Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
| Photo Credit:
Salman Ali
The government on Monday lashed out at electronics manufacturers for not meeting the target of proper structured programme on in-house design capabilities and Six Sigma standards, and also warned that if the targets are not met, it may stop the disbursement of funds under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS).
“In the last meeting, all of you had committed that by end of March 2026, you will have a proper structured programme…but, I don’t see that structured programme till now. While we from the government are trying our best, now the ball is in the industry’s court to come out with equal efforts. We have to be in tango and you have to really scale up your efforts and ambitions,” Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, said at an event here.
The Minister pulled up industry body India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and their member firms for not adhering to the integrated approach set by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) to boost high quality and self-reliant electronics manufacturing under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), launched by MeitY in April 2025.
Vaishnaw has given a 15-day deadline to the industry to update the government on steps taken by the players for the key ask of the government which are product design, Six Sigma standards, talent development and local sourcing.
“Over a period of time those who do not invest in design will be weeded out. We will make sure that they are weeded out. I am saying that very blunt and very open because that is very important for our nation and we in our party, we always believe in nation first, always first,” he said.
The Minister stressed upon the country’s need of the hour to get into electronics design, component design and machine design.
Six Sigma is a methodology aimed at minimising defects and ensuring near-perfect output.
Meanwhile, under the ECMS, MeitY on Monday has approved 29 applications entailing cumulative investment of ₹7,104 crore, and 14,246 jobs in this segment. The new applications will lead to the production of electronics components worth ₹84,515 crore, S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, told reporters.
With this, a total of 75 applications and 23 products have been approved with their manufacturing units to be set up in 12 States, over the next one year with a total investment commitment of ₹.61,671 crore till date and direct jobs of 65,000 people and production capability of worth ₹4,51,858 crore, MeitY informed.
Vaishnaw added that all 75 applicants till date under ECMS will have to share their plan within next 15 days.
“The Scheme has generated strong industry confidence and is encouraging fresh investments in the components segment, which is critical for enhancing domestic value addition. Continued policy support, ease of doing business, and a stable, long-term framework will further enable the industry to scale and integrate with global value chains,” Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA, said.
He said the industry remains confident that such initiatives will significantly contribute to positioning India as a global electronics manufacturing hub.
Published on March 30, 2026
