Design Linked Incentive Scheme: 24 chip design projects, 16 tape-outs so far
A PIB backgrounder on 4 January 2026 said MeitY's Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme under the Semicon India Programme supports 24 chip design projects, which have achieved 16 tape-outs, 6 ASIC chips and 10 patents.
Summary
A PIB backgrounder released on 4 January 2026 reviewed the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) under the Semicon India Programme to build a self-reliant fabless chip design ecosystem. The scheme supports 24 chip design projects in sectors such as video surveillance, drone detection, energy metering, microprocessors, satellite communications and IoT systems-on-chip. DLI-supported projects have achieved 16 tape-outs, 6 ASIC chips and 10 patents, engaged over 1,000 engineers and leveraged more than three times private investment; chip design contributes up to 50% of semiconductor value addition.
Key facts
- Scheme
- Design Linked Incentive (DLI), MeitY
- Programme
- Semicon India Programme
- Projects
- 24 chip design projects
- Outputs
- 16 tape-outs; 6 ASIC chips; 10 patents; 1,000+ engineers
- Investment
- Over 3× private investment leveraged
- Why design
- Up to 50% of semiconductor value addition
Practice MCQs 3 questions
The Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme for semiconductor chip design is implemented by which ministry?
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Correct answer: A — Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
PIB backgrounder: the DLI Scheme is implemented by MeitY under the Semicon India Programme.
As per PIB's January 2026 backgrounder, how many chip design projects are supported under the DLI Scheme?
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Correct answer: C — 24
PIB backgrounder: 24 DLI-supported chip design projects target strategic sectors; 16 tape-outs, 6 ASICs and 10 patents have been achieved.
Consider the following statements about the Design Linked Incentive Scheme as reported in January 2026: 1. It is part of the Semicon India Programme. 2. DLI-supported projects have achieved 16 tape-outs. 3. The scheme mainly funds the construction of semiconductor fabrication plants. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB backgrounder: DLI is under the Semicon India Programme and its projects have achieved 16 tape-outs. It supports fabless chip design, not fab construction, so statement 3 is wrong.