Vaishnaw warns of PLI freeze, flags poor progress in electronics sector

• Union IT and Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw threatens to halt fresh approvals and fund disbursements under Electronics Components PLI scheme.
• Minister expresses dissatisfaction with industry's progress, stating "Not very happy with the progress" and "industry needs to do more."
• Vaishnaw warns of "harsh measures," including stopping further approvals and withholding payouts for already cleared projects.
• The PLI scheme, launched in 2021, aims to reduce India’s dependence on electronic component imports, part of a ₹76,000 crore government push.
• Minister emphasizes the need for deep, in-house design capabilities, stating companies failing to invest in R&D and design "will be weeded out."