India, Feb. 27 -- India formally joined the Pax Silica grouping on February 20. India is deeply embedded in the design segment of the semiconductor supply chain, and hence India's presence in the grouping was anticipated. This membership will help Indian firms gain access to important markets and ease the flow of inputs such as chips, chip-making software, and manufacturing equipment. With this positive development, the sole determinant of India's success is the rate of implementation of semiconductor policy initiatives back home.

The latest Union budget identified semiconductors as one of the seven strategic and frontier sectors in which the government wants to strengthen India's manufacturing presence. To realise this vision, the budge...