Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has made a significant announcement regarding India's technological ambitions, revealing that the country is poised to launch its own indigenous smartphone brands within the next 12 to 18 months. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026, the minister emphasized that the government has completed all necessary groundwork to make this vision a reality.
Government Completes Homework for Indigenous Mobile Brands
Vaishnaw stated, "Now we have a very substantial electronics ecosystem in our country. This is the time when we will be going for getting our own Indian brands in mobile phones. We have done all the homework that is required to be done." The minister highlighted that India's electronics manufacturing infrastructure has reached a level of maturity that now supports the creation of homegrown smartphone brands that can compete globally.
Ecosystem Meetings and Component Manufacturing Progress
The IT minister detailed recent progress, noting that the government has held extensive meetings with component manufacturers and other stakeholders in the electronics ecosystem. "Today and yesterday, we had significant meetings with the entire ecosystem, which produces the thousands of things that are required to go into a mobile phone," Vaishnaw explained. He described these developments as "very happy, very satisfying progress" that positions India favorably for launching its own smartphone brands.
Vaishnaw projected a clear timeline for this initiative, stating, "Very soon, maybe another one year from now, or maybe maximum 18 months from now, we should have our own Indian brands coming out." This announcement marks a strategic shift from India's current position as primarily a manufacturing hub for international brands to becoming an originator of globally competitive smartphone brands.
AI Discussions with Global Tech Leaders at WEF
During the World Economic Forum, Minister Vaishnaw also engaged in significant discussions about artificial intelligence with prominent global technology leaders. He met with Google DeepMind CEO and co-founder Demis Hassabis, who later expressed optimism about the collaboration on social media platform X.
Hassabis wrote, "Great to meet you Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw. Really enjoyed our discussion on AI's incredible potential to benefit humanity & India's important role in realising this." The Google DeepMind CEO confirmed his participation in an upcoming New Delhi summit to further these important conversations about artificial intelligence development and implementation.
OpenAI Engagement and AI Policy Framework
Vaishnaw also hosted Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer of OpenAI, to discuss "AI for global good." These meetings focused on encouraging active participation from both organizations in India's upcoming policy frameworks for artificial intelligence. The discussions emphasized how India can play a crucial role in shaping responsible AI development that benefits humanity while addressing ethical considerations.
The minister's engagements at the World Economic Forum demonstrate India's dual focus on both hardware innovation through indigenous smartphone development and software leadership through strategic artificial intelligence partnerships. This comprehensive approach positions India as an emerging technology powerhouse with ambitions spanning both device manufacturing and cutting-edge software development.
India's electronics manufacturing sector has grown substantially in recent years, with numerous international brands establishing production facilities in the country. The government's new initiative aims to build upon this foundation to create Indian-owned brands that can capture both domestic and international market share. This move represents a significant step in India's journey toward technological self-reliance and global competitiveness in the consumer electronics space.
