India is set to emerge as one of the world’s top four semiconductor manufacturing nations by 2032 and aims to become the best by 2035, driven by its talent base and expanding ecosystem, Union minister for electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday, reported PTI .Speaking on the sidelines of an event announcing approval of 22 projects worth Rs 41,863 crore under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), Vaishnaw said four chip companies will begin commercial production in 2026, with major automobile and telecom firms expected to source semiconductors domestically.“I think by 2032, we would be very significant among the top 4 nations of the semiconductor industry, and by 2035, we would be among the best. This direction is clearly visible. This can be clearly predicted,” Vaishnaw said .Under the Semicon India Programme, the government has so far approved 10 manufacturing units — including two fabrication plants and eight assembly, testing and packaging units — involving investments of about Rs 1.6 lakh crore, according to the minister.Detailing the production timeline, Vaishnaw said, “The plants which started pilot production last year, they are the ones that will get into commercial production earlier, which is Kaynes and CG Semi. Micron has also started pilot production very recently. They will also go next month. Tata plant in Assam will start pilot production by middle of the year, and by the end of the year they will start the commercial production,” he said .In parallel, India’s chip design capabilities are also expanding. Under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, 24 chip design projects are being supported through startups, representing a total project value of Rs 920 crore.Vaishnaw attributed India’s growing prominence in semiconductors to a strong focus on talent development. He said students across 298 universities in the country are now designing chips that are being validated.“We could not count more than 20 universities in the whole world, including the US, China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, where students can design a chip, manufacture it, and validate the product. India has, because of our focus on silicon, 298 universities,” Vaishnaw said .The minister said this expanding talent pipeline, combined with large-scale manufacturing investments, is positioning India to play a decisive role in the global semiconductor value chain over the next decade.

New Delhi: 2025 emerged as a defining chapter in the public and personal journey of Anant Ambani, a year where faith, leadership, seva, and conservation came together with rare clarity and purpose. It was a year that reflected not just milestones, but a deeper alignment between belief, responsibility, and long-term vision.

At the heart of this journey was a 140-kilometre padyatra from Jamnagar to Dwarka, undertaken as an act of devotion, discipline, and spiritual reflection. The walk resonated with millions, symbolising humility, perseverance, and an unwavering connection to India’s civilisational ethos. Far from being symbolic alone, the padyatra underscored the belief that leadership begins with inner conviction and service. 

Professionally, 2025 also marked a significant expansion of responsibilities as Anant Ambani took on a larger leadership role as Executive Director at Reliance Industries Ltd. His growing involvement reflected a focus on sustainable growth, long-term stewardship, and aligning enterprise with societal impact—values increasingly central to modern corporate leadership. 

 

2025 Marked A Year Of Faith, Leadership, Seva, And Conservation For Anant Ambani#AnantAmbani #SevaAndConservation #Vantara #WildlifeConservation pic.twitter.com/Or0ikzi2GU
— Zee News English (@ZeeNewsEnglish) January 2, 2026

A major highlight of the year was large-scale pilgrim welfare initiatives during the Maha Kumbh, where efforts were directed toward healthcare, logistics, and support services for millions of devotees. These initiatives reinforced the spirit of seva, placing service to people at the centre of action.

Equally significant was the national recognition received by Vantara, India’s ambitious wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation initiative. Its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a watershed moment for conservation in the country. Throughout the year, Vantara also became a global showcase, with prominent international personalities witnessing India’s commitment to ecological responsibility and compassionate conservation.

Together, these moments defined 2025 as a year of convergence—where devotion met duty, leadership embraced service, and conservation became a shared national and global mission.

Last Updated:January 02, 2026, 20:45 IST

Aside from the hashtags and social media abuses, the facts about trade and business terms between India and Bangladesh reveal a deeply intertwined and profitable relationship

Actor Shah Rukh Khan has come under sharp attack from Hindu religious preachers and some BJP leaders over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) signing Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the IPL 2026 auction. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

As the internet erupts over Shah Rukh Khan and the Kolkata Knight Riders’ decision to hire a Bangladeshi cricketer for the upcoming IPL season, branding the actor a “traitor”, the trade numbers from the union ministry of commerce and industry, accessed by News 18, quietly puncture the seemingly manufactured outrage.

Trade, economic, and diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh were never cut off, even though India imposed some reciprocal restrictions on Bangladesh, including the withdrawal of transhipment facilities and port access. Beyond the hashtags and social media abuses, the facts about trade and business terms between India and Bangladesh reveal a deeply intertwined and profitable relationship, even a year after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

Decoding the trade data

According to the export and import data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and updated on January 2, 2026, India’s exports to Bangladesh stood at 11.48 billion US dollars in FY 2025, up from 11.06 billion dollars in FY 2024. This shows a marginal growth of around 3 to 4% despite a year marked by political strain, border tensions, visa-route-port restrictions, and periodic diplomatic unease. According to the ministry data, India exported goods worth around 4 billion US dollars to Bangladesh in 2025-26 as of January 2.

The India Brand Equity Foundation (a trust backed by the commerce ministry) stated in its factsheet that India exported 5,069 commodities to Bangladesh in FY25, ranging from petroleum products, cotton yarn, cereals, machinery, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, to chemicals. In return, India imported around 806 commodities, including ready-made garments, jute products, leather goods, and select agricultural items. The trade balance remains heavily tilted in India’s favour, with no sign of a country “boycotting” its neighbour.

Economics over outrage

Data shows that robust trade continued through moments of visible political discomfort. Issues such as border management, water-sharing disputes, concerns over illegal migration, and domestic political churn in Bangladesh have cast long shadows over bilateral relations. Yet, trade and commerce have marched on, driven by supply chains, geography, and mutual economic interest rather than emotion or online virtue signalling.

Observers point out that this is not an argument for ignoring security or political concerns but a reminder that the Indian state engages Bangladesh through a pragmatic lens, distinguishing between geopolitical caution and economic engagement. This nuance is conspicuously absent in the digital mobs targeting a film star for a cricketing decision made by a franchise operating in a global sports ecosystem.

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