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At Semicon India 2025 held recently, the Prime Minister declared, “when the chips are down, you can bet on India”.  The event showcased the country’s first indigenous microprocessor, Vikram, developed by ISRO’s Semiconductor Lab, and announced that commercial chip production will begin by the end of 2025. India aims to become a global player in semiconductor production, and build self-reliance in a world where global supply chains are shifting rapidly. 

Why Semiconductors Matter

Semiconductors power almost everything around us, from laptops and air conditioners to cars and even the tiniest gadget we hardly notice . They’ve rightly been called the “oil of the digital age” because our entire digital world depends on them. But the global supply chain for chips is heavily concentrated. Taiwan alone makes over 60% of the world’s semiconductors and nearly 90% of the most advanced ones. Rising tensions between China and Taiwan have only shown how fragile and risky this dependence can be for the rest of the world. For India, building its own semiconductor base is not just about technology, it is about economic security and reduced dependence on imports.

India’s Push: The Numbers and Projects

The government has committed nearly US$18 billion across 10 projects, making it one of the country’s largest industrial bets in decades. Under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, ₹76,000 crore (about US$9.1 billion) was set aside, of which most has already been allocated.

Key developments include:

• Vikram processor – developed at ISRO’s Semiconductor Lab, fabricated on 180nm technology.
• CG Power facility in Sanand, Gujarat – launched in 2024, scaling chip assembly and testing.
• Micron’s investment – ₹22,500+ crore in Gujarat for packaging and testing.
• Tata Electronics–PSMC partnership – ₹91,000 crore tie-up with Taiwan’s Powerchip for fabs.

The domestic market, valued at US$38 billion in 2023, is expected to touch US$100–110 billion by 2030 if growth sustains.

The Technology Gap

While the Vikram chip, a 32 bit microprocessor, is a proud milestone, it highlights the technology gap  India faces. The chip was fabricated using a 180nm CMOS process, a process that was cutting-edge back in the early 2000s. Today, companies like TSMC and Samsung are already producing 3nm chips for smartphones and AI servers, whereas those like Nvidia and Apple have developed chips 2ith 64-bit processing capabilities.

This means India's main focus, to become self-reliant in the mature end of the spectrum useful for space, defense, and automotives and electronics, is far from the global cutting edge. Bridging this gap will require both time and deep technical expertise.

Talent and Design Strengths

On the positive side, India already contributes around 20% of global semiconductor design talent. Two advanced design centers—one in Noida and another in Bengaluru—are working on 3nm designs. The government’s Design Linked Incentive scheme has cleared 20+ projects to nurture startups in chip design.

Over 60,000 engineers have been trained under various programs, but scaling this to the hundreds of thousands needed for fabs remains a challenge. Unlike software development, semiconductor fabrication demands highly specialised skills in process engineering, yield optimization, and supply chain logistics.

Lessons from Global Players

Countries like Taiwan, South Korea, and the US didn’t build their chip industries overnight. Taiwan’s TSMC spent decades and billions of dollars mastering yield rates and building trust with clients. The US recently passed the CHIPS and Science Act to revive domestic production, while the EU has its own Chips Act. Japan, too, has pledged billions, including ¥10 trillion in cooperation with India.

These examples show that success depends not just on funding , but also on harmony between government and private players, consistent execution, ecosystem building, and global partnerships.

The Challenges Ahead

India’s ambitions face several hurdles:

• Capital intensity – A single leading-edge fab costs US$10–20 billion, and requires constant upgrades.
• Supply chain complexity – Hundreds of chemicals, gases, and precision tools are needed, many of which India doesn’t yet produce domestically.
• Technology transfer – Advanced lithography machines (from ASML in the Netherlands, for example) are tightly controlled and not easily available.
• Execution risks – Moving from announcements to commercially viable fabs with competitive yields is where many countries have stumbled.

