Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has highlighted Karnataka’s growing manufacturing momentum, pointing to the rapid expansion of Foxconn’s workforce near Bengaluru as a sign of transformative job creation in India. Gandhi described the development as one of the quickest factory-scale expansions witnessed in the country’s industrial landscape.

Referring to the electronics manufacturing unit’s hiring drive, Gandhi noted that tens of thousands of jobs were generated within a short span, with a large share of the workforce comprising young women. He said such growth reflects the potential of state-led industrial ecosystems to create employment opportunities, particularly for first-time job seekers entering the formal workforce.

Gandhi emphasized that the significance of the development goes beyond numbers, underlining the social impact of large-scale employment for women in manufacturing. According to him, empowering young workers with stable jobs and dignity of labour should be central to India’s economic vision.

The remarks triggered a swift political response from the Centre. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw acknowledged Gandhi’s comments but credited the success to the central government’s long-term manufacturing strategy. He said the expansion of electronics production reflects the outcomes of policies aimed at turning India into a global manufacturing hub.

Foxconn, a major global supplier for Apple, has been steadily increasing its presence in India as part of Apple’s broader plan to diversify production beyond China. The company’s Karnataka facility is expected to play a key role in assembling future iPhone models once it reaches full operational capacity.

Industry estimates suggest that India has significantly increased its share in Apple’s global supply chain over the past year, with electronics manufacturing emerging as a major contributor to exports and employment.