No Place for ‘Frivolous’ Players in Chip, Component Schemes: Vaishnaw
Government tightens eligibility norms as Semicon 2.0 portal opens for fresh applications.
New Delhi: Concerned with non-serious players in the semiconductor segment, IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday talked tough with a strong message to the industry, saying that he has asked IT secretary to remove 18-19 non-serious players from the electronics components manufacturing scheme (ECMS) list as well.
The minister also said that the government's semiconductor programme, as well as manufacturing schemes for components and mobile phones, are meant only for serious, technologically capable players and that there is no place for ‘frivolous’ applicants.
Vaishnaw’s warning to the industry came soon after the government launched the web application portal for Semicon 2.0 on Friday. “The portal will initially receive applications related to three of the programme's six pillars: machines and materials, fabs, and packaging. The guidelines have so far been issued only for these three pillars, and the portal is now inviting applications for them. Other three areas pertain to design, R&D and talent,” he said.
The minister was addressing an event where the government announced that a new tranche of 12 applications, worth over Rs 7,500 crore have been green-lit under the electronics components manufacturing scheme, and that the Semicon 2.0 web application portal is now inviting project proposals.
Describing the semiconductor industry as a foundational industry, the minister further emphasised that the portal will only accept applications that are complete in all respects. “It had been designed such that no frivolous or incomplete application could be accepted. The portal will accept only those applications, which are complete in all respects. Its purpose is that only extremely serious players should participate. There is no place for frivolous applicants and we have made this clear to the industry,” he said.
Stressing that the approach was driven by the desire to secure the country's future, he also said the government will take important decisions and calls - however tough they may be - to ensure a bright future for India.
“The guidelines and the portal were shaped by this thinking. The same principle would apply across other schemes too, including the ECMS and the freshly minted mobile phone manufacturing scheme,” he said.
Such applicants, the minister said that industry players should be tech-savvy, understand technology and be deeply rooted in the sector. “Those who come forward must be in it for the long term and be ready for a journey of many years,” he added, referring to applications that have already been identified as non-serious under ECMS; the minister asked that they be rejected.
