India ready for its own global phone brands, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

India could soon have its own global smartphone brand comparable to Apple, according to Ashwini Vaishnaw, who made the statement on the sidelines of Davos2026.

Speaking about the rapid evolution of India’s electronics manufacturing sector, Vaishnaw said the country has reached a stage where it is ready to move beyond contract manufacturing and assembly, and towards building full-fledged Indian mobile phone brands.

“Now that 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,” the IT Minister said. He added that the government and industry have already completed much of the groundwork required to make this transition.

According to Vaishnaw, extensive discussions were held over the past two days with the entire electronics ecosystem — including companies that manufacture the thousands of components that go into a modern smartphone. These meetings, he said, reflect how deeply integrated India’s supply chain has become, spanning semiconductors, displays, batteries, camera modules, and precision components.

“It’s a very happy, very satisfying progress,” Vaishnaw noted, signalling confidence that Indian companies are now capable of designing, engineering, and branding their own devices, rather than relying solely on foreign brands.

He indicated that Indian smartphone brands with global ambitions could emerge within the next 12 to 18 months. “Very soon, maybe another one year from now, or maybe max 18 months from now, we should have our own Indian brands coming out,” he said.

The statement comes at a time when India has positioned itself as a major hub for electronics manufacturing, supported by production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, supply-chain localisation, and rising domestic demand. While global brands currently dominate India’s premium smartphone market, Vaishnaw’s comments suggest a strategic shift toward creating homegrown brands that can compete on design, quality, and innovation — not just cost.

If realised, an “Indian Apple” would mark a significant milestone in India’s technology journey, moving the country from being the world’s factory floor to a creator of globally recognised consumer technology brands.