Context

• Over the past decade, India has undergone a remarkable transformation across economic, technological, and strategic spheres.
• Central to this metamorphosis is the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has championed the vision of India not just as a participant in the global economy but as a leader in innovation, manufacturing, and strategic technologies.
• This period has seen the emergence of India as a globally engaged, self-reliant, and resilient nation.

India’s Industrial Resurgence and Manufacturing Drive

• Make in India Campaign
  • The launch of the ‘Make in India’ initiative in 2014 marked a watershed moment in India’s industrial policy.
  • It signalled a shift from being a passive player in global manufacturing to aspiring to become a manufacturing powerhouse.
  • The initiative introduced sweeping reforms to enhance the ease of doing business, streamline regulatory approvals, and attract both domestic and foreign direct investment.
  • These reforms sparked renewed interest in sectors such as electronics, defence, and automobiles.
• PLI Schemes to Strengthen Atmanirbhar Bharat
  • To strengthen these efforts, the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes were introduced, further increasing India’s competitiveness as a manufacturing destination.
  • In 2020, the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-Reliant India Mission) intensified this momentum by emphasizing the need for modern, globally integrated manufacturing value chains.
  • This initiative aimed not only to boost economic growth but also to ensure national security by reducing dependence on critical imports.
  • Strategic sectors like defence manufacturing, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals became focal points.
  • These sectors are pivotal not just for economic growth but also for enhancing India’s strategic autonomy.

Some Other Remarkable Transformation Towards a Self-Reliant Powerhouse

• Rise of a Global Innovation Leader
  • Parallel to its industrial push, India has rapidly emerged as a global innovation hub.
  • With the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, Indian startups are making global waves across domains including fintech, agritech, health tech, and edtech.
  • Beyond commercial success, startups are now contributing strategically in fields like defence technology, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and space exploration.
  • India's innovation prowess is reinforced through strategic international partnerships.
  • Programs like the U.S.-India TRUST initiative and the India-France road map have developed collaborations in cutting-edge areas such as AI, quantum computing, and defence technologies.
• Defence Indigenisation and Strategic Capability
  • India’s increasing focus on indigenous defence manufacturing was vividly illustrated by Operation Sindoor, a successful mission that deployed domestically developed defence technologies.
  • This operation demonstrated the effectiveness and precision of Indian-made equipment and symbolized the country’s transition from an arms importer to a credible defence exporter.
  • As a result of these initiatives, India’s defence exports rose to ₹23,622 crore in FY25, with projections to reach ₹50,000 crore by 2029.
  • The private sector played a crucial role in this success, contributing over ₹15,000 crore.
  • Much of the technology used in Operation Sindoor was a product of the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, making it a milestone validation of the country’s decade-long focus on self-reliance and technological resilience.
• Technological Leadership and Future Readiness
  • In an era where technological prowess defines national power, India has recognized the strategic imperative of investing in future-critical technologies.
  • Government-led missions such as the National Quantum Mission and the India Semiconductor Mission are establishing India as a hub for advanced research and development.
  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with achievements like the Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan missions, has showcased India’s growing capabilities in space technology.
  • However, sustainable technological leadership cannot rest on government efforts alone; it must be a collective national enterprise involving industry, academia, and startups.

Industry’s Role in India’s Technological Journey and a Defining Moment for India

• Industry’s Role in India’s Technological Journey
  • The Indian private sector is playing a pivotal role in building India’s high-tech capabilities across semiconductors, clean tech, next-generation mobility, defence, and electronics.
  • In space, industry has contributed critical components for satellites and launch vehicles.
  • In defence, it is developing advanced technologies and participating in joint ventures for drones, combat platforms, and missiles.
  • In the realm of AI, industry is actively involved in projects like Bhashini, an AI-powered language translation initiative, and FutureSkills Prime, a program for upskilling India’s workforce in emerging technologies.
  • Looking ahead, the private sector must increase investments in R&D, proactively forge international technology partnerships, and lead collaborative ventures with academia and public research institutions.
  • These collaborations are essential not just for innovation, but also for generating a robust talent pipeline of engineers, scientists, and technicians who will drive India’s future growth.
• A Defining Moment for India
  • India stands today at a pivotal juncture. With a foundation built on economic resilience, industrial strength, innovation, and a forward-looking strategic posture, the country is no longer catching up, it is leading.
  • The purposeful march toward Viksit Bharat (Developed India) calls for intensified efforts from all sectors, particularly industry, to embrace a larger role in shaping India’s destiny.
  • Prime Minister Modi's declaration that Self-reliance has not only become India’s policy, but it has also become our passion, encapsulates the national ethos of the last decade.
  • The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and other stakeholders now aim to fuel this passion further and elevate India into the league of nations that are defining the future of global innovation and security.

Conclusion

• India’s decade-long transformation underlines a strategic pivot towards self-reliance, technological leadership, and global influence.
• By leveraging its industrial base, nurturing innovation, and fostering strategic collaborations, India is steadily positioning itself as a beacon of growth and resilience.
• The journey to becoming a strong, secure, and globally respected nation is well underway, and it demands continued commitment from government, industry, and society alike.