India Warns Growing Semiconductor Sector to Prepare for Cyberattacks and Geopolitical Threats

Vaishnaw said the warning was delivered in a candid discussion with industry representatives, who he said had understood the risks and would take appropriate protective measures.
The minister’s remarks were made in a PTI interview in New Delhi on Sept. 19, amid India’s effort to become a competitive participant in the high-stakes global semiconductor value chain.
Vaishnaw specifically warned that India’s growing semiconductor capabilities could trigger risks from countries that “don’t like India to come up in the semiconductor value chain,” extending the concern beyond commercial competition to possible state-linked disruption.
India's Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warned the country's semiconductor industry to brace for cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and physical sabotage as India builds its role in global chip manufacturing Business Today. Vaishnaw said countries that view India's rise in semiconductors as a threat could seek to disrupt the nation's progress, putting a "target on its back" Moneycontrol.
The minister delivered his candid warning during a meeting with industry representatives in New Delhi on September 19, urging semiconductor firms and deep-tech startups to remain vigilant Press Insider. Despite the risks, India is attracting major investment from Indian and global companies seeking a trusted location for chip design, fabrication, packaging, and testing.
Vaishnaw specifically warned that threats could come from governments that "don't like India to come up in the semiconductor value chain," extending concerns beyond typical commercial rivalry Free Press Journal. The minister emphasized that state-linked actors could target India's semiconductor ambitions through coordinated disruption campaigns. Industry representatives acknowledged the risks and committed to taking protective measures, according to Vaishnaw's account.
India's government is building a comprehensive semiconductor sector spanning fabrication, design, packaging, testing, and talent development Press Insider. The strategy aims to make India a competitive participant in the high-stakes global chip supply chain. Foreign and domestic companies are investing in India as geopolitical tensions reshape semiconductor sourcing worldwide, with nations seeking alternatives to Chinese manufacturing.
A report by EY-IESA (India Electronics and Semiconductor Association) recommends that India move beyond pure manufacturing to design chips and integrate them into products made entirely within the country Economic Times. This shift would deepen India's position in the value chain and create more jobs. The approach also reduces dependence on imported designs and strengthens India's technological sovereignty in semiconductors.
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