Why in the News?

Launched on September 25, 2014, the "Make in India" initiative has recently completed 10 years.

About 'Make in India'

• Aim: The 'Vocal for Local' initiative was devised to transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub.
• Objectives
  • To increase the growth rate of Indian industry to 12-14% per year.
  • To create 100 million industrial jobs by 2022.
  • To increase the share of the manufacturing sector to 25% of GDP by 2022 (the target year has been revised to 2025).
• Sectors: At present, Make in India 2.0 (launched in 2021) focuses on 27 sectors implemented across various Ministries/ Departments and state governments.
• Pillars of 'Make in India'
  • New Processes: The motto 'Ease of doing Business' became the core for promoting entrepreneurship.
  • New Infrastructure: Development of industrial corridors and smart cities, integrating state-of-the-art technology and high-speed communication to create world-class infrastructure.
  • New Sectors: FDI opened up in Defence Production, Insurance, Medical Devices, Construction, and Railway infrastructure.
  • New Mindset: The government embraced a role as a facilitator rather than a regulator.

Major Achievements under 'Make in India'

• India's new manufacturing prowess: It is evident across sectors – India produces 400 million Toys annually and it's the world's 4th largest renewable energy producer. 
  • India is the second-largest mobile manufacturer in the world and has significantly reduced its reliance on smartphone imports, now manufacturing 99% domestically.
• Improved Ease of doing Business: Through policy reforms such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, the GST for indirect taxation, the Jan Vishwas Act, etc.
  • India climbed from 142^nd in 2014 to 63^rd in the World Bank's Doing Business Report (DBR), 2020 before its discontinuation.
• Boosted India's manufacturing competitiveness: India has now one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Asia, enhancing its global economic appeal. Other steps taken:
  • Over 40000 compliances have been reduced and 3,800 provisions decriminalized.
  • National Single Window System: Over seventy-five thousand approvals granted simplifying investor processes. 
• Resource Mobilization: FDI inflows have steadily risen, starting from ~$45 billion (Bn) in 2015 to a record ~$85 Bn in 2022.
• Merchandise exports: Export of ~$437 Bn recorded in 2024, reflecting the country's growing role in global trade. India also ventured in high-end products Export growth. 
  • E.g., Drugs and pharmaceutical ($27 Bn); India supplies nearly 60% of the world's vaccines.
• Defense exports: Major defence platforms such as the Dhanush Artillery Gun System, Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, submarines, etc., have been developed and exported to various countries.
• Prioritization of high-value manufacturing and R&D: As a result, India has risen 42 spots in the Global Innovation Index since 2015, currently ranking 39th, ensuring its global competitiveness.
• A path taken towards Sustainable growth: E.g., National Green Hydrogen Mission will generate over six lakh jobs and reduce reliance on imported natural gas and ammonia, leading to savings of ₹1 lakh crore.

Concerns with 'Make in India' 

• Manufacturing sector falls short of 25% GDP target: Despite 'Make in India' scheme, the manufacturing sector's contribution was still stagnant at 17.7% in 2023.
  • Manufacturing growth rate has averaged around 6% since 2014, lower than the benchmarked 12-14%.
• Job losses in manufacturing sector: Despite a goal of creating 100 million jobs, the manufacturing workforce declined from 51 million (2017) to 35 million (2023).
• Slowdown in real GVA: According to the National Accounts Statistics (NAS), the manufacturing real gross value added (GVA) growth rate has slowed down from ~8% (2012) to 5.5% (2023).
• Declining investment rates: India's rate of productive investment (Gross Capital Formation) has weakened, falling from 39.1% in 2008 to 32.2% in 2023.
• FDI-driven development strategy has had limited success: FDI as a percentage of GDP has averaged ~1.8% from 2015 to 2023, down from ~2.1% in the previous decade. 
  • The majority of FDI since 2017 has been concentrated in just 9 sectors, starting with services (especially IT), while 53 other sectors – mainly manufacturing – have received just 30% of total FDI.
• Weakening export performance: In spite of substantial FDI inflow in absolute terms, India's merchandise exports have fallen steadily in relative terms from ~10% of GDP in 2013-14 to just ~8% in 2022-23.
• Concerns related to viability of PLI Schemes: The growing cost of PLI schemes, such as the $2.75 billion microprocessor factory set up by Micron in Gujarat where the government financed most of the investment.

Way Forward

• Improving Capabilities: By adopting new technologies (AI, machine learning, etc), rapidly skilling the labour force, strengthen education ecosystem, etc.
• Encourage entrepreneurial spirit: By creating conditions for better educated workers to be entrepreneurial: E.g., India currently produces about 2.2 million STEM graduates, post-graduates and PhDs. 
• Enhance innovation ecosystem: A triple helix model of academia-industry-government collaboration is essential for translating knowledge into wealth and in this regard, India should establish institutions dedicated to scouting early-stage IP from academia.
  • Recently established Anushandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country is a step in right direction.

Conclusion

As the "Make in India" initiative celebrates its 10th anniversary, it stands as a testament to India's determination to reshape its manufacturing landscape and enhance its global standing. With strategic reforms, investment-friendly policies, and a strong focus on infrastructure development, the initiative has significantly enhanced India's industrial capabilities.