Semiconductor Training Fabrication Facility Inaugurated at IISc Bengaluru by President Droupadi Murmu
Summary
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a Semiconductor Training Fabrication Facility at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru on June 3, 2026, marking a significant milestone in India's semiconductor ecosystem development.
●The facility is designed to provide hands-on, industry-relevant training in semiconductor fabrication, microfabrication processes, cleanroom operations, device manufacturing, and characterisation techniques.
●India's semiconductor ambitions are anchored in the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) launched under the ₹76,000 crore Semicon India Programme, which aims to establish a robust domestic chip design and manufacturing ecosystem.
●IISc, as a premier research institution, is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial semiconductor production, addressing the acute shortage of skilled fabrication engineers in India.
●This facility is critical for UPSC aspirants as it intersects science and technology policy, India's strategic self-reliance goals, and the broader push for Atmanirbhar Bharat in critical technology sectors.
The Semiconductor Training Fab at IISc is a key institutional output of India's Semicon India Programme (₹76,000 crore). Key facts: IISc Bengaluru is India's oldest and most prestigious science research institution (est. 1909). Semiconductor fabrication requires cleanroom environments classified by particulate levels (Class 10 to Class 100,000). India's semiconductor import bill exceeds $25 billion annually.
●The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is the nodal agency under MeitY for semiconductor and display fab ecosystem.
●Tata Electronics (Dholera, Gujarat) and CG Power-Renesas (Sanand, Gujarat) are approved fab projects.
●The facility at IISc focuses on training — not mass production — filling the critical human capital gap in India's chip ambitions.
●Microfabrication involves photolithography, etching, doping, and thin-film deposition.
India's semiconductor self-reliance hinges not just on fab plants but on a trained workforce — IISc's Training Fab directly addresses this foundational human capital deficit.
◎ In Simple Words
India's President opened a special laboratory at IISc in Bengaluru where students can learn how to make tiny computer chips — the kind found in your phone, laptop, and even cars. Think of it like a cooking school, but instead of food, students learn to 'cook' electronic chips in a super-clean room where even a speck of dust can ruin the product. India wants to make its own chips instead of buying them all from other countries like China and Taiwan. This new facility will train engineers who can work in chip factories and help India become a big player in the global technology world.
Factual Pointers
Practice · 1 question
With reference to India's semiconductor policy, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
2. The Semicon India Programme has a total outlay of ₹76,000 crore.
3. IISc Bengaluru's Semiconductor Training Fab is primarily intended for mass commercial chip production.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
Emerging & Applied Technology
This sub-topic has appeared in 11 UPSC Prelims questions.