India's Ambitious Push: Boosting Mobile Phone Exports with PLI 2.0

The Indian government is set to introduce a new round of production-linked incentives (PLI) to bolster mobile phone exports, insiders revealed to PTI. Expected by May, this initiative promises over USD 5 billion in funding as part of an effort to significantly increase smartphone exports.

The Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing, launched in 2020, previously targeted domestic mobile phone production. With the forthcoming PLI 2.0, authorities aim to double exports, although financial discussions with the finance ministry are still ongoing before final cabinet approval.

The previous scheme saw exports exceeding Rs 6.2 lakh crore as of February 2026, surpassing financial targets yet falling short on employment goals. Apple was a notable success under this initiative, highlighting both the potential and challenges of the PLI schemes.