In a recent development, Tata Electronics has overtaken Foxconn to become the largest contract manufacturer for Apple in India. The company now employs around 75,000 workers in India, which is a huge jump from just 15,000 only two years ago. This rapid growth shows how quickly Indian firms are stepping up and taking big roles in global supply chains, something that seemed almost impossible a decade ago.
Earlier, foreign companies like Foxconn from Taiwan were leading the work of making iPhones and electronic gadgets in India. They had the experience, the technology, and the workforce. But now, an Indian homegrown company, Tata Electronics, has quietly moved ahead by hiring more people and expanding its factories, especially in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. This is not just one company winning a race. It is a strong signal that India's electronics sector is becoming truly self-reliant and globally competitive.
While Tata is racing ahead, Foxconn is also making history in India through its massive Karnataka expansion. The Taiwanese giant's facility, spread over nearly 300 acres at Devanahalli near Bengaluru with an investment of around ₹20,000 crore, aims to increase employment to 50,000 by 2026 as output grows. The plant is designed to be one of Foxconn's largest in India, focusing on high-volume Apple iPhone manufacturing with a target of producing nearly 20 million units every year. The Karnataka high-level committee has cleared this major investment proposal, giving the project full government backing.
What makes this expansion truly special is its strong focus on women workers. Women make up around 80 per cent of the overall workforce at the iPhone manufacturing unit, with six weeks of prior training provided to all workers before deployment on the shopfloor.
“The factory accounts for over 80 per cent of iPhone production meant for exports, firmly placing Karnataka inside Apple's global supply chain. Even big projects face small bumps. In late 2025 and early 2026, a minor dispute arose when the Koyira Gram Panchayat issued a notice to Foxconn accusing the company of unpaid local property taxes, building norm violations, and failure to provide enough jobs to local residents.
The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) quickly stepped in to resolve the matter. In a letter dated February 2, 2026, KIADB confirmed it is the official authority for industrial property taxes in the Devanahalli Special Investment Region, ensuring smooth tax compliance while protecting local interests. The state government dismissed it as a small issue and moved on quickly,” pointed out Girish Linganna, space and defence analyst and Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Limited, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany.
The numbers behind India's electronics story are equally interesting. India's electronics exports have hit a brand-new record of nearly $48 billion in the last financial year, compared to around $38.5 billion the year before. Smartphones are leading this charge, and Apple's suppliers based in India have played a huge role in pushing these figures higher.
What is even more exciting is the changing equation with China. Apple's vendors in India exported $2.5 billion worth of electronic components to China this fiscal year, and this figure is expected to touch $3.5 billion by year-end. In simple words, India is no longer just buying parts from China to assemble products. Instead, India is now selling high-quality components back to China. Such a reverse flow of trade was almost unthinkable just a few years ago.
“Big suppliers like Tata Electronics, Foxconn, Pegatron, Motherson, and others are now making printed circuit boards, phone housings, and other important parts that are being shipped to China. Earlier, the picture was opposite, where China used to send parts to India for assembly. Today, the direction has reversed, all because of better technology, skilled manpower, and improved local production,” added Linganna.
Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has highlighted that this remarkable growth is the result of smart government schemes like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) and the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). These programmes reward companies that manufacture in India by giving financial benefits and policy support. Kant said exporting components to China at this scale was unimaginable when the smartphone PLI scheme was first launched. It clearly proves these policies are working effectively.
For everyday Indians, this electronics boom means much more than just headlines. It means more jobs, better salaries, and new skill-building opportunities. Young engineers and technicians are finding rewarding work in modern, well-equipped plants. Families across small towns are getting steady incomes. Women, in particular, are stepping into industrial roles like never before, breaking old barriers in places like Devanahalli and Hosur.
Experts point out that challenges do remain. India continues to import more electronics than it exports, and there is a long way to go in semiconductor and chip manufacturing. But the overall direction is clearly positive. Tata's rise, Foxconn's Karnataka mega plant, the women-led workforce, record exports, and component shipments to China are powerful signals of a flourishing electronics industry.
