By Naina, 17th June 2026
The Make in India initiative has emerged as one of the most consequential industrial policy interventions in modern Indian economic history, and the cumulative architecture through which the broader Make in India initiative operates represents one of the most comprehensive manufacturing transformation frameworks globally. For most of the modern history of Indian industrial policy, the country operated through traditional industrial policy frameworks that progressively built one of the most consequential industrial policy architectures in the broader Indian economic development trajectory. The current cycle has produced a fundamentally different industrial policy environment in which Make in India has progressively positioned itself as one of the central pillars of India's broader manufacturing transformation, with the cumulative impact extending well beyond the immediate sectoral considerations into the broader Indian economic architecture. Launched on the 25th of September 2014, Make in India has progressively transformed the broader Indian manufacturing landscape across multiple consequential dimensions. India attracted a record-breaking 667.41 billion US dollars in FDI between 2014 and 2024. Foreign Direct Investment equity inflows into manufacturing rose by 69 percent, increasing from approximately 8.37 lakh crore rupees (approximately 97.7 billion US dollars) in 2004-14 to approximately 14.15 lakh crore rupees (approximately 165.1 billion US dollars) in 2014-24. India's FDI performance in FY 2025 reached over 80 billion US dollars, reflecting global investor interest across services, technology and manufacturing sectors.
What sits beneath these aggregate figures is a deeper transformation in Indian industrial policy architecture. The combination of the comprehensive Make in India framework, the broader integration of Make in India into Indian industrial policy, the rising significance of Make in India in shaping Indian manufacturing transformation, the cumulative impact of multiple converging developments on the broader Indian industrial ecosystem and the broader strategic significance of Make in India in shaping Indian manufacturing positioning has produced a Make in India initiative that earlier generations of Indian industrial policy could not have approached. The decisions reflected in the broader Make in India framework and the cumulative range of strategic positioning will continue to shape the trajectory of Indian manufacturing for the next generation. This analysis surveys Make in India sectors and achievements in 2026.
The Conceptual Foundation
The Make in India initiative was launched in September 2014 as a strategic reform initiative to strengthen India's manufacturing base, attract foreign direct investment, position India as a global manufacturing hub, enhance global competitiveness and generate employment. The combination of these foundational objectives, the broader integration of Make in India into Indian industrial policy and the cumulative impact on Indian manufacturing has positioned Make in India as one of the most consequential industrial policy interventions in modern Indian economic history.
The strategic significance of the Make in India framework extends well beyond the immediate sectoral considerations. The Make in India framework marked a paradigm shift toward positioning India as a global manufacturing destination, with the broader integration of the initiative into Indian industrial policy and the cumulative impact on Indian manufacturing. The combination of this paradigm shift, the broader integration of Make in India into Indian industrial policy and the cumulative impact on Indian manufacturing has positioned the Make in India framework as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Indian industrial policy.
The four pillars dimension has been particularly consequential. The Make in India initiative operates through four key pillars including New Processes (positioning ease of doing business as a key driver), New Infrastructure (developing industrial corridors and smart cities), New Sectors (opening up sectors including defence, insurance, medical devices for FDI) and New Mindset (shifting government's role from regulator to facilitator). The combination of these four pillars, the broader integration of these pillars into Make in India activity and the cumulative impact on Indian manufacturing has reinforced the broader strategic significance.
The Atmanirbhar Bharat Integration
The Atmanirbhar Bharat integration has been particularly consequential. The PLI Schemes for 14 key sectors are under implementation to enhance India's manufacturing capabilities and exports, in line with India's vision of becoming Atmanirbhar (self-reliant). The combination of the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat framework, the rising significance of self-reliance in Indian economic policy and the cumulative impact on Indian industrial activity has reinforced the broader strategic significance.
The strategic significance of Atmanirbhar Bharat extends beyond the immediate self-reliance considerations. The combination of the broader integration of Atmanirbhar Bharat into Indian industrial policy, the rising significance of Atmanirbhar Bharat in shaping Indian manufacturing positioning and the cumulative impact on Indian global manufacturing positioning has reinforced the broader strategic significance.
