Gaurav Gupta meets LG Manoj Sinha, seeks fast-track J&K Semiconductor Policy

• Semiconductor policy key to youth employment in J&K: Gaurav

SRINAGAR: BJP spokesperson and Convenor, International Affairs, Gaurav Gupta on Tuesday met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar and urged the administration to expedite the proposed J&K Semiconductor Policy, stating that the initiative could become a major milestone for employment generation, industrial growth and technological advancement in Jammu and Kashmir.

During the meeting, Gupta submitted a detailed representation and referred to the comprehensive draft proposal submitted in January 2026 by the Directorate of Industries and Commerce  regarding the semiconductor policy framework for the Union Territory. He also informed the Lieutenant Governor that he had earlier projected the importance of establishing a semiconductor ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir before the administration and consistently advocated for a future-ready technology policy for the UT.

Gupta said the semiconductor sector has emerged as one of the most strategic and future-oriented industries globally, driving innovation in artificial intelligence, 5G communications, automobiles, defence systems, medical devices and advanced electronics.

He highlighted that recent global chip shortages and increasing geopolitical competition have reinforced the need for India to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. Gupta said Jammu and Kashmir must proactively position itself in this rapidly growing sector to ensure long-term economic development and technological progress.

Gupta informed the Lieutenant Governor that the proposed policy seeks to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a globally competitive hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing and allied value-chain activities. He said the policy aims to attract high-value investments, strengthen industrial infrastructure, promote innovation and create meaningful employment opportunities for local youth.

Emphasizing the importance of youth empowerment, Gupta said the semiconductor industry could open new avenues for engineers, technicians, software professionals, researchers and skilled workers in Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that the proposed policy includes dedicated skill incentives for companies employing local youth, which would help create a highly skilled workforce in the Union Territory.

He further stated that the draft policy proposes several fiscal incentives to attract investors, including standalone capital assistance from the UT government in addition to Government of India incentives, interest subsidy support on term loans, concessional land allotment, waiver on stamp duty, reimbursement on industrial power tariffs and concessional water supply for semiconductor units.

Gupta also highlighted the proposed non-fiscal incentives under the policy, including uninterrupted power and water supply, open access to electricity procurement and support for renewable energy integration to ensure smooth industrial operations.

The BJP leader said the draft framework also proposes the establishment of a dedicated Policy Implementation Unit (PIU) under the Directors of Industries and Commerce, Jammu and Kashmir, and an Empowered Committee for ensuring effective implementation, faster approvals and seamless inter-departmental coordination for investors.

Referring to the January 2026 communication issued by the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Jammu, Gupta said preliminary estimates projected that the policy could facilitate investments worth thousands of crores over the next decade depending on the scale of projects established in J&K. He said such investments could significantly boost employment generation and industrial development in the Union Territory.

Gupta expressed confidence that under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Jammu and Kashmir can emerge as a progressive, investment-friendly and future-ready destination for advanced technology industries.

Gupta also highlighted the rapid expansion of semiconductor infrastructure across India under the India Semiconductor Mission, stating that Gujarat has emerged as the country’s largest semiconductor hub with Micron Technology’s ATMP facility at Sanand already commencing commercial production, while Tata Electronics’ Rs 91,000 crore semiconductor fabrication plant at Dholera is being developed as India’s first major chip fab in partnership with global technology leaders.

He further referred to semiconductor expansion projects in Assam, including Tata Electronics’ OSAT facility at Jagiroad, as well as emerging semiconductor investments in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Odisha, saying these developments demonstrate how different states are aggressively positioning themselves in the high-tech manufacturing sector. Gupta stressed that Jammu and Kashmir must act proactively to become part of India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem and leverage the proposed policy to attract investment, generate employment and create future-ready opportunities for local youth.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha gave a patient hearing to the issues raised by Gaurav Gupta and appreciated the emphasis on future-ready industries, employment generation and technology-driven growth for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. The Lieutenant Governor has repeatedly stressed the importance of manufacturing expansion, electronics, Artificial Intelligence and semiconductor advancement under India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 while advocating future-ready infrastructure and industrial development in J&K.