Govt approves ₹4,500 crore upgrade for SCL Mohali

New Delhi: The central government has approved ₹4,500 crore to modernize the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali. The project will be completed in three years under the India Semiconductor Mission.

IT and communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the upgrade will improve SCL’s chip manufacturing technology and raise production levels. The plan includes replacing old machinery, setting up advanced fabrication lines, and boosting design and research work for future chip technologies.

The expansion also includes acquiring 25 acres of additional land near the current SCL site. The new capacity aims to increase monthly wafer production and support India’s goal of building a strong semiconductor ecosystem.

SCL was launched decades ago and currently makes older generation chips used in space and defence. After modernization, it will be able to make modern chips with better performance and more efficient power use.

The government believes this move will give India a stronger position in global chip manufacturing and support startups working in semiconductor design and fabrication.