The 27 Sectors Coverage
The 27 sectors covered under Make in India have emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of the broader initiative architecture. The combination of comprehensive sectoral coverage including automobile, automobile components, aviation, biotechnology, chemicals, construction, defence manufacturing, electrical machinery, electronic systems, food processing, IT and BPM, leather, media and entertainment, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, ports and shipping, railways, renewable energy, roads and highways, space, textiles and garments, thermal power, tourism and hospitality, wellness, and the broader range of additional sectors has produced a comprehensive sectoral coverage architecture.
The Mobile Manufacturing Success Story
The mobile manufacturing success story has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. The combination of dramatic mobile manufacturing expansion, the broader integration of mobile manufacturing into Indian electronics activity and the cumulative impact on Indian global mobile manufacturing positioning has produced a mobile manufacturing transformation that has progressively positioned India as one of the most consequential mobile manufacturing geographies globally.
Domestic mobile production jumped from approximately 18,000 crore rupees in 2014-15 to over 5.45 lakh crore rupees in FY25, a 28-fold rise. The combination of these mobile manufacturing metrics, the broader integration of mobile manufacturing into Indian electronics activity and the cumulative impact on Indian global mobile manufacturing positioning has reflected the broader transformation. India is now the world's second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with over 300 manufacturing units compared to just two units a decade ago. India is now a net exporter of phones, reflecting the broader scale of the mobile manufacturing transformation.
The strategic significance of the mobile manufacturing success extends beyond the immediate manufacturing considerations. The combination of the broader integration of mobile manufacturing into Indian electronics positioning, the rising significance of mobile manufacturing in shaping Indian global electronics positioning and the cumulative impact on Indian manufacturing positioning has reinforced the broader strategic significance. The continued evolution of Indian mobile manufacturing will continue to shape the broader Indian electronics landscape.
The Electronics Manufacturing Achievement
The electronics manufacturing achievement has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. India's electronics production surged from approximately 1.9 lakh crore rupees to approximately 11.3 lakh crore rupees in a decade. Electronics production increased 146 percent over FY21-25. The combination of these electronics manufacturing metrics, the broader integration of electronics manufacturing into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian electronics positioning has reflected the broader electronics manufacturing transformation.
The Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme dimension has been particularly consequential. The outlay for the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme has been increased to approximately 40,000 crore rupees in the Union Budget 2026-27. The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) was notified in 2025 with an outlay of approximately 22,919 crore rupees. The scheme aims to strengthen component manufacturing and integrate India's electronics industry with global value chains. The combination of this ECMS framework, the broader integration of ECMS into Indian electronics activity and the cumulative impact on Indian electronics manufacturing has reinforced the broader strategic significance.
The electronics ecosystem target dimension has been equally consequential. The sector is now targeting a 500 billion US dollar domestic electronics ecosystem by 2030-31, aiming for deeper integration into global value chains. Since 2020-21, India has attracted over 4 billion US dollars in FDI in electronics manufacturing. The combination of these targets, the broader integration of electronics manufacturing into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian electronics positioning has reinforced the broader strategic significance.
The Semiconductor Manufacturing Achievement
The semiconductor manufacturing achievement has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. The combination of the rising significance of semiconductors in Indian manufacturing positioning, the broader integration of semiconductor activity into Indian industrial policy and the cumulative impact on Indian semiconductor activity has positioned semiconductors as one of the consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity.
The India Semiconductor Mission dimension has been particularly consequential. 2025 marked the graduation of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) from "policy" to "production." The strategic shift is to decouple from Chinese supply chains by establishing a domestic fab ecosystem. The combination of this strategic shift, the broader integration of ISM into Indian semiconductor activity and the cumulative impact on Indian semiconductor positioning has reflected the broader strategic significance.
The semiconductor projects dimension has been equally consequential. As of August 2025, India has approved 10 semiconductor projects across six states with cumulative investments of approximately 1.60 lakh crore rupees. Four major units (Tata Electronics, Micron, CG Power, Kaynes) are set to begin commercial production in 2026. The combination of these semiconductor projects, the broader integration of semiconductor manufacturing into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian semiconductor positioning has reflected the broader semiconductor manufacturing transformation.
The India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 dimension has been particularly consequential. India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 aims to strengthen industry-led research, advanced manufacturing and supply chain resilience. The combination of ISM 2.0's broader institutional positioning, the rising significance of ISM 2.0 in shaping Indian semiconductor positioning and the cumulative impact on Indian semiconductor activity has reinforced the broader strategic significance.
