Semicon India 2026 opens in New Delhi on September 17, and it is the biggest platform yet for Indian engineering students to step into the semiconductor industry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the three-day event at Yashobhoomi, where a dedicated Workforce Development Pavilion, a student hackathon, and hundreds of chipmakers will be under one roof. For anyone weighing a career in chip design, fabrication, or VLSI, this week’s event is the clearest signal yet of where the jobs are headed.
Key Facts Box
- Semicon India 2026 runs September 17-19, 2026, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
- PM Narendra Modi inaugurates the fifth edition on September 17.
- Organised jointly by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and SEMI.
- More than 575 companies are participating, up from 350 in 2025; over 600 exhibitors and delegations from 40+ countries are expected.
- A 360 sqm Workforce Development Pavilion is dedicated to talent, skills and career opportunities in microelectronics.
- Lam Research India and CeNSE, IISc are running a Student Hackathon on real-world semiconductor design problems.
- India’s semiconductor sector currently employs around 220,000 professionals and is targeting 1 million jobs by 2026.
- Semicon 2.0, announced on July 15, 2026, allocates roughly INR 1.275 trillion (about USD 13.23 billion) to chip design, fabrication, packaging and talent development.
What Is Semicon India 2026
Semicon India 2026 is the fifth edition of India’s major semiconductor exhibition. It will take place from September 17 to 19 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi. The event brings together chip designers, semiconductor manufacturers, equipment companies, and government officials. This year, there is also a stronger focus on students and young engineers, with dedicated areas and activities for them.
The event is organised by the India Semiconductor Mission under MeitY, along with SEMI, a global semiconductor industry organisation. This year’s event is much bigger than the previous one, growing from around 350 participating companies in 2025 to more than 575 in 2026. It will feature over 600 exhibitors and international groups from more than 40 countries.
Why Semiconductor Careers Are Trending in India
India’s semiconductor push is no longer just policy talk — it is starting to show up as real hiring numbers. The sector currently employs close to 220,000 professionals across design, fabrication, and packaging, and the government’s stated target is 1 million semiconductor jobs by the end of 2026.
That million-job estimate breaks down roughly as 300,000 positions in chip fabrication (fabs), 200,000 in ATMP — assembly, testing, marking and packaging — and the remainder spread across chip design, embedded software, systems engineering, and supply chain management. For engineering graduates, this means openings are not limited to core electronics roles; software, mechanical, and industrial engineering backgrounds are all being pulled into the ecosystem.
Semicon 2.0 and the Funding Behind the Jobs
On July 15, 2026, the government announced Semicon 2.0, an outlay of about INR 1.275 trillion (roughly USD 13.23 billion) covering chip design, fabrication, display manufacturing, advanced packaging, semiconductor equipment, speciality materials, R&D, engineering services, and talent development. This scheme extends and expands the original India Semiconductor Mission, and it is the funding base behind the wave of new fabs, design centres, and training programmes that are creating entry-level openings right now.
Career Paths in India’s Semiconductor Industry
Students often assume “semiconductor jobs” means only chip fabrication. In practice, the industry needs several distinct skill sets, and each has a different entry point.
Chip Design and VLSI
This covers digital and analog circuit design, RTL coding, and physical design — work typically done by electronics and computer engineering graduates. Companies at Semicon India, along with design houses in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Noida, are actively hiring VLSI design engineers.
Fabrication and Wafer Processing
Fabs need process engineers who understand photolithography, etching, and wafer-level quality control. This is a growing area as India’s first commercial fabs move toward production, and it typically draws from chemical, materials science, and electronics engineering backgrounds.
ATMP — Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging
ATMP roles are more accessible to diploma holders and B.Tech graduates without a VLSI specialisation, since they focus on packaging chips after fabrication. With 200,000 projected ATMP jobs, this is one of the higher-volume entry points into the industry.
Embedded Systems and Software
Chips need firmware, drivers, and embedded software to function in real products. This path suits computer science and electronics graduates who prefer coding over hardware fabrication, and it is one of the fastest-growing segments alongside AI-enabled chip design tools.
New Semiconductor Courses and Degree Programmes
A growing number of Indian universities have introduced dedicated semiconductor programmes in the last academic cycle, giving students a direct entry route into the industry instead of relying on a general electronics degree.
- Hindustan University has introduced a B.Tech in Semiconductor Technology, covering chip design, fabrication, and applications from AI-driven processors to next-generation communication systems.
- Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU) is admitting students into a B.Tech in Semiconductor Technology focused on VLSI design and industry-ready fundamentals.
- Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies offers a B.Tech in ECE with a Semiconductor Design and Manufacturing specialisation, requiring Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics plus a JEE Main score.
- Nirma University, Ahmedabad admits into its semiconductor engineering B.Tech primarily through JEE Main and GUJCET.
- IISc Bengaluru runs a Joint M.Tech in Semiconductor Technology with Taiwanese universities through its Centre for Nanoscience and Engineering.
- NIT Rourkela is launching an M.Tech in Semiconductor Devices and Technology from the 2026-27 academic session, covering fabrication, wafer technology, device characterisation, and packaging.
- National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar offers a niche Postgraduate Diploma in Semiconductor Security and Forensic Investigation, aimed at hardware security specialists.
Students choosing between these should check the entrance exam requirements (JEE Main is the common route for undergraduate seats) and confirm whether the programme includes lab access to fabrication or packaging equipment, since hands-on exposure is what recruiters look for.
How Students Can Get Involved at Semicon India 2026
Students do not need a job offer already lined up to benefit from this week’s event. The organisers have built three specific access points for them.
Workforce Development Pavilion
This 360 sqm dedicated zone inside the exhibition runs mentorship sessions and training on the full fab process — from design through fabrication to packaging. It is the most direct place for a student to talk to industry professionals about entry-level roles and required skills.
Student Hackathon
Lam Research India, in partnership with the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at IISc, is running a Student Hackathon that challenges students from partner institutes to solve real, industry-defined semiconductor problems. It is designed to bridge the gap between classroom training and what fabs and design houses actually need.
Startup Pitch and Innovation Showcase
For students leaning toward entrepreneurship rather than employment, the event includes a startup pitch competition and innovation showcase, giving early-stage semiconductor and deep-tech ideas visibility with investors and established companies.
Skills and Certifications Employers Want
Recruiters hiring for India’s semiconductor build-out are consistently looking for a specific mix of technical skills, regardless of which career path a student picks:
- Proficiency in VLSI design tools (Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics) for design-track roles.
- Working knowledge of semiconductor physics and cleanroom protocols for fabrication-track roles.
- Embedded C, RTOS fundamentals, and hardware-software integration for embedded roles.
- Statistical process control and quality inspection methods for ATMP and packaging roles.
- Familiarity with AI-assisted chip design tools, which are increasingly used to speed up layout and verification.
Short, focused certifications in VLSI design or semiconductor fabrication — offered by platforms like FutureSkills Prime, NASSCOM, and individual fab companies — are increasingly valued alongside a formal degree, especially for students from non-semiconductor-specific engineering branches who want to pivot into the sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When and where is Semicon India 2026 taking place?
Ans.Semicon India 2026 runs from September 17 to 19, 2026, at the Yashobhoomi convention centre in New Delhi, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Q. Can students attend Semicon India 2026 without a job offer?
Ans. Yes. The event includes a dedicated Workforce Development Pavilion, a Student Hackathon run with IISc’s CeNSE and Lam Research India, and an innovation showcase, all designed for students to explore careers and connect with recruiters.
Q. How many semiconductor jobs is India expected to create by 2026?
Ans.The government and industry estimates put the target at around 1 million semiconductor jobs by the end of 2026, split roughly between chip fabrication, ATMP (assembly, testing, marking and packaging), and design or software roles.
Q. Which engineering branches are best suited for a semiconductor career?
Ans. Electronics and communication engineering is the most direct route, but chemical engineering, materials science, computer science, and mechanical engineering graduates are also being hired across fabrication, embedded software, and equipment roles.
Q. What is Semicon 2.0 and how does it affect students?
Ans. Semicon 2.0 is a government scheme announced on July 15, 2026, with an outlay of about INR 1.275 trillion for chip design, fabrication, packaging, and talent development. It is directly funding the new fabs, design centres, and training programmes that are creating entry-level openings for engineering graduates.
Conclusion / Next Steps
If you’re an engineering student thinking about a career in semiconductors, it’s worth keeping an eye on Semicon India 2026 in New Delhi this week, even if you can’t attend in person. Updates from the Workforce Development Pavilion and the student hackathon could give you an idea of future hiring and training opportunities. You can also start exploring semiconductor-focused degrees or certifications based on your interests, such as chip design, semiconductor manufacturing, or embedded software. Keep checking for updates as more companies share their campus hiring plans around the event.