Bihar government presented the budget for the financial year 2026-27 on Tuesday. In this, it has been announced to build Defense Corridor and Semiconductor Manufacturing Park in Bihar. On November 25, the Nitish government, in its first cabinet meeting, had approved the formation of a committee to build the Defense Corridor and Semiconductor Manufacturing Park. How will the picture of Bihar change with the construction of Defense Corridor and Semiconductor Manufacturing Park? What will be there in this? Know in the special report…. First of all know what is Defense Corridor? The Defense Corridor will be a route which will include several cities. Industries will be set up in these cities to manufacture items used for the army, in which many companies will participate. Government and private companies will participate in this corridor. All those industrial institutions which manufacture military equipment will also participate in the corridor. After the corridor is built, everything from weapons to uniforms will be made here. Weapons like drones, cannons, AK-47, carbines, pistols and sniper rifles will be manufactured in the factories set up under this corridor. Weapons and other military equipment will be manufactured under the Defense Corridor in districts like Munger, Kaimur, Jamui, Banka and Arwal. Presently BMCS is exported from Nalanda. Presently the Ordnance Factory is running in Nalanda under the Ordinance Factory Board. This is the only factory in the country where Bi Modular Charging System (BMCS) is produced. It is used to fire shells from Bofors and other cannons. BMCS made in Nalanda is also exported. Mir Qasim started a gun factory in Munger in 1760. The British also set up a gun factory. Guns are still made here, but most of the discussion is about the manufacturing of illegal weapons. After connecting with the Defense Corridor, it is expected that its lost identity will be regained. Where are the defense corridors in the country? At present two big defense corridors have been built in India in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The Defense Corridor was launched in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh on 11 August 2018 with an investment of Rs 3,732 crore. The Defense Corridor was launched in Tamil Nadu on 20 January 2019 with an investment of Rs 3,123 crore. How much is the defense business in the country, what will be the benefit of building it in Bihar? India is counted among the world’s largest arms importing countries. The central government is emphasizing on the production of defense products in the country to increase self-reliance in arms. This is not only meeting the needs of our forces, but India is also exporting arms and military equipment to more than 100 countries. Parts ranging from fighter aircraft to supersonic cruise missiles (BrahMos) are being exported. According to the Defense Ministry report, defense related goods worth Rs 23,622 crore were exported in 2024-25. The Government of India has set a target of increasing defense related exports to Rs 50 thousand by 2029. If weapons and military equipment are manufactured in Bihar, not only will the self-reliance of the country’s armies increase, but they will also be exported. This will generate income for the state and provide employment to the youth. Aviral Pandey of Patna University says, ‘This decision of the Bihar government shows that it is serious about its promises made in the elections. The share of industry in Bihar’s economy is still around 20%, whereas in other states it is around 29%. There is a need for an industry with high quality manufacturing and technology in Bihar. Understand how Bihar will benefit… According to the report released by the Defense Ministry on March 29, 2025… Bihar will be a participant in the big market: The target is to increase defense production to Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029. Which is more than double from 2024-25. With the construction of Defense Corridor, Bihar will get a chance to join the big market. This will improve the economy. Private companies will come: The country’s strong defense industrial base includes 16 DPSUs, more than 430 licensed companies and about 16,000 MSMEs. These companies promote indigenous production. The private sector’s share in the country’s defense production is 21%. Private companies promote new technology and skills. Bihar will also benefit from this. What is a Semiconductor Manufacturing Park? Semiconductors are manufactured in Semiconductor Manufacturing Parks. Chips are made from these. From mobiles to cars and satellites, every electronic item contains chips. At present, the whole world is dependent on China and Taiwan in semiconductor matters. India also has to import to meet its needs. Consider semiconductor as the brain of electronic gadgets. From computers, laptops, cars, washing machines, ATMs, hospital machines to handheld smartphones, all work on semiconductor chips. This chip helps in operating these gadgets like a brain. Every electronic item is incomplete without these. Semiconductor chips are made of silicon and are used to control electricity in circuits. How will Bihar benefit from the creation of Semiconductor Manufacturing Park? India has launched India Semiconductor Mission i.e. ISM to become a part of the global semiconductor ecosystem. The entire emphasis of the government is to become self-reliant in semiconductors and capture the world market. Economist Aviral Pandey says, ‘The construction of semiconductor park in Bihar will provide a huge employment market to high-skilled youth. McKinsey report also shows that India is a big exporter of engineering talent, hence setting up high-tech industry in Bihar is strategically important. What will be the benefit to Bihar? Make in India Boost: This project will boost ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’. Along with the country, Bihar will now not only become a user of chips but will also become a manufacturer. New jobs will be created: A small plant will create opportunities for 15,000+ direct and indirect jobs. There will be plenty of opportunities for engineers, technicians and support staff. Global Tech Hub: This park will bring Bihar in the league of chip making countries (like China, Taiwan, South Korea). These countries are major players in the field of global chip manufacturing. Cheap Gadgets: Local production can make chips cheaper, making phones, laptops and cars affordable. How big is the semiconductor market? The value of the Indian semiconductor market in 2021 was $27.2 billion. It is expected to grow by 19% annually to reach $64 billion by 2026. According to the report of Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), India’s semiconductor market is expected to reach $ 103.4 billion i.e. Rs 91,800 crore by 2030.
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