As the five-year Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for large-scale electronics nears its conclusion on March 31, 2026, Apple Inc. has emerged as the undisputed champion of the initiative. According to government data and industry reports finalized on March 19–20, 2026, Apple’s contract manufacturers have exceeded their cumulative production targets by a staggering 80%, assembling iPhones worth over ₹6.02 lakh crore ($72 billion) since FY22.
The “Staggering” Numbers
The initial target set by the Indian government for Apple’s vendors (Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics) was a cumulative production value of ₹3.35 lakh crore. By crushing this goal, Apple has cemented India’s role as its secondary global manufacturing hub.
- FY26 Peak: In this final financial year alone, production is estimated at ₹2.27 lakh crore, a 24% year-on-year increase from FY25.
- Global Share: India now accounts for 25% (one in every four) of all iPhones produced globally, up from just 10% when the scheme began.
- Export Dominance: Roughly 70% of the iPhones made in India are exported to global markets, with a massive 138% surge in exports to the U.S. this year following new tariffs on Chinese-made electronics.
The “Tata-Foxconn” Engine
The manufacturing surge is powered by five massive facilities—three operated by Tata Electronics (following its acquisitions of Wistron and Pegatron’s operations) and two by Foxconn.
| Metric (FY22–FY26 Cumulative) | Government Target | Actual Achievement (March 2026) |
| Production Value | ₹3.35 Lakh Crore | ₹6.02 Lakh Crore |
| Direct Employment | 200,000 Jobs | 250,000+ Jobs (70% Women) |
| Investment | ₹11,000 Crore | ₹13,754 Crore |
| PLI Overperformance | Baseline (100%) | 180% |
Socio-Economic Impact: “Women Power”
One of the most significant outcomes of the Apple-India pivot has been the large-scale entry of women into the manufacturing workforce.
- 100,000 Women: Nearly 100,000 young women (mostly aged 19–24) are now employed across the five iPhone factories.
- Infrastructure: To support this workforce, the government and private firms have developed nearly 100,000 hostel beds in industrial corridors like Sriperumbudur and Hosur.
- Skilling: Each worker undergoes a specialized six-week training program before joining the high-precision assembly lines.
What Lies Ahead: PLI 2.0
While the original PLI scheme ends this month, the Indian government is already preparing a “revamped” version scheduled to launch on April 1, 2026.
- Value Addition Focus: The new scheme will shift away from “screwdriver assembly” toward deep component manufacturing, targeting a 35–40% local value addition (up from the current 15–20%).
- Export Incentives: Higher subsidies will be offered to companies that meet aggressive export and localization tiers.
- iPhone 17 & Beyond: With the entire iPhone 17 lineup (including Pro models) already successfully manufactured in India, Apple is reportedly testing the waters for MacBook and iPad production in the next phase.
“Apple’s performance reinforces confidence in India as a reliable production base,” noted a Ministry of Electronics (MeitY) official. “The development signals a broader shift, positioning India as a key player in the evolving global supply chain.”
