Apple in Early Talks to Assemble and Package iPhone Chips in India
蘋果也想在印度「造芯」？傳正洽談於當地組裝 iPhone 晶片
Apple is in early discussions with Indian semiconductor firms to assemble and package components for the iPhone, marking the first time the company has considered chip assembly and packaging in India, the Economic Times reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. According to the report, Apple has held talks with Murugappa Group-owned CG Semi, which is setting up an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) facility in Sanand, Gujarat. While it remains unclear which chips could be involved, the components are likely to include display-related chips. Reuters could not independently verify the report, and both Apple and CG Semi declined to comment, with CG Semi stating it does not discuss market speculation.
The move aligns with Apple’s broader strategy to diversify its supply chain and reduce dependence on China. Apple aims to manufacture most iPhones sold in the United States in India by the end of 2026, accelerating these plans amid tariff uncertainties. In April, the U.S. imposed 26% duties on imports from India—significantly lower than the more than 100% tariffs levied on Chinese goods at the time—though most duties have since been paused for three months, excluding those on China. Apple’s potential shift into chip assembly and packaging in India signals a broader rebalancing of global electronics supply chains. For non-Indian component makers, OSAT firms, and equipment suppliers, this could open new partnership opportunities, intensify competition in semiconductor services, and reshape sourcing strategies as multinational firms hedge against geopolitical and tariff risks.
小編點評：為了讓供應鏈更加多元化，蘋果正與 CG Semi 等印度半導體公司展開初步洽談，計畫在古吉拉特邦（Gujarat）進行 iPhone 晶片的封裝與測試。這不僅是蘋果首度將晶片組裝移往印度，背後更有更深層的戰略考量：為了因應關稅壓力，蘋果的目標是到 2026 年時，將大部分銷往美國的 iPhone 改由印度製造。這項轉變預示著全球電子業供應鏈正在大洗牌，也為當地的委外封測（OSAT）廠商及供應商帶來了全新的發展契機。
IndiaAI Mission Invites Global AI Use Cases for Agriculture Compendium Ahead of 2026 Impact Summit
為 2026 峰會暖身！印度向全球徵集 AI 農業案例，助農民一臂之力
The IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra’s AI and Agritech Innovation Center, has announced a global call for submissions for a Compendium on the Real-World Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture. Supported by the World Bank and Wadhwani AI, the initiative aims to document deployed and scalable AI solutions that improve crop planning, farm operations, market access, and financial resilience for farmers, particularly in emerging and developing economies. The call is open to innovators, researchers, and practitioners worldwide, with submissions accepted until December 25, 2025.
Selected use cases will be compiled into a compendium to be unveiled at the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled from February 15 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Indicative themes include intelligent crop planning, smart farming and precision agriculture, farm-to-fork market linkages, and AI-driven financial inclusion and insurance solutions. Beyond India, the initiative is relevant for non-Indian agritech companies, AI startups, and global development players as it offers visibility to a high-level international policy and investor audience, opportunities for cross-country collaboration, and potential pathways to scale solutions across large agricultural markets facing similar climate and productivity challenges.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2204860®=3&lang=1
小編點評: 印度人工智慧國家計畫（IndiaAI Mission）在世界銀行與 Wadhwani AI 的支持下，正向全球發出徵件邀請，徵集能夠應用在農業的 AI 案例。這些科技方案涵蓋了作物規劃、農場經營、市場對接以及增強農民韌性等各個面向，最終將匯編成一本「全球 AI 農業應用指南」。這份成果預計在 2026 年新德里舉行的「印度 AI 影響力峰會」上正式亮相。這不僅讓全球創新者有機會被看見，更能協助他們與大廠合作，將這些 AI 解決方案推廣到全球龐大的農業市場。
President Murmu Clears SHANTI Bill, Opening India’s Civil Nuclear Power Sector to Private Players
印度核電產業大解禁！總統批准新法案，首度開放民間企業參與
President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, enabling private participation in India’s civil nuclear sector, according to a government notification issued on Saturday. The legislation, passed by Parliament during the Winter Session, subsumes all existing laws governing civil nuclear energy and repeals the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, which the government said had constrained sectoral growth. Under the new framework, private companies and joint ventures are permitted to build, own, operate and decommission nuclear power plants, subject to government licensing.
At the same time, the SHANTI Bill retains state control over strategic and sensitive activities across the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium and thorium mining, enrichment, spent fuel reprocessing, high-level radioactive waste management and heavy water production. The reform marks a significant restructuring of India’s civil nuclear architecture, separating power generation from core fuel-cycle activities. For non-Indian companies, the law creates potential opportunities in reactor technology, engineering services, project development and long-term partnerships with Indian private firms, while also signalling a more predictable regulatory environment in one of the world’s fastest-growing electricity markets. The approval of the SHANTI Bill came hours after the President also cleared the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, replacing the two-decade-old MGNREGA framework as part of the government’s broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
小編點評：印度總統慕爾穆（Droupadi Murmu）正式簽署通過了《SHANTI 法案》，這是一項歷史性的改革！未來印度將允許民間企業興建並營運核電廠，不過政府仍會嚴格把關最核心的「核燃料循環」技術。這項政策重塑了印度的民用核能產業，不僅為全球企業開啟了合作大門，也釋放出法規將更加透明與穩定的信號。此外，總統也同時批准了「發達印度（Viksit Bharat）」就業計畫，展現政府拚經濟與搶救失業率的決心。
EV Battery Waste Emerges as a Growing Environmental Challenge Amid India’s Electric Mobility Push
推廣電動車的隱憂：印度正面臨廢棄電池處理的環境大挑戰
The rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is widely seen as a major step towards cleaner air and a more sustainable future, with zero tailpipe emissions helping to improve urban air quality. However, experts warn that the environmental benefits of EVs could be undermined by the rising volume of end-of-life batteries. Studies indicate that improper battery disposal accounts for more than 40% of hazardous chemicals found in landfills, raising concerns that without robust recycling and waste-management systems, India could face a new pollution crisis. Policymakers and industry stakeholders are increasingly calling for urgent action to prevent battery waste from offsetting the gains of the country’s EV transition.
