In our previous article on the electronics industry in India, we examined some of the growth drivers and key trends in this sector.

The National Policy on Electronics (NPE) envisions India as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) by encouraging and driving capabilities in the country for developing core components and creating an enabling environment for the industry to compete globally.

In this article we examine some of the schemes, initiatives and policies by the government to boost the electronics sector in India.

Schemes

M-SIPS scheme:

To offset disability and attract investments in electronic manufacturing, Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) was notified on 27 July 2012. The scheme is available for both new projects and expansion projects. Under M-SIPS, 25% of capex is eligible for subsidy (20% for units in Special Economic Zones) for all investments made in manufacturing of ESDM (electronic system design and manufacturing) products. For some of the high capital investment projects like fabs, it provides for reimbursement of Central Taxes and Duties. The incentives are provided on reimbursement basis. Units all across the manufacturing value chain are covered under the scheme. For each of the product category, an investment threshold is prescribed which an applicant has to incur for getting eligible for incentives. The investment threshold varies from INR 1 crore to INR 5,000 crores depending upon a type of project.

Electronic Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs)

This scheme provides financial assistance for creating world-class infrastructure for electronics manufacturing units. India is developing various Electronic Manufacturing Clusters to achieve the vision of ‘Net Zero Import By 2020’. The assistance for the projects for setting up of Greenfield Electronics Manufacturing Clusters is 50% of the project cost subject to a ceiling of INR 50 crore for 100 acres of land. For larger areas, pro-rata ceiling applies. For lower extent, the extent of support would be decided by the Steering Committee for Clusters (SCC) subject to the ceiling of INR 50 crore. For setting up of Brownfield Electronics Manufacturing Cluster, 75% of the cost of infrastructure, subject to a ceiling of INR 50 crore is provided. About 14 Greenfield EMC proposals have been given in principal approval, while two have been given final approval. Two common facility centres also have been accorded in principle approval.
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Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)

This scheme has notified certain products (includes AC parts and compressors, refrigerating equipment compressors, fully automatic washing machines, colour TV and STB for accessing internet) and markets for exports. These products, when exported to specified markets (category B countries), are offered 2% export subsidy. There is also provision for higher subsidy under the MEIS scheme for export items with high domestic content and value addition.
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Initiatives and Policies

Make in India

The government is driving reforms in IT and Electronics Manufacturing sector through initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and creating favourable policies to enable an investor-friendly environment. Electronic System Design and Manufacturing is one of the major sectors of ‘Make in India’.

Public Procurement (preference to Make in India) order was passed in 2017 by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to promote manufacturing of goods and services in India. Under public procurement order, the government targeted 10 domestically manufactured electronic products for providing preference on the basis of prescribed domestic value addition, ranging from 40% to 70%. The category comprises of the following products:

Digital India

The Digital India programme aims to transform India into a digitally enabled society and was launched in 2015. One of the nine pillars of Digital India is Electronics Manufacturing, with a focus on boosting the production of electronics in India. The focus areas comprise mobiles, fab-less design, set top boxes, VSATs, consumer and medical electronics, smart energy meters, smart cards and micro-ATMs.

Electronics Development Fund policy

This policy provides a framework to set up an Electronics Development Fund (EDF) as a Fund of Funds which will foster research and development (R&D) and innovation in technology sectors like electronics, IT and nano-electronics. EDF will support Venture Funds and Angel Funds, which will be professionally managed and are dedicated to these sectors.
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R&D and IP Development:

Under the National Policy on Electronics, several initiatives are being taken to promote R&D and IP development in the ESDM sector.

The following initiatives are being taken in this direction:

1. Setting up of Electronics Development Fund for promoting Venture Funds in ESDM area.
2. Setting up of Incubators for supporting start-ups in ESDM sector.
3. Development of Conditional Access System (CAS) for Set Top Boxes.
4. Other projects as recommended by Working Group for this initiatives

For more details, click here. 

Specified items must meet the specified safety standards under the Compulsory Registration Order (CRO) which has been brought into force from January 3, 2014. The CRO provides a framework to add other electronic items under this regime, thereby providing a quality barrier for unsafe and sub-standard electronic goods.