India has seen a significant shift towards becoming a global manufacturing hub, largely due to the ‘Make in India’ initiative which began a decade ago. According to the Ministry of Electronics & IT’s recent announcement, this program has enhanced domestic production, decreased reliance on imports, and generated substantial employment.
Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw, provided an overview of India’s advancements in mobile and electronics manufacturing over the past ten years.
From Imports to Independence: India’s Mobile Manufacturing Growth
India now ranks as the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturing country. The sector has grown from just two factories in 2014 to over 300 today:
- In 2014-15, only 26% of mobile phones sold in India were made locally, with the majority being imported.
- By 2024, this has dramatically increased to 99.2%, with nearly all mobile phones sold in India being manufactured domestically.
- The financial value of mobile phone manufacturing has risen from Rs. 18,900 crore in FY14 to Rs. 4,22,000 crore in FY24.
India annually manufactures between 325 and 330 million mobile phones, with about a billion in use. Domestic market saturation has led to an export boom, now exceeding Rs. 1,29,000 crore from virtually none in 2014.
Electronics Manufacturing: A Decade of Job Creation
The expansion in the electronics sector has resulted in the creation of 12 lakh jobs over the last decade, impacting the economy and enhancing living standards.
Strengthening Domestic Production of Components
The ‘Make in India’ initiative has encouraged the production of various components:
- Basic components like chargers, battery packs, USB cables, and mechanical parts.
- Advanced components such as Lithium-ion cells, speakers, microphones, display assemblies, and camera modules.
Advancing India’s Electronics Manufacturing: Focus on Semiconductors
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined plans to deepen the electronics manufacturing value chain, focusing on semiconductors, to foster self-reliance:
- Historical restrictive policies from 1950 to 1990 slowed manufacturing growth, but ‘Make in India’ is overcoming these challenges.
- The India Semiconductor Mission has initiated five major projects to build a robust manufacturing ecosystem with participants including:
Micron
- Tata Electronics (two projects)
- CG Power
- Keynes
This development aims to fulfill India’s long-standing ambition to be a semiconductor manufacturing nation.
Make in India: Reshaping the Economy
The initiative’s influence extends across various sectors, promoting a return to domestic production in areas like toys, defense equipment, EV motors, and textiles.
Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, in his Motion of Thanks speech in Lok Sabha, highlighted:
- A 239% increase in toy exports, significantly reducing import dependency.
- The global recognition of products from Indian MSMEs, with clothing, electronics, and electrical goods gaining international markets.
India’s Vision for a Developed Nation by 2047
The Prime Minister stressed that the vision of a developed India is a collective aspiration of its 140 crore citizens. He underscored the potential for India to achieve this status by 2047, coinciding with 100 years of independence, calling for unified efforts from all sectors to build a modern, capable, and self-reliant nation.