 "PLI, Product-linked scheme, electronics, manufactuing, jobs, companies, research, mobile, smartphone, employment, tech")
The second Covid wave that is causing unprecedented disruptions across India, may have come as a surprise for many but the latest data from IDC shows it had begun to impact smartphone business on the ground as early as March. In March, when no Covid-related curbs were in place, growing inventory levels across channels led to a 14 percent sequential decline in quarterly shipments.
Since lockdowns were withdrawn and local curbs were lifted last October, shipment of smartphones rose steadily to a record 45 million units in October-December quarter. With the launch of the vaccination drive in January, the momentum continued
