Building the Future in India: The Rise of Indigenous VR Hardware

9^th November, 2025

Sarvesh Gujarathi

Indian manufacturers now offer VR headsets that have changed how we consume digital content. These devices come with surprisingly low price tags between ₹1,199 to ₹2,499. Premium VR experiences usually need expensive computer-connected hardware, but these available devices now bring immersive experiences to many users.
The VR hardware scene in India looks different now. Local companies have stepped up from complete dependence on imported technology. Indian VR companies build specialized hardware that caters to local priorities. Make in India XR initiatives have definitely strengthened local manufacturers to deliver quality products at competitive prices.

The evolution of VR in India

India's VR experience started decades ago, but it only recently picked up substantial momentum. AR and VR technologies stayed limited to niche sectors after they emerged in the early 1990s. The high costs of hardware and software tools restricted these immersive technologies to defense applications and sectors with big budgets during those early years.

From imported tech to local innovation

The gaming industry started experimenting with VR capabilities over a decade ago, which paved the way for wider adoption. The COVID-19 pandemic became the real game-changer that sped up VR integration in businesses of all types throughout India. What seemed like future tech started showing up in everyday life.
India's VR ecosystem used to rely heavily on imported devices. Foreign-made XR devices dominated the country's market, which raised valid concerns about compliance, privacy, and customization - especially for government and institutional clients. This dependence created a huge market gap that gave local hardware developers a chance to create solutions tailored to Indian needs.
Local entrepreneurs saw the potential and things started to change. One industry leader put it well: "If India wants to lead in AI, XR, and next-generation computing, we cannot build our future on imported foundations". This sparked the development of homegrown VR solutions with Indian users in mind.

Why India needed its own VR hardware

Several connected factors drove the need for Indian-made VR hardware. Affordability topped the list - a vital factor in a price-sensitive market. Premium foreign brands offered great features at high prices that most Indian users couldn't afford. Local companies focused on creating state-of-the-art yet affordable solutions to make immersive technologies available to more people.
Foreign VR content didn't appeal to Indian users. Schools that tried foreign VR programs found students struggling to involve themselves because of unfamiliar examples and accents. This showed the need for culturally relevant VR experiences.
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There's another reason - VR applications grew in various sectors:
Education: Better learning outcomes through increased engagement and interactivity
Manufacturing: Training and simulation solutions to bridge skill gaps among semi-skilled workers
Healthcare: VR use in cognitive behavior therapy and medical device development
Media & Entertainment: Enhanced viewing experiences with immersive content
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Data sovereignty and security are vital considerations too. Local development lets companies control data flow and protection better than foreign vendors. This became crucial as government initiatives like "Make in India" gained ground to encourage local manufacturing and tech independence.
The Indian Army switched to homegrown AR and VR simulators for training, which highlights this strategic move. Unlike many Western militaries that depend on foreign tech, India's military developed solutions for its specific operational needs, especially in border regions.
The global AR and VR market looks set to grow from INR 957.72 billion in 2017 to INR 48216.68 billion by 2025, at an impressive CAGR of 63.3%. India aims to play a big role in this expanding field, with local development becoming central to its tech advancement.

What makes VR hardware 'indigenous'?

Locally designed components

The foundation of indigenous VR development starts with fundamental design work in India. Homegrown deeptech companies handle the complete hardware engineering process within the country. Their work has sections for PCB design, mold tooling, sensor calibration, and operating system development.
Local design brings great advantages in flexibility and customization. Engineers in India can address specific requirements for domestic use cases:
- Advanced calibration for Indian environmental conditions
- Form factors optimised for Indian physical characteristics
- Components selected based on local availability and servicing capabilities
This indigenous approach removes dependency on foreign design decisions. One industry executive points out, "To truly indigenise, you have to hit volumes where large suppliers are willing to work with you". Companies need steadfast dedication to local design capabilities to reach this milestone.