The Way Forward

India has big ambitions in the field of semi-conductor design and manufacturing, with the goal of becoming a major  global exporter instead of importer. The country appears to be adopting a step-by-step approach, starting with assembly, testing, and mature-node fabs, while simultaneously investing in design, research, and talent. Every successful global power in this industry first mastered older nodes before advancing to cutting-edge levels.

At the same time, international collaborations with players like Micron, Tata-PSMC, and Japan will be critical for technology transfer and capacity building. If India can combine its engineering talent, rising domestic demand, and government backing with the PLI scheme, and drive global collaborations, the outlook can be promising. 

Conclusion

India’s semiconductor story is just beginning, but the direction is clear. The Vikram processor and investment announcement at Semicon 2025 shows the intent of the government. The hard part now lies ahead: moving from prototypes to large-scale production and globally competitive fabs in an industry that demands substantial investment, flawless execution, and years of patience.

Yet the stakes couldn’t be higher. Semiconductors will shape the future of economies and national security . If India plays its cards right by nurturing talent, innovating and researching, and driving global partnerships,  the dream of becoming a global semiconductor hub may well move from ambition to reality.

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References 

• https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/when-chips-are-down-bet-on-india-pm-narendra-modis-big-semiconductor-push-6539317 
• https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/what-is-vikram-32-bit-chip-presented-to-pm-modi-at-semicon-india-2025-2780582-2025-09-02#
• https://www.visionofhumanity.org/the-worlds-dependency-on-taiwans-semiconductor-industry-is-increasing/ 
• https://m.economictimes.com/tech/artificial-intelligence/tata-electronics-and-powerchip-semiconductor-manufacturing-corporation-to-build-indias-first-semiconductor-fab/articleshow/113694273.cms 
• https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/10-trillion-yen-in-10-years-japan-pledges-big-investment-in-india-125082901564_1.html 
• https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2023/06/vulnerabilities-in-the-semiconductor-supply-chain_f4de7491/6bed616f-en.pdf 
• https://techwireasia.com/2025/09/semiconductor-india-commercial-production-2025/ 

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There has been a struggle to create legal frameworks that can define where free speech ends and harmful misinformation begins, specifically in democratic societies where the right to free expression is a fundamental value.  Platforms like YouTube, Wikipedia, and Facebook have gained a huge consumer base by focusing on hosting user-generated content. This content includes anything a visitor puts on a website or social media pages. 

The legal and ethical landscape surrounding misinformation is dependent on creating a fine balance between freedom of speech and expression while protecting public interests, such as truthfulness and social stability. This blog is focused on examining the legal risks of misinformation, specifically user-generated content, and the accountability of platforms in moderating and addressing it.

The Rise of Misinformation and Platform Dynamics

Misinformation content is amplified by using algorithmic recommendations and social sharing mechanisms. The intent of spreading false information is closely interwoven with the assessment of user data to identify target groups necessary to place targeted political advertising. The disseminators of fake news have benefited from social networks to reach more people, and from the technology that enables faster distribution and can make it more difficult to distinguish fake from hard news.

Multiple challenges emerge that are unique to social media platforms regulating misinformation while balancing freedom of speech and expression and user engagement. The scale at which content is created and published, the different regulatory standards, and moderating misinformation without infringing on freedom of expression complicate moderation policies and practices.

The impacts of misinformation on social, political, and economic consequences, influencing public opinion, electoral outcomes, and market behaviours underscore the urgent  need for effective regulation, as the consequences of inaction can be profound and far-reaching.

Legal Frameworks and Evolving Accountability Standards

Safe harbour principles allow for the functioning of a free, open and borderless internet. This principle is embodied under the US Communications Decency Act and the Information Technology Act in Sections 230 and 79 respectively.  They play a pivotal role in facilitating the growth and development of the Internet. The legal framework governing misinformation around the world is still in nascent stages. Section 230 of the CDA protects platforms from legal liability relating to harmful content posted on their sites by third parties. It further allows platforms to police their sites for harmful content and protects them from liability if they choose not to.

