Amitesh Kumar Sinha returns as CEO of India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)

Amitesh Kumar Sinha has been reappointed as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the India Semiconductor Mission, marking a key leadership change as the country gears up for the next phase of its semiconductor ambitions.

Sinha, who was earlier this month named Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), takes over from Sushil Pal, reentering a role he had previously held during an earlier phase of the mission's development.

Second phase of ISM

His return comes at a time when the government is preparing to launch the second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), a flagship initiative designed to strengthen the country’s capabilities in semiconductor and display manufacturing.

The ISM, which carries a financial outlay of Rs 76,000 crore, aims to establish a robust and sustainable ecosystem for chip design, manufacturing, and packaging within India. The mission is also seen as critical to reducing the country's dependency on imported semiconductors and boosting its competitiveness in the global tech supply chain.

Amitesh Kumar Sinha's experience

Sinha brings with him years of experience in shaping policy for India’s electronics sector. As a joint secretary in MeitY and now as Additional Secretary, he has been instrumental in implementing several policy measures including the production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes for mobile devices, IT hardware, electronic components, and semiconductors. These efforts are part of the broader Semicon India Programme, which was launched to attract investment and promote domestic capabilities in the electronics manufacturing sector.

“A strong policy environment backed by decisive leadership is critical for building India’s semiconductor future,” Sinha said in earlier public remarks while speaking about the sector's trajectory.

He is a 1996-batch officer of the Indian Railway Accounts Service and holds a degree in civil engineering from Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering in Nagpur.

His reappointment signals continuity in strategy and renewed focus on execution as India positions itself to become a significant player in the global semiconductor value chain. With international interest rising and global supply chain realignments underway, Sinha’s leadership at this juncture is expected to be pivotal in driving ISM’s goals forward.