What is Atmanirbhar Bharat?
In May 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, or Self-Reliant India mission, to make India stronger and more independent. The idea was to promote Indian products worldwide and help the country rely less on imports. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government set aside Rs. 20 lakh crore (about US$268 billion), roughly 10% of India’s GDP, to boost the economy by supporting local production. The mission uses slogans like "Local for Global," "Made for the World," and "Vocal for Local."
- Goals of Self-Reliant India
- Make India a key player in global supply chains.
- Build trust in private businesses.
- Support Indian manufacturers to grow.
- Export goods like farm products, textiles, clothes, and jewelry to the world.
- Check if key areas (like defense, farming, healthcare, and infrastructure) can stand on their own, using the 2022 budget as a guide.
Why India Needs Atmanirbhar Bharat
India’s industries grew by 9.3% in the first half of 2024, with mining (7.6%), manufacturing (9.3%), and construction (10.5%) leading the way.
A 2020 report by Acuite Ratings & Research showed India imported US$33.6 billion worth of goods (like medicines, chemicals, auto parts, and electronics) from China.
The report said India could replace 25% of these imports (saving 0.3% of GDP) without extra investment. By 2022, this could cut the trade gap with China by US$8.4 billion.
Benefits of Self-Reliant India
This mission helps many industries:
- Primary Sector: Farming, mining, fishing.
- Secondary Sector: Construction, manufacturing, small businesses.
- Tertiary Sector: Services like retail, tourism, banking, and IT.
- Quaternary Sector: Education, research, and government services.
It focuses on four main areas: Land, Labor, Liquidity (money flow), and Laws. Between 2014 and 2020, the government launched programs to support these areas.
Key Government Steps (2014–2020)
1) Land:
Schemes like Jan Dhan bank accounts, Ayushman Bharat healthcare, Ujjwala gas connections, and PM Awas housing for the poor.
2) Labor:
Farmer support through PM Kisan (cash aid), Fasal Bima (crop insurance), and Krishi Sinchai (irrigation).
3) Liquidity:
Boosted businesses with bank mergers, GST reforms, easier foreign investment rules, and simpler ways to start companies.
4) Laws:
Encouraged investment by ranking states for business appeal, privatizing airports, and promoting solar energy and battery manufacturing.
The mission helps workers, farmers, daily wage earners, the middle class (who pay taxes), and the upper class (who strengthen the economy).
Key Initiatives and Progress
The government rolled out three Atmanirbhar Bharat packages in 2020 (ANB 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0), totaling Rs. 27.1 lakh crore (US$362 billion, over 13% of GDP) with support from the Reserve Bank of India.
These packages brought big changes, like redefining small businesses, opening up mining, reforming farming and labor laws, and offering incentives for manufacturing.
Some major steps include:
Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme:
In 2021, Rs. 1.97 lakh crore (US$27 billion) was set aside for 13 industries to boost local manufacturing over five years. Companies like Amazon and Apple started making products in India (e.g., iPhones in 2021).
Healthcare Boost:
Rs. 64,180 crore (US$8.8 billion) over six years to improve hospitals and prepare for new diseases under PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana.
Better Infrastructure:
Plans to upgrade 8,500 km of highways by March 2022, plus rail and power improvements, to cut transport costs.
Women Entrepreneurs:
Since 2015, Women Technology Parks have trained 10,000 rural women (by March 2021) to start small businesses.
Defense Self-Reliance:
Raised foreign investment limits to 74%, banned imports of 101 military items, and signed a Rs. 26,000 crore (US$3.12 billion) deal with HAL in 2025 for 240 jet engines, aiming for 63% local parts.
Food Processing:
Rs. 10,000 crore (US$1.34 billion) from 2021–2025 to help small food businesses grow.
Achievements So Far
2024 Celebration:
The "Atmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024" in New Delhi showcased local products and India’s goal to hit a US$5 trillion economy by 2027.
Job Support:
By December 2023, Rs. 10,043 crore (US$1.21 billion) reached 60.49 lakh people under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana.
Fewer Imports:
Split AC imports dropped 65% between October and November 2020 after new rules.
PPE Kits:
Within 60 days of the mission’s start, India made its own PPE kits, ending import reliance.
Vaccines:
In 2020, India launched a massive vaccination drive with Covaxin and Covishield, vaccinating over 110 million people by April 2021 and exporting 65.5 million doses to 90+ countries.
Looking Ahead (Updated to March 30, 2025)
India climbed to 63rd in the World Bank’s 2023 Ease of Doing Business rankings, showing a better business climate. Reforms like private sector roles in key industries, farming and labor changes, and coal mining have set the stage for growth.
With strong support for manufacturing and small businesses, plus PLI schemes, India is attracting global companies and building a solid path to self-reliance by 2025.