India's IT Minister Predicts Launch of Domestic Smartphone Brands Within 18 Months

Speaking at the World Economic Forum 2026, India's IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the country will soon introduce its own smartphone brands, asserting that the Indian government has completed the necessary preparations for this initiative. These brands are expected to be launched within the next 12 to 18 months and are intended to have a global presence.

However, the specifics remain unclear. Are these brands state-owned, or is there private involvement? If this project materializes—as significant speculation surrounds it—we anticipate more details will emerge as the launch date approaches.

Minister Vaishnaw elaborated on the progress made:

"Now we have a very substantial electronics ecosystem in our country. This is the time when we will be looking to introduce our own Indian brands in mobile phones. We have completed all the necessary groundwork. Recent meetings with stakeholders in the ecosystem responsible for producing the components for mobile phones have shown significant progress. We expect that within a year, or at most 18 months, we will have our own Indian brands emerging."

Additionally, he engaged with Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane, highlighting the increasing relevance of AI technologies in discussions. Hassabis has expressed optimism about future collaborations with India.

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