Dialing Up Success: India’s Mobile Exports Jump from Crores to Crores More in a Decade

Image Source: Business Standard

India's mobile phone export industry has witnessed an extraordinary surge over the past ten years, soaring from Rs 1,500 crore in 2014-15 to an impressive Rs 2 lakh crore in 2024-25—a 127-fold increase. This milestone was announced by Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada, in a written reply to Lok Sabha on July 23, 2025.

Key Highlights: From Import Dependency to Global Manufacturing Powerhouse

In 2014-15, India imported 75% of its mobile phone demand, a figure that has dramatically fallen to just 0.02% in 2024-25, signaling India’s transformation from a net importer to the world’s second largest mobile manufacturing hub.

The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (LSEM) has been pivotal in this growth, attracting cumulative investments worth Rs 12,390 crore and generating direct employment for over 1.3 lakh people till June 2025.

Under the PLI scheme, cumulative mobile phone production reached Rs 8,44,752 crore, with exports grossing Rs 4,65,809 crore, showcasing India’s competitive manufacturing ecosystem.

Additionally, the PLI Scheme 2.0 for IT hardware attracted Rs 717.13 crore in investments, produced Rs 12,195.84 crore worth of goods, and created 5,056 new direct jobs by June 2025.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in electronics manufacturing has seen robust inflows, with $4,071 million invested since FY 2020-21, including $2,802 million contributed by PLI beneficiaries.

These developments align with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, aiming to reduce import dependency, enhance exports, and integrate India into global supply chains.

In summary, India’s mobile manufacturing industry exhibits robust growth and global competitiveness driven by strategic policy support, massive investments, and a skilled workforce, positioning the country as a major player in the global electronics market.

Sources: NDTV Profit, Business Standard