NDTV reports that two or three Indian firms, in partnership with the Ministry, are already drafting the supply chain for a 100‑percent domestically sourced smartphone.
India now exports roughly ₹35,000 crore of mobile components to China, a reversal of the decade‑long import trend that has kept manufacturers like Apple and Samsung dependent on foreign parts.
The Ministry’s three‑fold plan covers component fabrication, full‑scale assembly, and an entirely Indian design phase, aiming to replace the current model of overseas design and partial local assembly.
The device will run Android, sit three to four tiers below the iPhone in feature set, and will be priced to appeal to the average Indian consumer, according to a senior official.
The projected launch in late 2028 falls just months before the 2029 general election, giving the ruling party a tech‑driven narrative to spotlight during the campaign, a point raised by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
The Ministry has scheduled a televised unveiling for November 2028, after which the phone will enter pilot production in Bengaluru’s emerging electronics hub.