SCL will also expand its footprint, with the Centre seeking 25 acres of additional land from the Punjab government to accommodate growth.
Centre Announces INR 4,500 Crore Upgrade for SCL Mohali, Assures No Privatisation
On 28th November 2025, the Government of India declared an INR 4,500 crore investment over the next three years to modernise the state-run Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), according to the Press Information Bureau.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics & IT, announced this during his visit to SCL alongside MoS Shri Ravneet Singh. He reassured that the facility will remain under government control and said that “SCL Mohali will be modernised, and it will not be privatised.”
About upgrading
Under the modernisation initiative, SCL will see expanded capacity: the plan focuses on raising wafer production by 100 times as compared to current output. The overhaul will include updated fabrication tools, better research-and-development infrastructure, and expansion of training and production facilities. SCL will also expand its footprint, with the Centre seeking 25 acres of additional land from the Punjab government to accommodate growth.
About Empowerment: students, researchers and start-ups
SCL handed over 28 student-designed chips which were created by teams from 17 academic institutions. They had been fabricated as part of the government’s “Chips to Start-up (C2S)” programme. The total number of student chips fabricated by SCL now is 56.
SCL’s upgraded capabilities will continue to support this ecosystem. They will provide “tape-out” services (final chip fabrication) to students, researchers and start-ups, filling a gap because commercial foundries often do not take up small-scale or experimental chip designs.
Officials noted that students and researchers from nearly 300 universities across India are already using world-class Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools to design semiconductor chips. The government describes this ecosystem as unique on a global level. The upgraded SCL will strengthen this pipeline, turning homegrown designs into real silicon chips.
Strategic vision: “Swadeshi chips” and self-reliance
According to the government, this modernisation programme is part of a broader strategy under the India Semiconductor Mission and vision for self-reliance in strategic sectors. SCL, which already provides end-to-end solutions for semiconductor design and manufacturing, including ASICs, MEMS and optoelectronic devices, is being positioned as a national R&D and manufacturing hub.
Officials said that a consortium involving institutions such as DRDO and CDAC will help drive development, production and deployment of indigenous “Swadeshi chips” and will enhance India’s strategic autonomy in technology.
This announcement is probably the most ambitious and significant overhaul of SCL Mohali to date. It signals that apart from only boosting chip-making capacity, India is also investing in talent, innovation and self-reliance, making SCL a cornerstone in building a domestic semiconductor ecosystem.
