Government's Stance on Laptop Imports and Local Production

In a recent statement, IT and Electronics Secretary S Krishnan clarified that the Indian government has no immediate plans to reduce laptop imports. This decision comes as part of a broader strategy to boost local production, aiming to replicate the success seen in the smartphone sector. Companies like HP and Dell are expected to significantly increase their local output starting from the next fiscal year.

Enhanced Financial Incentives for Semiconductor Industry

To support the component ecosystem and attract more investments in semiconductors, the government is finalizing a new financial incentive plan. This move follows the exhaustion of the previous $10 billion package in the initial wave of investments. Krishnan highlighted that while India's semiconductor incentive might be smaller compared to other economies, the focus is on establishing a base with simple and effective mechanisms.

Production-Linked Incentive Scheme for IT Hardware

The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for IT hardware is designed to enhance the competitiveness of India-made products. Krishnan emphasized that the scheme is structured in a WTO-compliant manner, aiming to improve domestic production without disrupting the market. The government is also monitoring the import management system closely to ensure a balanced approach towards domestic production and imports.