India Semiconductor Mission: Dholera Fab Begins Commercial Pilot of 28nm Logic Wafers
The commercial pilot phase of India's inaugural commercial semiconductor fabrication plant in Dholera Special Investment Region has successfully processed its first lot of 28-nanometer planar CMOS logic wafers.
The facility, developed under the ₹76,000-crore India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), integrates automated cleanroom robotics and ultra-pure water recycling systems capable of operating at 99.8% filtration efficiency. Testing engineers confirmed that wafer electrical defect densities remained below 0.08 per square centimeter, meeting stringent commercial thresholds.
Automotive Tier-1 suppliers and industrial microcontroller vendors have commenced qualification runs for engine control units and smart meter gate drivers. Domestic fabrication reduces supply chain vulnerabilities that previously exposed Indian electronics manufacturers to multi-quarter import lead times.
"Establishing front-end silicon fabrication transforms India from a pure consumer of electronics into a foundational hardware node for global supply chains."
Phase two expansion plans include a dedicated test and assembly facility (OSAT) in Sanand, scheduled for high-volume commercial packaging by mid-2027.