Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme

UPSC Reference Category: GS Paper III – Science & Technology | Semiconductors | Innovation

Objective

The Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme aims to create an indigenous semiconductor/chip-design ecosystem in India.

Ministry

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

Launched

2022

Major Objectives

  • Train students and professionals in chip design.
  • Develop semiconductor design capabilities.
  • Encourage academic institutions to undertake chip-design projects.
  • Develop:
    • ASICs
    • SoCs
    • IP cores
    • Chip prototypes.

By January 2026, more than 1 lakh people had enrolled, around 67,000 had been trained, and 56 student-designed chips had been fabricated, packaged and delivered through the programme's ecosystem.

Key Pointer

C2S → MeitY → semiconductor design → students/start-ups → indigenous chip ecosystem

Prelims Trap: C2S is primarily focused on chip design and human-resource development, not merely semiconductor fabrication.