Make in India and PLI Schemes
The Smartphone Success Story
PLI and tariffs helped India move from importing most phones to assembling and exporting them, with Apple's suppliers leading.
Mobile phones are the flagship PLI success.
Before
A decade ago, most phones sold in India were imported.
Now
Nearly all phones sold in India are assembled locally, and exports of phones have risen sharply.
Apple’s role
Apple suppliers such as Foxconn and Pegatron expanded here, and Tata Electronics took over Wistron’s Karnataka plant in 2023.
The catch
Much of the value still comes from imported components, so assembly captures only a part of the value added.
A phone assembled in India may contain many parts made in China, Korea or Taiwan.
Domestic value added matters.
- India now assembles most of its phones.
- Apple suppliers expanded.
- Exports have risen.
- Local value addition is still limited.
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