India’s tech export leap 

October 28, 2025

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday that India’s electronics exports are on track to become the country’s second-largest export category, driven by sustained growth and government-backed manufacturing initiatives.

Sharing the update on X, Vaishnaw said, “Make in India impact! Electronics become the country’s third largest and fastest-growing export category in the first six months of FY26. On course to be the second largest exported item.”

Government data shows that electronics exports surged 42 per cent year-on-year to reach $22.2 billion in the first half of FY26, making the sector both the third-largest and the fastest-growing in India’s export basket. Nearly half of this value came from Apple iPhone shipments, reflecting the rapid expansion of India’s smartphone manufacturing ecosystem.

The sector’s export ranking has risen sharply over the past three years, moving from seventh position in FY22 to third in FY26. The turnaround has been fueled by the government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the broader ‘Make in India’ push, which have encouraged large-scale domestic manufacturing and global supply chain integration.

Between April and August 2025, India’s overall exports rose 5.19 per cent year-on-year to $346.1 billion, up from $329.03 billion in the same period last year, despite volatility in global markets. This growth builds on a 7.1 per cent expansion in 2024, which outpaced the global average of 2.5 per cent as estimated by the World Bank.

Electronic goods were the main driver of export growth, rising 40.6 per cent and adding $5.5 billion in value compared to the same period in 2024. Smartphones, in particular, have emerged as a standout success story. Shipments crossed Rs 1 lakh crore in the first five months of FY26, a jump of 55 per cent from the previous year.

According to trade estimates, smartphone exports alone reached about $1.8 billion in September 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of more than 95 per cent.

The minister’s statement underscores the growing significance of the electronics sector in India’s trade strategy. From being a net importer of mobile phones a few years ago, India has now positioned itself as a major global hub for smartphone exports.

With sustained policy support, continued expansion by global manufacturers, and rising international demand, the electronics sector appears poised to overtake petroleum products and gems and jewellery to become India’s second-largest export category in the near future.