Government Commits Rs 4,500 Crore for SCL Mohali Modernization; Assures No Privatization
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announces Rs 4,500 Cr investment to upgrade SCL Mohali, targeting 100x wafer production and assuring non-privatization, while inaugurating facilities and handing over 28 student-designed chips.
The Government of India will invest Rs 4,500 crore to modernize the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced during his visit to the facility on November 28, 2025. He also assured that SCL will not be privatized and will continue to play a central role in India’s semiconductor mission.
The Minister, along with MoS IT Ravneet Singh, reviewed the ongoing upgrade work at SCL and took part in an event where 28 student-designed semiconductor chips from 17 academic institutions were handed over. With this batch, SCL has fabricated a total of 56 chips under the Chips to Start-up (C2S) program.
The chips were designed using top-notch Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools provided to students through government support. The Minister pointed out that almost 300 universities in India now have access to these tools, creating a unique ecosystem globally.
Modernization Roadmap
Shri Vaishnaw outlined a clear plan for SCL’s transformation:
The government will invest Rs 4,500 crore to upgrade SCL with modern features.
Production capacity will be greatly increased, aiming for 100 times the current wafer output.
SCL will keep supporting students, researchers, and start-ups by providing fabrication services.
To assist in expansion, the Centre has asked the Punjab government to allocate 25 acres of land.
New Facilities Inaugurated
The Minister also inaugurated:
The Semiconductor Process Gallery, which showcases fabrication tools and clean-room technology for student learning.
The Abhyuthanam Training Block, which offers hands-on training modules, semiconductor coursework, and fire-safety training.
Strategic Self-Reliance Push
He further emphasized that India is pursuing self-reliance in strategic sectors, including chip manufacturing. A consortium of CDAC, DRDO, and other institutions will collaborate on indigenous chip design, development, and manufacturing.