RAS question
The Semiconductor Mission of India aims to:
Correct answer: (A) Establish semiconductor manufacturing and design ecosystem in India.
The India Semiconductor Mission aims to establish a semiconductor manufacturing and design ecosystem in India.
Explanation
The India Semiconductor Mission is meant to build India's semiconductor base, not merely announce a one-off subsidy or restrict trade. ISM was launched in December 2021 with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore to develop a semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in India. The Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Electronics & IT identifies ISM as the nodal agency for implementing the programme for development of the semiconductor and manufacturing ecosystem, with long-term strategies for semiconductor and display manufacturing facilities and a semiconductor design ecosystem. This is why option A is the best answer: it captures both sides of the mission, manufacturing capacity and design capability, rather than reducing it to imports, exports, or consumer distribution.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) B is wrong because the mission is framed around developing domestic manufacturing and design capability, not banning semiconductor imports.
- (C) C is wrong because the mission concerns semiconductor and display manufacturing and design, not exporting all electronic goods.
- (D) D is wrong because the mission supports an industrial semiconductor ecosystem; it is not a welfare scheme for free electronics.
Concept
This tests industrial policy under the Indian Economy syllabus, especially strategic manufacturing and electronics value chains. It recurs in RAS because semiconductors link Make in India, supply-chain resilience, investment incentives, and technology self-reliance.