India has worked hard over the past few years to boost its smartphone exports, becoming a key supplier for global tech giants like Apple and Samsung. Thanks to government incentives such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the country successfully attracted major manufacturers to set up factories locally. This shift helped India cut down on imports and increase its presence in the global electronics market.
However, with global smartphone demand softening and markets getting saturated, the industry now faces a slowdown. Exports are still strong, but the pace of growth has started to decline. Experts believe the next phase for India's electronics industry depends on whether it can move beyond just assembling phones. To remain competitive, India needs to climb up the value chain — manufacturing more parts locally and investing in research and development.
Industry insiders say government policy will play a critical role. While the PLI scheme helped launch India's manufacturing push, the focus must now shift to long-term planning, infrastructure upgrades, and skill development. With competition from countries like Vietnam and Mexico, India's ability to stay relevant will hinge on innovation, not just incentives.