What is Make in India?
Launched on September 25, 2014, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the "Make in India" scheme is a flagship initiative aimed at positioning India as a global hub for manufacturing, design, and innovation. This ambitious program seeks to boost indigenous production, attract foreign investment, and create millions of jobs by fostering a conducive environment for businesses.
With a focus on self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat), the initiative has catalyzed significant growth in manufacturing and exports, leveraging India's vast workforce, strategic reforms, and technological advancements. As of March 30, 2025, recent data highlights its impact on production, exports, and indigenisation efforts, though challenges remain in meeting some lofty targets.
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The "Make in India" Initiative: Vision and Objectives
The "Make in India" initiative was introduced to address India’s economic challenges in 2014, when growth had slowed, and the country was labeled among the "Fragile Five." Built on four pillars—New Processes, New Infrastructure, New Sectors, and New Mindset—it aims to streamline regulations, enhance infrastructure, open key sectors to foreign direct investment (FDI), and shift the government’s role from regulator to facilitator. Its core objectives include:
- Increasing the manufacturing sector’s growth rate to 12-14% annually.
- Raising the sector’s GDP share to 25% by 2025 (revised from 2022).
- Creating 100 million additional manufacturing jobs by 2022.
The initiative now encompasses 27 sectors under "Make in India 2.0," including aerospace, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy, reflecting a broader ambition to diversify and strengthen India’s industrial base.
Key Schemes and Initiatives Driving Growth
Several sub-schemes and policies underpin "Make in India," enhancing its reach and effectiveness:
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme:
Launched in 2020, the PLI scheme offers financial incentives across 14 sectors, with an outlay of over $26 billion, to boost domestic manufacturing and exports. It has attracted companies like Foxconn and Samsung to expand operations in India.
PM GatiShakti:
A multimodal logistics framework to reduce costs and improve industrial efficiency.
Self-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action (SRIJAN):
Over 14,000 of 38,000 listed imported items have been indigenised as of February 2025.
Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs):
More than 3,000 of 5,500 items, including artillery and radars, have been localised.
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX):
With ₹449.62 crore allocated for 2025-26, iDEX supports startups and MSMEs, signing 430 contracts for cutting-edge technologies.
These initiatives have streamlined processes, reduced import dependency, and fostered innovation, aligning with the Zero Defect Zero Effect ethos coined by PM Modi.
Manufacturing Projects and Achievements
"Make in India" has spurred high-profile manufacturing projects across sectors:
Defence Manufacturing:
Production hit ₹1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, with exports reaching ₹21,083 crore, a 30-fold increase since 2013-14. Projects like the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand and Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) showcase indigenous capabilities.
Electronics:
Google’s Pixel smartphone production began in Tamil Nadu in 2024 with Foxconn and Dixon Technologies, targeting exports to Europe and the US.
Automobiles:
Maruti Suzuki exported its Made-in-India Fronx SUV to Japan in 2024, with over 1,600 units shipped from Gujarat.
Semiconductors:
Micron Technology broke ground on a $2.75 billion facility in Gujarat in 2023, partly funded by PLI incentives.
Defence contracts in 2024-25 totaled ₹2,09,050 crore, with 92% awarded to domestic firms, reinforcing self-reliance.
Table 1: Major Manufacturing Projects (Recent Data)
| Sector | Project | Value/Details | Status (March 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defence | LCH Prachand | ₹62,700 crore, 156 units | Deliveries begin 2027 |
| Defence | ATAGS | ₹7,000 crore, 307 units | Approved, testing done |
| Electronics | Pixel Smartphone (Google) | Tamil Nadu, export-focused | Production started 2024 |
| Automobiles | Fronx SUV (Maruti Suzuki) | Gujarat, 1,600+ units to Japan | Exported Autumn 2024 |
| Semiconductors | Micron Facility | $2.75 billion, Gujarat | Under construction |
Under construction
Products of "Make in India"
The initiative has diversified India’s manufacturing output, producing high-value goods for domestic and global markets:
Defence Products:
- BrahMos missiles,
- Tejas aircraft,
- Dhanush artillery guns, and
- Pinaka rocket systems.
Electronics:
Smartphones (e.g., Apple iPhones, Google Pixel), laptops, and display panels (Samsung Noida plant).
Consumer Goods:
‘Made in Bihar’ boots for the Russian Army, bulletproof jackets, and Chetak helicopters.
Pharmaceuticals:
India supplies 60% of global vaccines, with exports worth $27 billion in recent years.
These products highlight India’s shift toward high-tech, export-oriented manufacturing, reducing reliance on imports.
Recent Data: Make in India, Production and Exports
As per PIB data released on March 29, 2025, "Make in India" has significantly boosted defence production and exports:
Defence Production: ₹1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, a 174% rise from ₹46,429 crore in FY 2014-15.
Defence Exports: ₹21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, up 32.5% from ₹15,920 crore in FY 2022-23, and 30 times higher than ₹686 crore in FY 2013-14.
FDI Inflows: Manufacturing FDI grew 55% to $148.97 billion (2014-2023) from $96 billion (2005-2014).
Table 2: Defence Production and Exports (Recent Data)
| Metric | FY 2013-14 | FY 2022-23 | FY 2023-24 | Target 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production (₹ Cr) | 46,429 | - | 1,27,434 | 3,00,000 |
| Exports (₹ Cr) | 686 | 15,920 | 21,083 | 50,000 |
| Growth (vs 2014) | - | - | 174% | - |
Despite these gains, the manufacturing sector’s GDP share remains at 17.7% in 2023, far from the 25% target by 2025, indicating uneven progress.
Challenges and Criticisms of Make in India Scheme
While "Make in India" has achieved notable successes, it faces hurdles:
- GDP Share Stagnation: The manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP has hovered around 16-17%, missing the 25% goal.
- Job Creation Shortfall: Employment grew from 30.3 million (2013-14) to 35.7 million (2023), far below the 100 million target by 2022.
- Implementation Gaps: Bureaucratic delays and infrastructure deficits have stalled some projects.
- FDI Distribution: Over 70% of FDI since 2017 has gone to services, not manufacturing, limiting industrial impact.
Critics argue the initiative’s ambitious targets were ill-timed and overly broad, with insufficient focus on labor reforms and skill development.
Future Prospects and Targets
India aims for ₹3 lakh crore in defence production and ₹50,000 crore in exports by 2029, supported by:
- Defence Industrial Corridors: Investments of ₹8,658 crore in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Ease of Doing Business: India rose to 63rd in the World Bank’s index (2020) from 134th (2014).
- Sustainable Growth: Initiatives like the National Green Hydrogen Mission promise jobs and import savings.
Achieving these goals requires addressing infrastructure gaps, enhancing skill training, and ensuring balanced FDI inflows into manufacturing.
Conclusion
The "Make in India" scheme has reshaped India’s industrial landscape, driving defence production to ₹1.27 lakh crore and exports to ₹21,083 crore by FY 2023-24. With iconic projects like the LCH Prachand and global partnerships in electronics and automobiles, it has bolstered indigenous production and self-reliance.
However, challenges like stagnant GDP share and unmet job targets highlight the need for course corrections. As India strides toward its 2029 goals, "Make in India" remains a cornerstone of its economic and strategic ambitions, blending tradition with innovation to carve a niche in the global market.