Manufacturing within India

Manufacturing plays a vital role in creating truly Indian VR hardware. Several companies have set up assembly capabilities in cities like Pune and plan to build full-scale fabrication units. These facilities help achieve "Class 1 Make in India" status, which opens doors to government procurement portals and manufacturing subsidies.
Manufacturing independence creates real benefits. Companies can control production quality better and iterate faster. The technology sector gets new jobs, which helps India's broader economic goals.
The pricing has become more competitive. Indian VR headsets now cost much less than imported ones. Users can get entry-level headsets for under ₹15,000—down from ₹40,000+ just a few years ago. Enterprise-level standalone VR headsets made in India cost around ₹34,999, which saves a lot compared to international options.
Indian manufacturers make sure to get all needed certifications like WPC, CE, FCC, and UKCA. These certifications allow both domestic use and potential exports, making it easier for institutions to adopt the technology.

Software and content made for Indian users

Software and content designed for Indian contexts form the third pillar of indigenous VR development. Local developers create "India-first VR content" with regional language support. They build scenarios based on Indian classrooms and workspaces, and optimize for devices that are available in the country.
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This local approach makes VR experiences more available and relevant to Indian users. Developers across the country create VR applications for education, healthcare, defense, and industrial skilling. Enterprise-grade headsets made in India use open deployment architecture, which avoids the ecosystem lock-ins common in foreign platforms.
Data sovereignty and privacy concerns get better attention through indigenous development. Local manufacturers can explain data flows clearly and customize systems to meet specific compliance requirements. A manufacturer explains: "Being a local manufacturer means we can sit with clients, explain exactly where data goes, and customize systems to meet their compliance needs. That level of assurance is sort of hard to get from remote foreign vendors".
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Local design, domestic manufacturing, and India-focused software work together to create VR hardware that truly deserves the "indigenous" label. This supports India's technological self-reliance while meeting specific local needs.

Key use cases driving demand in India

Gaming and immersive entertainment

Gaming leads VR adoption in India, and the sector grows substantially each year. The gaming industry adopted VR technologies first and continues to push hardware innovation. India's virtual reality gaming market keeps expanding. Government support for XR technologies and the combination of AI with spatial computing drive this growth.
The entertainment sector embraces VR through events like the XR Creator Hackathon in Delhi. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting supports these initiatives. Such events showcase advances in immersive gaming and speed up the growth of Indian XR technologies.
Lower prices of VR headsets boost market expansion. Entry-level VR headsets cost much less now. Indian consumers interested in gaming and entertainment can buy these devices easily.

Education and virtual classrooms

Made-in-India VR headsets show great promise in education. Indian classrooms have a student-teacher ratio of about 25:1. This creates challenges in giving students individual attention. VR offers a solution to this biggest problem.
Students in Bengaluru use VR headsets to explore ancient India. They experience history firsthand instead of just reading about it. The National Education Policy 2020 speeds up VR adoption. It emphasizes hands-on learning and provides schools with guidelines and funds to use this technology.
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VR brings many benefits to education:
- Students stay involved through interactive, immersive experiences
- Visual and spatial understanding leads to better learning
- Students can access virtual labs and equipment they wouldn't have otherwise
- Support exists for 12 Indian languages, with plans to include all 22 official languages by 2026
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Most students (64.84%) haven't used VR yet. However, those who have tried it love it—47.20% believe it has great educational potential.

Healthcare and medical training

VR transforms medical training and patient care across India. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many healthcare institutions to use AR and VR simulations.
MediSim VR opened Gujarat's first VR training lab at KD Hospital. Medical students and professionals can practice scenarios safely and repeatedly. Healthcare professionals say this approach reduces real-life errors and makes primary care safer.
VR in healthcare goes beyond training. It helps with surgical simulations, rehabilitation, and mental health therapy. AIIMS reported that patients followed their physiotherapy 40% more when they used VR rehabilitation modules. This shows how the technology makes a real difference.

Virtual tourism and cultural heritage

Indigenous VR hardware opens new possibilities for virtual tourism. India's rich cultural heritage provides plenty of content. Experts project the virtual tourism market to exceed INR 2025.13 billion by 2030.
The Ministry of Tourism offers VR tours of heritage sites like the Khajuraho Temples, Ellora Caves, and Taj Mahal. These programs let everyone explore cultural sites from anywhere.
The Ajanta Caves use VR to create immersive digital experiences. Visitors can explore the site's art, architecture, and spiritual meaning. This approach preserves cultural heritage and makes it available to people who can't visit in person.

