Tech push: Assam to join global semiconductor map by 2026; FM Sitharaman reviews Rs 27,000 cr Tata OSAT project

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed the progress of the Tata Electronics’ Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility at Jagiroad in Assam’s Morigaon district, calling it a key step toward positioning the state as part of the global semiconductor ecosystem by 2026.Accompanied by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the finance minister inspected the project site earlier this week, describing it as a landmark initiative that would accelerate Assam’s transformation into a hub for advanced electronics manufacturing in Northeast India, ANI reported.Envisioned as a cornerstone project under India’s semiconductor mission, the Tata OSAT Centre is being developed with an investment of Rs 27,000 crore and will produce 48 million semiconductor chips per day once operational. The first phase is expected to be commissioned by April 2026.The facility will deploy advanced chip packaging technologies, generating around 15,000 direct and 11,000–13,000 indirect jobs across the state.Randhir Thakur, CEO of Tata Electronics, briefed the minister on the project’s progress, highlighting its potential to reshape Assam’s industrial landscape and create large-scale employment and skill development opportunities in the region.Expressing gratitude to the finance minister, Chief Minister Sarma said the project would be “transformative for Assam’s industrial ecosystem” and mark a new chapter in Northeast India’s economic growth.During her visit, Sitharaman also interacted with local entrepreneurs and students, encouraging the youth to tap into Assam’s emerging opportunities in technology and manufacturing. “Assam has shown great foresight by bringing a semiconductor manufacturing unit to the state,” she said.The minister added that the government recently launched a Rs 1 lakh crore R&D fund to promote innovation, open to both public and private institutions nationwide.As part of the visit, Sitharaman and Sarma paid tributes to J.N. Tata and planted red sandal saplings at the site, symbolising the project’s alignment with growth and sustainability.The OSAT facility is part of India’s broader semiconductor expansion plan, which has gained momentum since the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021. The government has committed Rs 76,000 crore under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to support semiconductor manufacturing.In August, India achieved a major milestone with the rollout of its first ‘Made in India’ chip from CG-Semi’s pilot OSAT facility in Sanand, Gujarat. Since then, 10 semiconductor projects worth over Rs 1.6 lakh crore have been approved across six states — Gujarat, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) is now working on Semicon 2.0, the next phase of India’s semiconductor programme, aimed at scaling up production and global integration.