Take.