The rise of Indian VR companies

India's VR revolution shows remarkable momentum with 304 Virtual Reality startups now active nationwide. The expanding ecosystem creates solutions tailored to local market needs and contributes to India's technological self-reliance.

Startups leading the charge

The country's VR startup landscape features 80 funded companies, including 14 that secured Series A+ funding. Technology hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune lead VR development thanks to their thriving tech sectors and startup communities. Most founders graduated from prestigious institutions like IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and BITS Pilani. Their technical expertise powers these ventures.
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Local companies develop specialized applications in a variety of sectors:
- Virtual heritage and museum experiences
- Skill-based training modules for manufacturing
- Immersive educational content
- Virtual tourism solutions

Support from government initiatives like Make in India XR

Government support proves significant for indigenous VR development. The XR Startup Program demonstrates this support through collaboration between Meta and MeitY Startup Hub to accelerate early-stage VR companies. Selected startups receive ₹20 lakh grants. The program supports 40 startups with mentorship, networking opportunities, and technological resources.
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Four institutional hubs run the program across India: IIIT-Hyderabad Foundation, AIC-SMUTBI in Sikkim, GUSEC in Gujarat, and FITT at IIT Delhi. The government allocated ₹4219.02 million over two years to encourage XR development.

This investment highlights their steadfast dedication to building a self-reliant VR ecosystem.
Policies like reduced GST rates for digital hardware and direct funding through Startup India supported over 100 gaming and VR startups since 2022. These initiatives position India to become a global leader in immersive technologies.

Challenges and opportunities ahead

Hardware limitations and R&D gaps
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VR motion sickness, low-resolution displays, and poor haptic feedback don't let VR reach more users. Local manufacturers don't deal very well with component sourcing and design optimization. The VR industry lacks skilled professionals because few specialized institutes teach advanced VR technologies.
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Affordability vs. performance
The price gap creates maybe even the biggest challenge. Entry-level VR headsets cost as little as ₹999, but premium VR experiences remain out of reach. High-end devices cost between ₹50,000-₹70,000. This price difference splits the market. Budget options work poorly and premium features stay expensive. Many quality VR experiences need powerful hardware beyond the headset.
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Building a sustainable VR ecosystem
India's success depends on:
- Clear safety rules, since no formal requirements exist for VR headsets
- Resilient infrastructure that supports high-bandwidth VR applications
- Government programs that close the skills gap
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Success needs teamwork between academia, industry, and government. India's AR/VR market will grow by a lot through 2030. Investment in these foundations will determine if local VR hardware can compete worldwide.

Conclusion

Indian companies have started developing their own VR hardware, marking a game-changing moment in the digital world. Local designers and manufacturers have reduced dependence on foreign technology. Users can now buy VR headsets for just ₹1,199, which makes immersive experiences available to many more Indians.
This push for self-reliance tackles several key issues. The affordable pricing suits our market needs. The content appeals to Indian users because it reflects our culture, unlike foreign options with unfamiliar examples and accents. Data sovereignty gives better control over information security, which matters for government and institutional use.

Many sectors have adopted this technology. Schools use VR for virtual classrooms and historical experiences. Healthcare providers run training simulations and rehabilitation programs. Tourism companies create virtual tours of cultural heritage sites.
We have a long way to go, but we can build on this progress. Technical limits, component sourcing issues, and skill gaps need attention. The gap between basic and premium devices remains wide. The sector also needs standard regulations and reliable digital infrastructure.
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Indigenous VR hardware shows great promise in India. Our growing capabilities and stronger ecosystem position India as both consumer and creator of immersive technology. Locally designed and manufactured VR solutions with rich content will give India technological independence while meeting unique local needs. Indigenous VR offers more than an alternative to imports - it represents progress tailored for Indian users.