India’s government is taking steps to promote the manufacturing of electronics components through a new incentive program. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is developing a component-linked reward system aimed at boosting local value addition and transforming India into a component-producing nation.
During the launch event of the Indian-made Milkyway tablets, IT Secretary and Minister of Electronics, S Krishnan, highlighted the government’s efforts to collaborate with the business community to promote design and manufacturing in India. He emphasized the importance of raising local value addition and moving away from being solely a product-based nation.
The EPIC Foundation, a non-profit organization, played a significant role in the development of the 4G Milkyway tablets, which were inaugurated by Consumers Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh. The tablets were created in collaboration with United Telecoms (UTL), the manufacturer of JioPhones, and VVDN, an electronic manufacturing services provider.
Ajai Chowdhry, the founder and chairman of EPIC, expressed gratitude to Mediatek for their assistance in designing the tablets. He also mentioned the organization’s willingness to partner with anyone interested in producing the tablets locally or developing original products based on them.
The Android smartphone, Milkyway, offers various models with different RAM and storage options, as well as front and back cameras. It is priced at Rs 9,999. The tablet can be repaired at the component level, which is not possible with imported goods, according to Chowdhry.
Addressing concerns about launching a 4G tablet amidst the 5G era, Chowdhry stated that 5G coverage is not yet nationwide in India. UTL Chairman P Raja Mohan Rao confirmed that his company will produce 200,000 Milkyway tablets annually and reimburse EPIC for royalties. Vedavaag Systems has already placed an order for 12,000 tablets for their banking correspondent service.
The government’s approach to promoting the manufacturing of electronics components through a reward program indicates a shift towards emphasizing local value addition and achieving self-reliance in the electronics sector in India. The collaboration between industry and the government is expected to further boost the country’s efforts to become a component-producing nation.