The Defence Manufacturing Achievement
The defence manufacturing achievement has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. The combination of India's defence manufacturing capability, the broader integration of defence manufacturing into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian defence positioning has positioned defence manufacturing as one of the consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity.
The INS Vikrant dimension has been particularly consequential. India showcased its ability to produce world-class defence equipment by building INS Vikrant, its first homegrown aircraft carrier. The combination of this defence manufacturing achievement, the broader integration of indigenous defence manufacturing into Indian defence activity and the cumulative impact on Indian defence positioning has reflected the broader defence manufacturing transformation.
The defence FDI framework dimension has been equally consequential. The defence industry allows 74 percent FDI under automatic route and 100 percent under the government route. The combination of these FDI considerations, the broader integration of defence FDI into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian defence manufacturing has reflected the broader defence FDI framework.
The Production Linked Incentive Integration
The Production Linked Incentive integration has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. The combination of the PLI Scheme as one of the principal arms of Make in India, the broader integration of PLI into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian manufacturing has positioned PLI as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity.
The PLI scale dimension has been particularly consequential. The 14-sector PLI scheme has drawn approximately 2.16 lakh crore rupees in investment and crossed approximately 20 lakh crore rupees in incremental production, creating approximately 14.4 lakh jobs by December 2025. The scheme has catalysed massive manufacturing expansion, attracting nearly 2 lakh crore rupees in realised investments across 14 priority sectors as of late 2025. The combination of these PLI metrics, the broader integration of PLI into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian manufacturing has reflected the broader PLI integration.
The National Manufacturing Mission
The National Manufacturing Mission has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. India launched the National Manufacturing Mission (NMM) in the 2025-2026 Union Budget. The NMM is designed to strengthen Make in India — pushing manufacturing's GDP share toward 25 percent, boosting employment and integrating India into global value chains. The combination of NMM's broader institutional positioning, the broader integration of NMM into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian manufacturing has positioned NMM as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity.
The strategic significance of NMM extends beyond the immediate operational considerations. The combination of NMM's role in addressing the broader range of Make in India implementation considerations, the rising significance of NMM in shaping Indian manufacturing positioning and the cumulative impact on Indian industrial positioning has reinforced the broader strategic significance. The continued evolution of NMM implementation will continue to shape the broader Indian manufacturing landscape.
The Biopharma SHAKTI Programme
The Biopharma SHAKTI Programme has emerged as one of the consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. The Union Budget 2026-27 prioritised sectors like biotechnology under the Biopharma SHAKTI Programme with approximately 10,000 crore rupees allocation. The combination of the Biopharma SHAKTI Programme's broader institutional positioning, the rising significance of biopharma in Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian biopharma positioning has reflected the broader Make in India sectoral expansion. The continued evolution of the Biopharma SHAKTI Programme will continue to shape the broader Indian biopharma landscape.
The Foreign Direct Investment Achievement
The Foreign Direct Investment achievement has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. India attracted a record-breaking 667.41 billion US dollars in FDI between 2014 and 2024. This was made possible by improving the business environment, simplifying rules and building investor confidence through policy reforms. The combination of these FDI metrics, the broader integration of FDI into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian manufacturing has reflected the broader FDI achievement.
The strategic significance of the FDI achievement extends beyond the immediate financial considerations. India's relatively robust FDI performance with inflows reaching over 80 billion US dollars in FY 2025 reflects global investor interest across services, technology and manufacturing sectors. The combination of the broader integration of FDI into Indian industrial activity, the rising significance of FDI in shaping Indian manufacturing positioning and the cumulative impact on Indian global investment positioning has reinforced the broader strategic significance.
The Ease of Doing Business Achievement
The Ease of Doing Business achievement has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. India made a significant jump in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business ranking, moving from 142nd in 2014 to 63rd in 2020. This progress was achieved by cutting unnecessary paperwork, simplifying taxes and making it easier to start and run a business. The combination of this Ease of Doing Business achievement, the broader integration of ease of doing business into Indian industrial policy and the cumulative impact on Indian business positioning has reflected the broader Ease of Doing Business achievement.
