Apple, Google Expected To Expand India Manufacturing Under Rs 62,500-Crore Mobile Scheme

New Delhi, Aug 24 (KNN) India expects Apple to expand manufacturing beyond iPhones, while Google could shift a significant share of its export-oriented device production from China to India, Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

Vaishnaw said Apple could diversify its Indian manufacturing ecosystem into other hardware categories, while Google could use India as a major export base as it reduces reliance on China, reported Times Of India.

The comments followed notification of the Rs 62,500-crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme, running through 2030-31 and replacing the earlier PLI scheme for large-scale electronics. 

The new scheme aims to boost manufacturing scale, domestic value addition and Indian smartphone brands.

Incentives Linked To Sales, Local Sourcing

Under the scheme, eligible companies will receive incentives of 2.25-5 percent on eligible sales, with an additional 1.5 percent for domestic sourcing of specified components such as display and camera modules, enclosures, batteries and USB cables.

Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said mobile phone exports grew 166 times between 2014 and 2025, at a CAGR of around 59 percent, making India the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer by volume.

Mobile phones accounted for 61 percent of electronics exports and 48 percent of electronics manufacturing in 2025, up from 4 percent and 10 percent, respectively. 

The new scheme aims to move the sector beyond assembly by scaling production, boosting competitiveness and deepening domestic supply chains.

Apple, Google To Expand India Manufacturing

The government's expectations for Apple and Google highlight India's growing role in global electronics supply chains.

Apple could expand its India manufacturing ecosystem into additional hardware categories, while Google is expected to explore India as a major export base as it reduces its reliance on China for device production.

Support For Indian Smartphone Brands

The framework also includes a separate track for Indian smartphone brands. Vaishnaw said the government is working with three companies to develop high-quality designs over the next 10-14 months, initially targeting high-volume segments.

Indian brands will receive a 5 percent incentive on eligible sales, plus 3 percent for domestic design and R&D. EY India’s Saurabh Agrawal said the scheme could boost localisation, local value addition and India’s position as a global mobile-phone export hub.

(KNN Bureau)