By granting exemptions to intermediaries, these safe harbour provisions help nurture an online environment that fosters free speech and enables users to freely express themselves without arbitrary intrusions.

A shift in regulations has been observed in recent times. An example is the enactment of the Digital Services Act of 2022 in the European Union.  The Act requires companies having at least 45 million monthly users to create systems to control the spread of misinformation, hate speech and terrorist propaganda, among other things. If not followed through, they risk penalties of up to 6% of the global annual revenue or even a ban in EU countries.

Challenges and Risks for Platforms

There are multiple challenges and risks faced by platforms that surround user-generated misinformation. 

• Moderating user-generated misinformation is a big challenge, primarily because of the quantity of data in question and the speed at which it is generated. It further leads to legal liabilities, operational costs and reputational risks.   
• Platforms can face potential backlash, both in instances of over-moderation or under-moderation. It can be considered as censorship, often overburdening. It can also be considered as insufficient governance in cases where the level of moderation is not protecting the privacy rights of users. 
• Another challenge is more in the technical realm, including the  limitations of AI and algorithmic moderation in detecting nuanced misinformation. It holds out to the need for human oversight to sift through the misinformation that is created by AI-generated content.  

Policy Approaches: Tackling Misinformation through Accountability and Future Outlook

Regulatory approaches to misinformation each present distinct strengths and weaknesses. Government-led regulation establishes clear standards but may risk censorship, while self-regulation offers flexibility yet often lacks accountability. The Indian framework, including the IT Act and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023, aims to enhance data-sharing oversight and strengthen accountability. Establishing clear definitions of misinformation and fostering collaborative oversight involving government and independent bodies can balance platform autonomy with transparency. Additionally, promoting international collaborations and innovative AI moderation solutions is essential for effectively addressing misinformation, especially given its cross-border nature and the evolving expectations of users in today’s digital landscape.

Conclusion

A balance between protecting free speech and safeguarding public interest is needed to navigate the legal risks of user-generated misinformation poses. As digital platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Wikipedia continue to host vast amounts of user content, accountability measures are essential to mitigate the harms of misinformation. Establishing clear definitions and collaborative oversight can enhance transparency and build public trust. Furthermore, embracing innovative moderation technologies and fostering international partnerships will be vital in addressing this cross-border challenge. As we advance, the commitment to creating a responsible digital environment must remain a priority to ensure the integrity of information in our increasingly interconnected world.

References

• https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-digital-platform-owners-be-held-liable-for-user-generated-content/article68609693.ece
• https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-digital-platform-owners-be-held-liable-for-user-generated-content/article68609693.ece 
• https://hbr.org/2021/08/its-time-to-update-section-230 
• https://www.cnbctv18.com/information-technology/deepfakes-digital-india-act-safe-harbour-protection-information-technology-act-sajan-poovayya-19255261.htm 

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The Emerging Landscape of AI-Enabled Sign Language Technologies 

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Consumer technology has been moving in a single, steady direction for decades: machines are getting increasingly sensitive to human speech. The phone transcribes what we say into it. An algorithm responds to a question we ask. With just one tap, we can translate across languages. However, sign language, one of the most essential forms of human expression, has largely escaped this change for millions of Deaf and hard-of-hearing people. At last, that omission may finally be narrowing. 

For the first time, sign language recognition is now widely available in consumer goods thanks to Google DeepMind’s massively multilingual sign language-to-text model. Starting with American Sign Language to English, the technology currently powers sign-to-text dictation within Gboard and Live Transcribe on Pixel 11. Additional devices and languages are promised. In addition to using Live Transcribe to sign during live conversations, users can sign anywhere they would normally type, such as while conducting a web search, writing a message or interacting with an AI assistant. However, this development’s importance goes far beyond a single accessibility function. 