The Logistics Infrastructure Achievement
The logistics infrastructure achievement has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. The combination of comprehensive logistics infrastructure development, the broader integration of logistics into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian logistics positioning has reflected the broader logistics infrastructure achievement.
The logistics cost dimension has been particularly consequential. Logistics cost is down to approximately 8 to 10 percent of GDP under the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti. The combination of these logistics cost considerations, the broader integration of logistics infrastructure into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian logistics positioning has reinforced the broader strategic significance.
The PM Gati Shakti dimension has been equally consequential. PM Gati Shakti has progressively integrated multiple infrastructure ministries into a unified planning framework. The combination of PM Gati Shakti's broader institutional positioning, the rising significance of PM Gati Shakti in shaping Indian infrastructure activity and the cumulative impact on Indian infrastructure positioning has reflected the broader logistics infrastructure transformation.
The Skilling Achievement
The skilling achievement has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. PM SETU and the broader range of skilling initiatives aim to train approximately one crore youth, with the broader integration of skilling into Indian industrial activity. The combination of this skilling framework, the broader integration of skilling into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian workforce positioning has reflected the broader skilling achievement.
The Strategic Sector Achievement
The strategic sector achievement has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. Union Budget 2026-27 prioritised sectors like biotechnology under the Biopharma SHAKTI Programme, increased allocation of approximately 40,000 crore rupees for electronic components and the broader range of additional strategic sector allocations. The combination of these strategic sector allocations, the broader integration of strategic sectors into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian strategic sector positioning has reflected the broader strategic sector achievement.
The Make in India 2.0
Make in India 2.0 has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India evolution. The combination of Make in India 2.0's broader institutional positioning, the rising significance of Make in India 2.0 in shaping Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian industrial positioning has reflected the broader Make in India evolution. The continued evolution of Make in India 2.0 implementation will continue to shape the broader Indian industrial landscape.
The Vande Bharat Trains Achievement
The Vande Bharat trains achievement has emerged as one of the consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. The combination of Vande Bharat trains as one of the consequential indigenous engineering achievements, the broader integration of Vande Bharat into Indian railway activity and the cumulative impact on Indian railway manufacturing has reflected the broader indigenous manufacturing transformation. The continued evolution of Vande Bharat manufacturing will continue to shape the broader Indian railway manufacturing landscape.
The R&D and Innovation Achievement
The R&D and innovation achievement has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. On the 16th of October 2025, global technology firms LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics announced major R&D efforts in India, leveraging domestic engineering talent in semiconductor design, system-on-chip and AI-enabled technologies. The combination of these R&D considerations, the broader integration of R&D into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian R&D positioning has reflected the broader R&D framework.
The Job Creation Achievement
The job creation achievement has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India activity. The combination of substantial job creation under Make in India across multiple sectors, the broader integration of job creation considerations into Indian industrial activity and the cumulative impact on Indian employment activity has reflected the broader job creation achievement. The combination of approximately 14.4 lakh jobs generated under PLI alone, the broader range of additional jobs created under multiple Make in India arms and the cumulative impact on Indian employment has reflected the broader employment framework.
The Challenges and Limitations
The challenges and limitations of Make in India have emerged as one of the consequential dimensions of contemporary Make in India evolution. The combination of operational challenges including the broader range of sector-specific implementation considerations, the rising significance of execution capability in Make in India outcomes and the cumulative impact on Make in India performance has produced challenges that require active management.
The manufacturing GDP share dimension has been particularly consequential. The continued evolution of Indian manufacturing's GDP share toward the target of 25 percent has produced ongoing implementation considerations. The continued evolution of NMM and the broader range of supporting initiatives will be central to addressing this challenge.
The skills dimension has been equally consequential. The continued scarcity of skilled workers in certain Make in India sectors has produced ongoing implementation considerations. The continued evolution of PM SETU and the broader range of skilling initiatives will be central to addressing this challenge.
The Indian Manufacturing Transformation
The Indian manufacturing transformation enabled by Make in India has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Indian economic activity. The combination of Make in India aiming to raise manufacturing's contribution to 25 percent of GDP, the broader integration of Make in India into Indian manufacturing transformation and the cumulative impact on Indian industrial activity has positioned Make in India as one of the central pillars of Indian manufacturing transformation.
