This is an archive article published on November 21, 2018
India now has 268 mobile handset and component manufacturing units, 6.7 lakh jobs created: ICEA
A total of 268 mobile handset and component plants have setup in India and created 6.7 lakh jobs, Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) said on Wednesday.
ICEA National President Pankaj Mohindroo speaks about the current status of mobile handset and component manufacturing in India at a press briefing in Delhi. (Express photo by Anuj Bhatia)
India’s bid to become a major mobile phone manufacturing powerhouse seems to be working with the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) claiming on Wednesday that over the past four and half years 268 mobile handset and component manufacturing factories have been set up in the country resulting in over 6.7 lakh jobs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had kicked off the “Make in India” initiative in 2014 with the aim to encourage domestic mobile phone manufacturing in the country.
“This is a very good situation. Other than the well-known companies which we all know about like Apple, Samsung, LG, Oppo and Vivo, there is a whole lot of medium enterprises which have come into manufacturing,” ICEA National President Pankaj Mohindroo told reporters here. In fact, most of the new factories have come up in the last few months.
As per the detailed physical survey conducted by ICEA, the Delhi-NCR region has about 30 mobile handset manufacturing units, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 27, Haryana with 15, Maharashtra 14 and Uttrakhand 9. Delhi-NCR tops the ranking with 18 battery pack factories, followed by UP with 14, Haryana with 13, Himachal Pradesh with 7 and Maharashtra with 4. The survey further found that UP has about 39 factories dedicated to chargers/adapters, followed by Delhi with 24, Haryana with 18, Maharashtra with 12 and Uttrakhand with 10.
The growing mobile manufacturing activity has saved the country an estimated Rs 3 lakh crore in foreign exchange in lieu of import substitution and created and domestic value addition, he further added. The mobile handset and component manufacturing ecosystem is growing in India. In 2017-18, an estimated 225 million handsets were assembled/manufactured in India.
India recently replaced Vietnam to become second largest producer of mobile phones in the world. The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) expects the total number of mobile handset and component manufacturing units will increase to 1,800 and generate 50 lakh jobs by 2025.
While Mohindroo is optimistic about the growth of mobile handset and components manufacturing in India, he said there are still a number of challenges that need to be addressed. “The industry faces serious challenges in terms of lack of a competitive corporate tax regime, lack of ready to move infrastructural facilities to start production activity from the word ‘GO’ etc, the Government must undertake expeditious measures to address these pressing challenges through suitable regulatory/ incentivisation interventions.”
Anuj Bhatia is an Assistant Editor at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle.
Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University.
Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include:
Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech.
Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture.
Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups.
Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech.
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Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape.
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ICEA National President Pankaj Mohindroo speaks about the current status of mobile handset and component manufacturing in India at a press briefing in Delhi. (Express photo by Anuj Bhatia)
