Singapore & Semiconductors
Focus: India’s growing interest in semiconductor manufacturing, geo-economic and geo-strategic collaboration with Singapore.
Context of PM Modi’s Visit
- Significance: Part of India’s larger diplomatic and economic strategy in the East Asia region.
- Brunei Visit: Important for bilateral ties in sectors like defence, culture, and energy.
- Singapore Visit: Focused on strengthening ties in semiconductors, digital tech, and healthcare.
India’s Push for Semiconductors
- Critical Importance:
- Semiconductors are key to modern electronics, including mobile phones, automobiles, etc.
- COVID-19 and geopolitical disruptions (like Taiwan Strait tensions) underscored the need for a stable semiconductor supply.
- Indian Semiconductor Mission:
- Launched in 2021 with ₹76,000 crore support for capital expenditure.
- approved semiconductor-related policies with incentives.
- Cabinet Decision: Approval for five semiconductor units in India.
Singapore’s Chip Story
- Early Mover: Singapore was a pioneer in semiconductors under the leadership of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
- Strength:
- Advanced infrastructure for R&D, assembly, testing, and packaging of semiconductors.
- Highly skilled workforce and integrated industry.
- Semiconductor exports account for a large portion of Singapore’s GNP (nearly a quarter in 1973).
- Today, Singapore produces 11% of the global semiconductor output.
China Rivalry & Singapore’s Role
- Investment from Taiwanese Companies:
- Taiwan’s United Microelectronics (UMC) set up a $5 billion fab plant in 2022.
- GlobalFoundries invested $4 billion in a manufacturing plant in Singapore in 2023.
- NKP Semiconductors and TSMC-backed Vanguard International announced a $7.8 billion joint venture in June 2024.
Challenges and Opportunities for India
- Singapore’s Leadership:
- Specializes in advanced technology (28 nm and below).
- Produces equipment needed for high-end chips (used in AI, high-performance computing).
- India’s Goals:
- Leverage collaboration for semiconductor production and workforce training.
- Address challenges like the absence of large indigenous fabs and sophisticated equipment manufacturing.
- Opportunities:
- Expand India’s semiconductor manufacturing base.
Use Singapore’s model of skilled labor and advanced tech to learn important lessons for India’s growing semiconductor industry.
Swachh Bharat Mission and its Impact on Infant Mortality
Key Findings:
- Infant Deaths Averted:
- The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) helped avert 60,000 to 70,000 infant deaths annually between 2014 and 2020.
- The data is from a study published in Nature.
Swachh Bharat Mission:
- Launched: October 2, 2014.
- Achievement: Over 11 crore (110 million) household toilets were built under the mission.
- Focus: Improving access to toilets and better sanitation services across India.
Impact on Infant Mortality:
- Decrease in Infant Mortality Rates (IMR):
- Kerala: 50%
- Telangana: 38.23%
- Bihar: 35.71%
- Andhra Pradesh: 35.13%
- J&K: 34.61%
- Delhi: 33.33%
- Karnataka: 32.14%
- Tamil Nadu: 31.57%
Sources:
- Data between 2015 and 2020.
Collected from the Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletins, Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI).
Law commission: Infographic