Lithium-ion batteries used in EVs contain hazardous materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and other heavy metals, which can pose serious environmental and health risks if not handled responsibly. When discarded improperly, these substances can leach into soil and groundwater, contaminating farmland and food systems and threatening ecosystems and public health. For non-Indian companies, particularly EV manufacturers, battery makers and recycling firms, India’s emerging battery waste challenge presents both regulatory risk and opportunity—highlighting the need for sustainable battery design, cross-border recycling partnerships and investment in circular-economy solutions as the country scales up electric mobility.
SOURCE: Revolutionizing Battery Recycling: Paving the Way for a Greener India, ETAuto
小編點評：印度電動車普及速度驚人，但隨之而來的電池廢棄物卻可能成為環保絆腳石。研究發現，若處理不當，廢棄電池所產生的有害化學物質將佔掩埋場污染物的 40% 以上，對環境與人體健康構成嚴重威脅。對此，政府與產業領袖正呼籲建立完善的回收機制與「循環經濟」方案。隨著印度全力衝刺電動車市場，這項挑戰雖然帶來風險，但也為全球電動車大廠與電池回收企業創造了全新的商機。
Global Firms Deepen Bets on India as Semiconductors, Manufacturing and Trade Gain Momentum
看好半導體與製造業前景，全球大廠紛紛加碼投資印度
Global companies are accelerating investments and partnerships in India as the country strengthens its position across semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, artificial intelligence and trade. Japan’s Rohm and Tata Electronics have entered a strategic partnership to set up power semiconductor manufacturing operations in India, targeting both domestic and export markets as companies seek to localise chip supply chains. In a separate move, Japan-based AOI Electronics has formed a business alliance with India’s Kaynes Semicon Private Limited and Japan’s Mitsui to support the establishment of a semiconductor back-end processing and assembly business in the country. Together, the deals underscore growing Japanese participation in India’s semiconductor ecosystem, spanning both front-end and back-end capabilities.
At the same time, Taiwan’s Foxconn is rapidly expanding its manufacturing footprint in India, hiring tens of thousands of workers at a new iPhone plant near Bengaluru and developing what sources describe as a “factory-city” model similar to those it previously built in China. The investment momentum is reinforced by policy and trade developments, including India’s tightening AI governance framework, which is influencing where sensitive AI workloads are deployed and encouraging India-based infrastructure, and the conclusion of free trade agreement negotiations between India and New Zealand. For non-Indian companies, these shifts signal India’s emergence as a strategic hub for manufacturing, semiconductor supply chains, data localisation and trade access, offering opportunities to diversify operations, tap new markets and align with evolving regulatory and geopolitical realities.
小編點評：全球企業正積極擴大對印度半導體與製造業的投資。其中，日本企業表現尤為亮眼，例如羅姆半導體（Rohm）與塔塔電子、以及 AOI 與 Kaynes、三井（Mitsui）的強強聯手，都顯示出日資對印度的濃厚興趣。與此同時，鴻海（Foxconn）也正擴建其在班加羅爾附近的 iPhone 產線。在人工智慧治理政策與新貿易協定的加持下，印度正迅速崛起，成為半導體、電子製造及數據在地化的戰略中心，更是全球企業進軍國際市場的關鍵基地。
US Lawmakers Move to End Trump’s India Tariffs, Citing Supply Chain and Consumer Impact
怕傷到荷包與供應鏈，美議員提議取消川普對印度的懲罰性關稅
A group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to terminate former President Donald Trump’s national emergency that authorised tariffs of up to 50% on imports from India. Representatives Deborah Ross of North Carolina, Marc Veasey of Texas and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois tabled the resolution on December 13, seeking to restore Congress’ constitutional authority over trade. The measure would revoke the emergency powers Trump invoked under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs on Indian goods and rescind the additional 25% “secondary” duties that took effect on August 27, including penalties linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil. Together, these actions pushed duties on many Indian-origin products to as high as 50%, the highest levied on any country.
The lawmakers argued that the tariffs have disrupted supply chains, harmed American workers and increased costs for U.S. consumers, rather than advancing national security or economic interests. Ross highlighted North Carolina’s deep trade and investment ties with India, noting that Indian companies have invested over $1 billion in the state and that local manufacturers export hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of pharmaceuticals, chemicals and advanced machinery to India each year. The resolution follows a bipartisan Senate-passed move to end tariffs on Brazil and curb the use of emergency powers for trade actions, and forms part of a broader Democratic push to reset U.S.–India relations. For non-Indian companies, particularly multinational manufacturers and exporters, the outcome of this effort is closely watched, as it could ease cost pressures, stabilise global supply chains and signal a shift away from unilateral tariff actions that affect cross-border trade and investment planning.
小編點評：美國國會議員近日提出一項決議，希望能取消川普時期對印度進口商品徵收、最高達 50% 的懲罰性關稅。議員們認為，這些關稅不僅打亂了全球供應鏈、傷害勞工利益，最後更導致物價上漲，讓消費者荷包大縮水。這項行動被視為美印關係「重新開機」的重要一步，若順利通過，將能有效緩解全球貿易壓力