**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 814 in the Lok Sabha, regarding the employment of over 25 lakh people in the electronics sector. It addresses concerns about the accuracy of employment reports, the impact of iPhone exports, protection of domestic manufacturers, and mobile phone production projections. The document provides statistics on the growth of electronics manufacturing and exports in India between 2014-15 and 2024-25, with data up to September 2025. The question was slated to be answered on 04.02.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Initiatives:**
* Driven by the "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" visions, the Government of India has implemented several policies to develop a complete ecosystem for electronics manufacturing.
* **Growth in Electronics Manufacturing:**
* Production of electronics goods increased from approximately ₹1.9 Lakh Cr in 2014-15 to approximately ₹11.3 Lakh Cr in 2024-25 (a six-fold increase).
* Export of electronics goods increased from approximately ₹0.38 Lakh Cr in 2014-15 to approximately ₹3.3 Lakh Cr in 2024-25 (an eight-fold increase).
* **Mobile Phone Manufacturing:**
* Mobile phone manufacturing has been a significant contributor to the growth of the Indian electronics ecosystem.
* India has become the 2nd largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world.
* Approximately 99% of mobile handsets sold in India are now "Made in India."
* Production of mobile phones increased from approximately ₹0.18 Lakh Cr in 2014-15 to approximately ₹5.5 Lakh Cr in 2024-25 (a 28-fold increase).
* Export of mobile phones increased from approximately ₹0.01 Lakh Cr in 2014-15 to approximately ₹2 Lakh Cr in 2024-25 (a 127-fold increase).
* **Mobile Phone Exports Data:**
* Mobile phone exports increased from ₹1.29 lakh crores in FY 2023-24 to ₹2.05 lakh crores in FY 2024-25.
* Data from DGCIS is available at [https://trade-analytics.commerce.gov.in](https://trade-analytics.commerce.gov.in).
* **Economic Survey Findings:**
* As per the Economic Survey 2025-26, mobile phone manufacturing led to a total production of ₹9.34 lakh crore and exports of ₹5.12 lakh crore until September 2025.
* **Employment in the Electronics Industry:**
* As per industry estimates, the electronics industry employs more than 25 lakh people.
* **Global Value Chains (GVCs):**
* More than 75% of electronics trade is done by GVCs.
* MSMEs and their skilled workforce provide complimentary strengths to GVCs and are becoming part of their supply chains.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Government of India**
* **Impact:** The Government can showcase the success of the "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiatives in boosting electronics manufacturing and exports.
* **Action Required:** Continue to refine policies and initiatives to further support the growth of the electronics industry, ensure continued employment growth, and facilitate the integration of MSMEs into global value chains.
**Stakeholder: Indian Electronics Manufacturers (especially MSMEs)**
* **Impact:** The growth in electronics manufacturing and exports, especially in mobile phones, presents significant opportunities for Indian manufacturers, particularly MSMEs, to expand their production, increase exports, and integrate into global value chains.
* **Action Required:** Seize opportunities to integrate into global supply chains, invest in technology and skills development, and leverage government initiatives to improve competitiveness and expand market reach.
**Stakeholder: Indian Workers**
* **Impact:** The expanding electronics sector provides employment opportunities for Indian workers, especially in manufacturing and related services.
* **Action Required:** Acquire skills relevant to the electronics manufacturing sector and participate in training programs to enhance employability.
**Stakeholder: Foreign Corporations**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to increase exports from India
* **Action Required:** Continue to leverage India's manufacturing capabilities and participate in global value chains.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The primary government body responsible for policies related to the electronics sector in India.
Make in India: A major national initiative to encourage domestic manufacturing.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: A national initiative promoting self-reliance and reducing import dependence.
DGCIS (Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics): Government agency that collects, compiles, and disseminates India's trade statistics.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 814
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 04.02.2026
EMPLOYMENT OF OVER 25 LAKH PEOPLE IN ELECTRONICS SECTOR
814. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any assessment to verify that the reported employment of
over 25 lakh people in the electronics sector is accurate and not inflated, if so, the details thereof and
if not, reasons therefor;
(b) whether the iPhone exports from India reached Rs 2.03 lakh crore in 2025, nearly double 2024
figures—has this been independently audited, if so, the measures taken by the Government to ensure
that other domestic manufacturers also benefit from export growth;
(c) whether the Government considered the risk of foreign corporations dominating electronics
exports while small & medium Indian manufacturers are marginalized and if so, the safeguards exist
to protect local industry, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether it is a fact that mobile phone production was projected to reach Rs. 6.76 lakh crore by
2025 and if so, the details of the proportion of this growth i.e. domestic versus foreign-owned
companies; and
(e) the details of number of jobs likely to be created for Indian workers?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (e): Driven by Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat,
Government of India has taken several policy initiatives to develop a complete ecosystem of
electronics manufacturing. As a result of these initiatives, electronics manufacturing in India has
expanded significantly in the last 11 years, which can be seen from the following statistics:
# 2014-15 2024-25 Remarks
Production of electronics goods (Rs.) ~1.9 Lakh Cr ~11.3 Lakh Cr Increased 6 times
Export of electronics goods (Rs.) ~0.38 Lakh Cr ~3.3 Lakh Cr Increased 8 times
The mobile phone manufacturing has played an anchor role in this growth of the Indian Electronics
ecosystem. In the last decade, India has witnessed a remarkable growth in the mobile phonemanufacturing and exports. India has emerged as the 2nd largest mobile manufacturer in the world.
India has reached a stage where ~99% of mobile handsets being sold in India are ‘Made in India’ (in
volume terms). This is a remarkable shift from FY 2014-15, when around 74% of mobile phones sold
in India were imported. Now, India has become a net exporter of Mobile Phones from being an
importer of the same in 2014. Mobile phones production and exports trends over last decade are as in
the below table:
# 2014-15 2024-25 Remarks
Production of mobile phones (Rs.) ~0.18 Lakh Cr ~5.5 Lakh Cr Increased 28 times
Export of mobile phones (Rs.) ~0.01 Lakh Cr ~ 2 Lakh Cr Increased 127 times
Mobile phone exports have increased by 1.6 times from Rs. 1.29 lakh crores in financial year 2023-
24 to Rs. 2.05 lakh crores in financial year 2024-25. These exports figures are as per DGCIS
(Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics) data, available in public domain at
https://trade-analytics.commerce.gov.in.
As per the Economic Survey 2025-26, mobile phone manufacturing led to total production of ₹9.34
lakh crore and exports of ₹5.12 lakh crore until September 2025.
As per industry estimates, electronics industry employs more than 25 lakh people.
Further, more than 75% of electronics trade are done by Global Value Chains (GVCs). GVCs locate
their manufacturing and supply chain depending on various factors of competitive advantage. MSMEs
and their skilled workforce provide complimentary strength to GVCs. As a result, these MSMEs are
largely becoming part of the supply chain of these GVCs. In this process, these MSMEs are
developing and building their capacities and capabilities to provide world class products to the GVCs
not only for the domestic market but for the exports as well.
*******