Shifting to full-spectrum LED components, Calcom bets big on PLI 2.0, deploying ₹250 million and an approval from DPIIT. Not just to scale, but to shape India’s supply chain, says the company.
Calcom Vision Limited, a domestic electronics manufacturer, has received an upgrade to the ‘Large Investment’ category under India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods. Granted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), this follows the company’s full deployment of a ₹250 million investment to enhance its LED component manufacturing capabilities.
Back in 2021, the PLI scheme for white goods was introduced to encourage domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependency in sectors such as air conditioning and LED lighting. While an initial allocation of ₹62.38 billion was made, much of the budget remained unutilised in the first phase.
According to Mr Abhishek Malik, Executive Director at Calcom, this led to the launch of a second phase (informally referred to as ‘PLI 2.0’) where the government invited existing beneficiaries to scale up their commitments.
“The government body reached out to the existing applicants asking if they wanted to increase their commitment because there were unallocated budgets,” he explained. “From our side, we were already undertaking capital investments, and participating in an expanded PLI framework could help offset those costs. That was our rationale for seeking an upgrade.”
“From our side, we were already undertaking capital investments, and participating in an expanded PLI framework could help offset those costs. That was our rationale for seeking an upgrade.” – Mr Abhishek Malik, Executive Director of Calcom Vision Ltd
The product range
The increased investment marks a 150 per cent rise from Calcom’s initial ₹100 million commitment and positions the company to expand its range of eligible products. These include LED Drivers, Modules, Engines, Mechanical Housings, Heat Sinks, Diffusers, and Light Management Systems — components critical to the development of a more self-reliant domestic LED supply chain.
This broader product focus also reflects a slight shift in the company’s direction. Until recently, Calcom’s business was concentrated in the indoor lighting segment, producing items like bulbs, downlighters, batten lights, and panels. However, as competition increased in the indoor category, the company sought to diversify into outdoor lighting—a move that required changes in manufacturing, particularly in aluminium pressure die-casting.
“Outdoor lighting products, unlike indoor ones, often rely on aluminium pressure die-cast components. Initially, we sourced these from third-party suppliers, but there were persistent quality and consistency issues,” said Malik.
“We found that many local suppliers in Delhi NCR were focused on the unorganised segment and did not meet the quality expectations of our customers, such as Panasonic and Bajaj. So we decided to bring that capability in-house,” he mentioned to EFY.
This led to investments in die-casting infrastructure and greater backward integration, allowing Calcom to improve product consistency and reduce dependence on external vendors. The company now manufactures a wider range of components in-house, including LED drivers, modules, mechanical housings, and heat sinks — elements considered essential to building a stronger, more self-sufficient LED supply chain in India.
“We aim to be a one-stop shop for both indoor and outdoor lighting. By doing this, we reduce reliance on third-party vendors and can ensure better quality and cost efficiency,” commented Malik.
The company’s 30,000 sq. meter facility in Greater Noida now includes end-to-end R&D and production capabilities. According to projections, the expanded investment is expected to generate approximately ₹1.5 billion in additional revenue by FY2026–27. Based on this performance, Calcom could receive up to ₹159.6 million in PLI incentives— higher than it would have under its original investment classification.
The goal of self-reliance
Calcom’s expansion aligns with the Indian government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which aims to reduce foreign dependence in critical sectors, especially electronics, and promote domestic value addition. However, Malik emphasised that true self-reliance involves more than local assembly.
“Assembly work using imported components does not qualify as self-reliance in the full sense. We believe India should aim to create a complete electronics ecosystem—from design and manufacturing to final assembly—within its borders,” he said.
The current model, he noted, often involves importing nearly all key parts from countries like China and assembling them locally. Calcom’s approach aims to challenge this paradigm by increasing indigenous content throughout the value chain.
Malik also highlighted that building a globally competitive manufacturing sector is essential for long-term economic strength.
“There are two primary ways a country prospers economically: one is through abundant natural resources, which India lacks in many areas. The other is becoming an export-oriented manufacturing hub. That is where we see opportunity,” he said.
He added that with ongoing infrastructure development and government incentives like the PLI scheme, India is better positioned today than in the past to make that transition. Still, sustained progress will depend on collaboration between industry and policymakers, along with steady execution.
The PLI scheme for white goods has so far attracted commitments of over ₹104.78 billion from 84 approved applicants, targeting a cumulative production of ₹1.72 trillion by FY2028–29. Calcom’s upgraded participation is a small but significant part of this broader framework.
“We are not just manufacturing, we are nation-building”
While such statements reflect the ambition behind India’s manufacturing push, the actual test will lie in execution, particularly in building quality, competitive capability, and scale across sectors. For Calcom, the road ahead includes continued diversification, stronger supply chain control, and an eye on export markets.
Read more about Calcom Vision: “India’s Electronics Sector Is Growing Rapidly, Making This The Decade For Investors To Engage” – Abhishek Malik, Executive Director, Calcom Vision Ltd
Calcom Vision Reports Record Quarterly Sales In Q4 FY25