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Reimagining How We connect with Technology

The most noteworthy is a conceptual change, sign language is starting to be recognised as a valid interface for human-computer interaction in and of itself , rather than as a modality that technology can accept. Because sign languages are not spoken languages that are represented by hand, this distinction is important. The hands, arms, torso, head and facial expressions all simultaneously convey meaning in these independent natural languages, which have their own grammar, vocabulary and syntax. Compared to traditional voice recognition, this presents a far more complex computing task. 

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In terms of architecture, the model does not keep raw video instead, it processes pose landmark sequences. The original footage may be destroyed while an on-device mechanism tracks locations on the signer’s body and transmits only geometric coordinates for translation. Instead than using intermediate “gloss” representations, which sometimes lose the spatial and non-manual components crucial to meaning, translation happens directly. Accessibility and privacy meet at this point, a technology designed to grant independence shouldn’t require the surrender of personal biometric information in return. 

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The Indian question is larger than ASL

A more significant concern for India is raised by this development, whose sign language will artificial intelligence eventually comprehend? It is not possible to import an ASL-to-English model and claim it to be a solution. The linguistic architecture, communities and regional variations of Indian Sign Language are unique. ISL recognition and its translation into Hindi, Telugu and Bengali are the subject of an expanding amount of study yet this same research openly highlights the shortcomings of existing systems including limited vocabularies, isolated word recognition and noticeable sensitivity to individual signing style. 

This is not a coincidental distinction. Benchmark accuracy alone cannot be used to gauge inclusive AI; instead, it must be effective under typical circumstances for a variety of individuals, geographical locations and sign languages. It is clear from research on low resource sign languages that over three hundred sign languages are still woefully under-resourced and under-documented. A growing body of research supports signer-adaptive modelling, privacy preserving representations, community co-design and dialectical variety preservation. Therefore, making data collecting, engagement and design more truly inclusive may be the next real advancement rather than further scaling models. 

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A Legal Architecture already in place

India’s statutory framework offers a firm foundation for this trajectory. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 defines universal design broadly enough to include cutting edge technologies and assistive devices. It is based on the ideals of equality, dignity, participation and accessibility. Information and communication technology access is specifically covered by Section 42, which requires captioning, sign language interpretation, accessible electronic content and universal design in common electronic products. In this context, accessible AI is an issue of statutory rights rather than technological generosity. This stance is supported by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which addresses accessibility in Article 9 and information access and freedom of speech in Article 21. As a result, the central policy topic is changing  from whether technology should be made accessible to how accessibility should be incorporated from the start.

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Beyond sign-to-text

Beyond Transcription, Google has expressed aspirations for more sign languages, sign language production and expanded AI capabilities. Future architecture could be imagined as running along a continuous circuit that connects sign, text, speech and AI in both directions rather than just from sign to text. A consumer could deal with a bank without completely relying on an interpreter; a student could learn in her favourite language; or someone could sign a question to an assistant and could get an answer in generated sign language. However , there are still important unanswered questions about this future, such as who owns the data used to train these systems, how signers’ meaningful consent is obtained, how systematic misrecognition of specific communities is prevented and who is responsible when translation fails in an emergency, legal or medical setting. 

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The Real Measure of Inclusion

The mere fact that a machine has discovered something humans have long understood makes it easy to characterise innovations like these as breakthroughs. The most accurate way to put it is that technology becomes inclusive when individuals can use it without changing who they are or how they interact, not when it acknowledges more human behaviours. This means that India must continue to invest not only in models but also in Indian Sign Language databases, community-led research, accessibility standards and the meaningful involvement of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing populations in both design and evaluation. The ability of a system to detect a hand gesture will not define the future of accessible AI. 

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References

• https://aclanthology.org/2025.wslp-main.5/ 
• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (Act No 49 of 2016), s 42.  
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (adopted 13 December 2006, entered into force 3 May 2008) 2515 UNTS 3, art 9.

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