On September 25, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Nation marked the 11th anniversary of the Make in India initiative, reflecting on its contributions to India’s economic resilience and self-reliance. Launched on the same day in 2014, Make in India aimed to position India as a global manufacturing hub, boost entrepreneurship, and reduce dependency on imports.
Why Make in India Was Launched
When launched in 2014, Make in India had three key objectives,
- Increase the share of manufacturing in GDP from around 16% to 25%
- Create 100 million jobs in the manufacturing sector by 2022
- Attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and improve ease of doing business
- The initiative targeted 25 priority sectors, including automobiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, defence manufacturing, and textiles.
Achievements Over the Past 11 Years
Manufacturing and Exports Growth
- Despite global disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s manufacturing sector has shown resilience:
- India’s merchandise exports crossed $450 billion in FY2024, with engineering goods, electronics, and chemicals leading the growth.
- The PLI (Production-Linked Incentive) schemes, introduced under Make in India’s broader umbrella, have attracted investments across electronics, semiconductors, and pharma.
Job Creation and Start-up Ecosystem
Make in India laid the foundation for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Startup India, contributing to,
- A rapid increase in MSMEs and startups, especially in technology and manufacturing.
- Growth of over 1.3 crore jobs in the organized manufacturing sector between 2014 and 2024 (Labour Ministry estimates).
- Expansion of digital and industrial infrastructure, particularly in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
FDI and Global Trust
- India received record FDI inflows, reaching $85 billion in FY2022, reflecting investor confidence.
- Several global companies—like Apple, Samsung, Boeing, and Tesla—either expanded or began manufacturing operations in India.
Challenges and Areas of Improvement
While Make in India has seen success, some challenges remain,
- Manufacturing’s contribution to GDP still hovers around 17%, below the original 25% target.
- Land acquisition, logistics bottlenecks, and labor law complexities continue to affect large-scale industrial investment.
- FDI inflows have slowed in recent years due to global uncertainties.
- However, ongoing reforms in infrastructure, taxation (like GST), and trade policies are expected to address many of these hurdles.
Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat: A Synergistic Push
Since 2020, Make in India has closely aligned with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, promoting local manufacturing and reducing import dependency across sectors,
- Defence procurement has seen a dramatic shift towards indigenization.
- Mobile phone production in India increased more than 10 times since 2014.
- India became the second-largest producer of PPE kits and vaccines during the pandemic.
- These milestones underscore how Make in India evolved from a slogan into a core component of national policy.
Key Takeaways
- Launched: 25 September 2014 by PM Narendra Modi
- Objective: Boost manufacturing, create jobs, attract FDI
- India ranks among top investment destinations globally
- Key tools: PLI schemes, industrial corridors, Ease of Doing Business
- Current Rank: India’s manufacturing share is ~17% of GDP