India's iPhone manufacturing receives a boost after tariff cuts on key components

India is continuing its push to become a larger electronics manufacturing hub by removing import duties on select components used in smartphones and other electronic devices. According to a Reuters report, the government has scrapped tariffs of 5% and 7.5% on several key components used in the manufacturing of mobile phones and other electronics. These include wireless charging modules for smartphones, displays used in medical devices and automobiles, as well as lithium-ion cells.

The report added that the move is part of India's broader plan to expand its electronics manufacturing industry to $500 billion over the next few years. The exemptions will remain in effect until March 31, 2029.

The decision could further accelerate Apple's plans to expand iPhone production in India as the company continues to diversify its manufacturing base and reduce its reliance on China.

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In a separate development, iPhone manufacturer Tata Electronics recently suffered a major data breach in which more than 200,000 files were reportedly stolen and shared on the dark web. The breach allegedly exposed highly sensitive information related to the unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, including component supplier maps, supplier names, drop-test videos, and proprietary documents belonging to companies such as Tesla, Qualcomm, and TSMC. The incident is currently under investigation by India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

According to Mishra, the exemption for lithium-ion cell manufacturing is expected to encourage greater investment in domestic battery production, particularly for the electronics and electric mobility sectors.

India aims to expand its electronics manufacturing industry to $500 billion by FY2030. Smartphone manufacturing has already grown 28-fold over the past decade, reaching ₹5.45 trillion (around $57 billion) in FY2024-25.