NOVEMBER 20258GOVT APPROVES NEW 7,712 CR PUSH UNDER ELECTRONIC COMPONENT SCHEMEWEBSOL EYES 4 GW SOLAR MANUFACTURING PLANT IN ANDHRA PRADESHThe Central Government has approved a fresh 7,712crore tranche under the Electronic Component Manufacturing Scheme, marking a major boost for India's electronics industry. According to IT Secretary S.Krishnan, this approval comes from 17 out of 249 applications, signalling growing confidence in the country's manufacturing ecosystem.In a New Delhi event on November 17, Krishnan noted that this round includes the first-ever investment commitment from Jammu and Kashmir, alongside firms based in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.Websol Energy System has taken a decisive leap in its expansion journey by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board.This is a step to explore a 4 GW integrated solar cell and module facility in the state. This move reflects Websol's intent to deepen its presence along the solar value chain.Among the notable approvals: Aequs Consumer Products Private Limited with a 1,500 crore investment projecting 7,669 crore in production; TE Connectivity India with 612 crore; Jabil Circuit at 957 crore; Zetchem with 55 crore; Micropack Pvt with 54 crore; Uno Minda at 264 crore; Syrma Mobility with 250 crore; and Meena Electrotech from J&K with 111 crore, among others.Krishnan emphasised that the scheme's core objective is to deepen the electronics value chain in India. "World is looking at diversification of value chains, and India is a key player in that," he remarked, highlighting the strategic push for local manufacturing.Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw underlined his three priorities: "we have to develop our design teams whatever may be the hard-work ... Secondly, our concentration has to be on six sigma quality in every product you manufacture ... the focus should be on developing Indian suppliers and ensure they meet quality standards." He reaffirmed the government's commitment to long-term success through continuous engagement with manufacturers.This tranche reflects India's rising stature as a manufacturing hub and shows how the Electronic Component Manufacturing Scheme is catalysing both capital investment and global supply-chain diversification. The project would dovetail with Websol's already aggressive scaling strategy, which includes a 3,000-crore investment to add 4 GW of both solar cell and module capacity. The plan is to build this in two phases, reaching 2 GW by June 2027 and another 2 GW by June 2028, using advanced TOPCon cell technology.Currently, the company's Falta, West Bengal plant runs a 600 MW cell line and a 550 MW module line -- with utilization at around 90%. Websol is also on track to commission another 600 MW cell line by October 2025, which would bring its total cell capacity to 1.2 GW.Sohan Lal Agarwal, MD of Websol, described the pace as "a major milestone" in the company's roadmap. He emphasised that Websol is now entering a "multi-gigawatt phase," doubling down on integrated cell-and-module manufacturing.From an industry standpoint, building a 4 GW facility in Andhra Pradesh strengthens Websol's vertical integration and positions it well amid India's rapid solar manufacturing push. It could play a pivotal role in bolstering domestic supply chains, especially as global demand for high-efficiency solar components intensifies. TOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIES
< Page 7 | Page 9 >