New Delhi: The central government has received a strong response to its Rs 22,805 crore Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), with 70 applications submitted within just 15 days of the application window opening on 1 May.
Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the development, highlighting that the majority of applicants are small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme has received tremendous response. Within 15 days of opening the application, around 70 applications have come,” the minister stated, according to reports.
While he did not disclose specific names, industry sources had earlier indicated that large players such as Tata Electronics, Dixon Technologies and Foxconn have expressed interest in the scheme.
Vaishnaw noted that while some major companies have submitted proposals, SMEs account for nearly 80 per cent of the total applications received.
The scheme is a key initiative to boost domestic manufacturing of electronics components and reduce dependency on imports. It aims to address a significant demand-supply gap in India’s electronics ecosystem.
Under the scheme, a major share of the allocation, Rs 21,093 crore, is earmarked for the production of sub-assemblies such as camera modules, multi-layered and flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs) and passive components.
An additional Rs 1,712 crore is designated for manufacturing parts used in these sub-assemblies and for capital goods required in electronics production.
The scheme divides eligible components into four categories:
- Category A: Includes high-value sub-assemblies like display and camera modules.
- Category B: Covers basic components such as non-surface mount devices, multi-layered PCBs, lithium-ion cells for digital uses, and enclosures for mobile and IT hardware.
- Category C: Comprises flexible PCBs and surface-mount device (SMD) passive components.
- Category D: Covers capital goods and components used in manufacturing items listed under categories A, B and C.
While the application window for Categories A, B, and C is open for three months from 1 May, proposals for Category D items can be submitted over two years.
