Manufacturing & PLI (Industry & Infrastructure).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Economic & Social Development; Mains GS3
Semiconductors for UPSC: what a chip is, design-fab-packaging chain, Taiwan, India Semiconductor Mission, Dholera, Sanand, Jewar plants.
PLI scheme for UPSC: why it was launched, 14 sectors and outlay, how incentives work, mobile phone success, value-addition criticism and ways…
On 18 September 2026 in Bengaluru, HAL handed over two LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance twin-seat trainers and three HTT-40 basic trainers to the Indian Air Force, and four Dhruv NG helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited. The Defence Minister called for public-private synergy to build India's aerospace capability.
UPSC angle: Prelims: HTT-40, Dhruv NG, Tejas variants.
18 Sep 2026
On 17 September 2026, at SEMICON India 2026, the IT Minister said Semicon 2.0 has drawn investment commitments of about ₹1 lakh crore (USD 11 to 12 billion), with close to 1 lakh jobs expected. Semicon 1.0 laid the foundation; Semicon 2.0 will build the whole ecosystem through six pillars, from chip design to training 1 lakh technicians.
UPSC angle: Mains: Moving from assembly to design: can India build a full semiconductor value chain?
17 Sep 2026
India's textile exports rose 16.1% year-on-year to ₹29,776 crore in August 2026, from ₹25,656 crore in August 2025, the Textiles Ministry said on 17 September 2026. For April to August 2026 they reached ₹1.43 lakh crore, up 10.3%. Handicrafts (excluding handmade carpets) grew fastest, by 41.4%.
UPSC angle: Mains: Why textiles are central to India's labour-intensive export strategy.
17 Sep 2026
On 21 August 2026 MeitY notified the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme with an outlay of ₹62,500 crore for FY 2026-27 to 2030-31. It rewards mobile phone makers and, separately, Indian-owned brands with Indian design and R&D. It expects cumulative production of about ₹39 lakh crore and around 60,000 direct jobs. It follows the PLI scheme for phones.
UPSC angle: Mains: PLI outcomes in electronics.
21 Aug 2026
NITI Aayog released "Key Sectors to Position India as a Global Manufacturing Hub" on 13 August 2026. The first edition studies four sectors: chemicals, textiles, telecom and networking equipment, and solar photovoltaic manufacturing. It uses a four-phase method from shortlisting to recommendations. Reports on eight more sectors will follow.
UPSC angle: Mains: Manufacturing competitiveness.
13 Aug 2026
As on 31 March 2026, Production Linked Incentive schemes across 14 key sectors had drawn over Rs 2.40 lakh crore in actual investment and over 14.15 lakh jobs, a Commerce Ministry reply said. Cumulative exports under the schemes exceeded Rs 15.2 lakh crore. The approved outlay is Rs 1.91 lakh crore.
UPSC angle: Mains: PLI effectiveness.
21 Jul 2026