The strategic significance of the manufacturing transformation extends beyond the immediate sectoral considerations. The combination of the broader integration of Make in India into Indian industrial activity, the rising significance of manufacturing in Indian economic policy and the cumulative impact on Indian manufacturing positioning has reinforced the broader strategic significance. The continued evolution of Indian manufacturing transformation will continue to shape the broader Indian economic landscape.
The Risks and the Frictions
Several risks warrant clear recognition. The first is the execution dimension. The broader execution of Make in India requires substantial implementation capability across multiple sectors. The continued investment in execution capability will be central to addressing this risk.
The second risk is the global trade dimension. The broader integration of Make in India manufacturing into global trade has produced exposure to global trade dynamics. The continued evolution of Indian trade strategy will be central to addressing this risk.
The third risk is the competition from Vietnam and Bangladesh dimension. The broader competition from countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh has produced competitive considerations.
The fourth risk is the manufacturing GDP share dimension. The continued evolution of Indian manufacturing's GDP share toward the 25 percent target has produced ongoing implementation considerations.
The Direction of Travel
The Make in India initiative represents one of the most consequential industrial policy interventions in modern Indian economic history. The combination of the conceptual foundation, the Atmanirbhar Bharat integration, the 27 sectors coverage, the mobile manufacturing success story, the electronics manufacturing achievement, the semiconductor manufacturing achievement, the defence manufacturing achievement, the Production Linked Incentive integration, the National Manufacturing Mission, the Biopharma SHAKTI Programme, the Foreign Direct Investment achievement, the Ease of Doing Business achievement, the logistics infrastructure achievement, the skilling achievement, the strategic sector achievement, the Make in India 2.0, the Vande Bharat trains achievement, the R&D and innovation achievement, the job creation achievement, the Indian manufacturing transformation and the broader range of additional dimensions has produced a Make in India initiative that has progressively built the broader institutional architecture supporting Indian industrial transformation. The implications run through every dimension of Indian industrial activity, of the broader Indian economic landscape and of the cumulative architecture of contemporary Indian industrial development.
For India specifically, Make in India has positioned the country at the centre of one of the most consequential industrial policy frameworks globally. The country's combination of the comprehensive initiative architecture, the rising integration of Make in India into Indian industrial activity, the broader institutional capability supporting Make in India implementation and the cumulative impact on Indian industrial activity has produced industrial policy conditions that earlier generations of Indian industrial activity could not have approached. The continued evolution of Make in India will continue to shape both the Indian industrial landscape and the broader Indian economic positioning.
The longer-term implications extend beyond the immediate sectoral considerations. Make in India has fundamentally shaped the architecture of Indian industrial policy. The traditional Indian industrial policy environment, anchored on the broader range of established industrial policy frameworks, has been progressively transformed by Make in India that has fundamentally positioned India as one of the most consequential industrial geographies globally. The implications for Indian industrial competitiveness, for the broader Indian economic activity and for the cumulative architecture of Indian industrial development have been substantial.
The decisions being made now, by the implementing ministries administering Make in India, by the broader range of beneficiaries integrating Make in India into their operations and by the cumulative range of stakeholders engaging with the broader Make in India framework, will continue to shape the trajectory of Indian industrial activity for the next generation. Make in India is no longer a peripheral consideration of Indian industrial policy. It has become the structural reality of contemporary Indian industrial activity, the principal industrial policy framework through which significant portions of Indian industrial activity operate and one of the most consequential dimensions of India's broader economic transformation. The initiative continues. The structural sophistication is real. The implications, for Indian industrial competitiveness, for the broader Indian economic activity and for the cumulative architecture of Indian industrial development, will continue to develop through the rest of the present year and beyond.
The Make in India initiative has emerged as one of the most consequential dimensions of contemporary Indian industrial activity, and its continued evolution will reshape the broader trajectory of Indian industrial development, the cumulative architecture of Indian manufacturing transformation and the broader Indian positioning in the global manufacturing landscape for the generation to come toward the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. The work of the broader Make in India initiative continues, and the next chapter of Indian industrial activity is being written, in real time, in the cumulative range of Make in India investments, in the broader expansion of Make in India sectoral coverage, in the rising integration of Make in India into Indian global manufacturing positioning and in the broader range of industrial activity that has progressively built the comprehensive Indian manufacturing ecosystem under the Make in India architecture.