India could see its own Indian-designed smartphones enter the market by 2028, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday, outlining the government’s ambition to build globally competitive domestic mobile brands.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit in New Delhi, Vaishnaw said India was working towards an “Apple and Samsung moment” in the smartphone industry. He said future devices would be designed, manufactured and branded in India.
“This is 23 October 2026. Please note it: 23 October 2028. You will have Indian-designed, Indian-manufactured, Indian-branded mobile phones,” the minister said.
The target signals an ambition to expand India’s electronics manufacturing capabilities beyond production for established international brands. Developing domestic smartphone brands would also require expertise in product design, engineering and component integration.
Indian-designed smartphones pose complex engineering challenges
Vaishnaw highlighted the technical complexity involved in designing a smartphone, citing the need to integrate multiple advanced components within a compact device.
These include radio frequency communication systems, antennas, processors, memory, camera modules, displays, passive components and power management systems.
Designers must ensure that these components work together while managing the device’s weight, power efficiency and physical dimensions.
“That’s why it’s extremely complex to design a mobile phone,” Vaishnaw said, describing the engineering challenges involved in fitting the required technologies into a small form factor.
His remarks highlighted the importance of developing domestic capabilities in product engineering alongside manufacturing infrastructure. Building a competitive smartphone brand requires the integration of hardware, power management, communications and other technologies into a commercially viable device.
Government push for domestic smartphone design
Vaishnaw said efforts to strengthen India’s mobile design capabilities began several years ago, when the government challenged Indian engineers and technology firms to develop printed circuit board (PCB) designs.
“Three years back we gave this challenge to Indian designers: why can’t you design the PCB, which is the motherboard of a mobile phone?” he said.
PCBs connect and support electronic components, making them a fundamental part of smartphone hardware. Developing expertise in PCB design can contribute to broader capabilities in electronic product engineering.
The minister’s comments indicate that domestic design is a key part of India’s ambitions for the electronics sector. While manufacturing has expanded in recent years, creating Indian-branded smartphones will require companies to develop their own products and establish market recognition.
India targets globally competitive mobile brands by 2028
The 2028 timeline set out by Vaishnaw places domestic smartphone design and branding among the country’s electronics industry ambitions.
The proposed devices would combine Indian design, manufacturing and branding, rather than relying solely on manufacturing products developed by overseas companies.
However, the minister’s remarks did not identify specific companies, planned smartphone models or production targets. The announcement outlined the government’s ambition, while the commercial success of Indian brands will depend on their ability to develop competitive products and meet consumer expectations.
The initiative would mark a further step in India’s effort to build capabilities across the electronics value chain, from component design to finished consumer devices.
