Executive snapshot — scale & recent growth

• Electronics exports have jumped strongly: India’s electronic goods exports rose from US$29.12 billion (FY2023–24) to US$38.58 billion (FY2024–25) — a ~32.5% YoY increase (Government of India / Ministry of Commerce PIB).
• Non-smartphone electronics (solar panels, telecom equipment, medical electronics, batteries, chargers, etc.) contributed strongly to the growth — non-smartphone exports exceeded ~US$14 billion in FY24–25, per ESC/industry press reporting.
• The government is accelerating component manufacturing via large incentives: cabinet-approved plans and PLI-style measures (a March 2025 cabinet approval for ~US$2.7B incentives to boost electronic components manufacturing).

What India exports — component product mix & end markets

Major electrical & electronics component categories exported from India include:

• PCBs & PCB assemblies (PCBA) — rising domestic PCB capacity (large projects announced) and EMS (electronic manufacturing services) output.
• Passive & electromechanical components — connectors, switches, relays, fuses, cable harnesses.
• Power electronics & chargers/inverters/rectifiers — large export lines include chargers, adapters, inverters, rectifiers and power supplies. (Industry press & export reports show chargers/inverters as high-value items).
• Solar PV modules & BOS electronics (photovoltaic cells/modules-related electronics) — PV contributed materially to non-smartphone exports.
• Batteries & energy storage components — growing exports and domestic capacity (linked to EV and solar).
• Telecom equipment & networking parts, medical electronics, instrumentation — nascent but fast-growing categories for export.

Primary end markets: North America, Europe and Asia; specialized equipment (telecom, medical, solar) show diversified demand.

Regional clusters — who makes what

• Bengaluru / Hyderabad — engineering, R&D, sensors, semiconductor design/packaging services, some high-value PCBA and defence/electronics R&D. Bangalore’s deep talent pool supports design + higher-value modules.
• Chennai / Sriperumbudur / Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) — large EMS & automotive electronics production (harnesses, control modules), strong OEM adjacency and port access for exports.
• Noida / Gurugram / Greater Noida (NCR) — consumer electronics, power supplies, connectors, and many mid-size EMS houses serving northern markets.
• Pune (Maharashtra) — automotive electronics, power electronics, and PCB/assembly capacity close to auto clusters.
• Andhra Pradesh (new PCB hub) — large PCB investments (Syrma Group’s major PCB plant announced) strengthen PCB & subassembly supply for exports.

Quality, standards & certifications — why global buyers work with Indian suppliers

• ISO series (9001/14001/45001) and industry-specific accreditations are common among medium/large suppliers; IPC standards for PCBs/assemblies and UL/CE/IEC/RoHS compliance are required for exports to developed markets. Ask suppliers for certificate scopes and validity.
• Automotive electronics suppliers commonly hold IATF 16949 and follow PPAP/APQP/FMEA for OEM integration. This enables Indian suppliers to supply modules for global carmakers.
• For medical exports, expect ISO 13485 and regulatory dossiers (FDA/CE as applicable). For power and telecom equipment, EMC/EMI test reports and product safety certifications (UL/CB/CE) are expected.

India-specific competitive strengths

1. Rapidly scaling manufacturing base + policy tailwinds — PLI and recently announced component incentives aim to build local value-chains (budgeted programmes to boost domestic production and jobs). This is pulling foreign and domestic EMS & component investment into India.
2. Cost & labour arbitrage for mid-to-high volume parts — competitive labour and operating costs compared with many OECD producers make India attractive for labour-intensive assemblies and PCBs.
3. Growing tooling/PCB & EMS ecosystem — new large PCB fabs and expanding EMS footprints reduce lead times and increase vertical integration (tooling → PCB → assembly → testing).
4. Design & software talent — large electronics design and embedded-software workforce (Bengaluru/Hyderabad) helps suppliers move from pure manufacturing to design-for-manufacturing and higher value-add modules.

Key challenges & supply-risks (what buyers must watch)

• Semiconductor & specialised component dependence — India imports most semiconductors and many high-end passive/active components; global chip shortages or geopolitical sourcing restrictions can cause lead-time spikes. Government plans to incentivize chips locally, but fabrication scale-up will take years.
• Quality variance across MSMEs — many smaller suppliers lack advanced QMS and test labs; this raises risk for high-reliability products unless strict qualification and audits are enforced.
• Supply chain concentration — some raw materials and subcomponents are still sourced primarily from China and SEA; buyers should insist on transparency of second-tier supply base and dual-sourcing where possible.
• Logistics & import/export compliance — export documentation, HS classification for components, and compliance with RoHS/WEEE/REACH vary by buyer market — ensure suppliers provide test certificates and RoHS/REACH declarations.

Practical buyer checklist

1. Certificates: Request scanned copies and scope for ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 (if auto) / ISO 13485 (if medical) / IPC, UL/CE/CB as applicable.
2. Product test evidence: EMC/EMI reports, dielectric/hipot test, thermal tests, lifecycle tests, and RoHS/REACH declarations for components.
3. Supply map: Supplier must provide bill-of-materials (BOM) with second-tier suppliers for critical components (semiconductors, passives, connectors) and indicate alternate sources.
4. Process capability: SPC charts, Cp/Cpk for critical dimensions, ICT/X-ray/optical inspection for PCBA, AOI results, and failure rate data (PPM).
5. Testing / lab access: On-site CMM, environmental chambers, EMC lab or accredited third-party lab access; request recent test reports.
6. Traceability & traceback: Lot/batch coding, serialisation (if required), ESD controls and documented repair/rework policies.
7. Packaging & export readiness: Export packaging specs, ESD packaging, country-specific marking/labeling, and agreed Incoterm (FOB/CIF).
8. Audit & sample plan: Factory tour (virtual/physical), pilot runs, PPAP or product validation run with agreed metrics and failure thresholds.

Quick recommendations

• High-reliability / medical / aerospace: Prefer established Tier-1 Indian EMS/contract manufacturers in Bengaluru/Chennai/Pune with ISO 13485 / IATF and visible third-party test records.
• Cost-sensitive consumer & power electronics: Target NCR, Chennai and Andhra clusters (PCBs + EMS) — leverage new PCB capacity where possible to shorten lead times.
• Mitigate chip risk: Require BOM transparency and dual sourcing or safety stock clauses for semiconductors and critical passives. Track government component incentives — suppliers participating in incentive programs are likely to get priority investment.