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India's Semiconductor Push Faces Cyberattacks, Disruption, Vaishnaw Warns
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Moneycontrol•21-09-2026, 08:03
India's Semiconductor Push Faces Cyberattacks, Disruption, Vaishnaw Warns
- •Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warns India's expanding semiconductor industry to prepare for cyberattacks, misinformation, and physical disruption.
- •Vaishnaw stated that semiconductors are a strategic industry and anticipated obstruction from groups opposed to India's manufacturing growth, without identifying specific entities.
- •He cited alleged past attempts to disrupt Apple's manufacturing in India, including food poisoning and cut electricity wires, as examples of potential threats.
- •The minister dismissed a Reuters investigation into alleged exclusion of married women from Foxconn jobs as "fake news."
- •India is significantly expanding its semiconductor program, with SEMICON India 2026 recently held and the Union Cabinet approving Semicon 2.0 with a substantial outlay.
Key Questions Answered
Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warned that India's expanding semiconductor sector must prepare for cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, and physical disruptions as it scales domestic chip manufacturing.
The Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 in July 2026 with a financial outlay of Rs 1,27,500 crore to cover chip design, fabrication plants, materials, packaging, research, and talent development.
SEMICON India 2026 took place in New Delhi from September 17 to 19, drawing more than 600 companies and representatives from 52 countries.
