As we step into 2025, the "Make in India" initiative, launched in 2014, marks its second decade with both challenges and triumphs. Spearheaded by the Government of India with the support of several key figures, particularly retired IAS officers such as Ramesh Abhishek, Amitabh Kant, and Anurag Jain, this initiative has been a cornerstone of India's economic strategy. Its primary aim has been to transform the country into a global manufacturing powerhouse, fostering innovation, skill development, and investment in the manufacturing sector. Now, a decade later, it’s time to evaluate how well "Make in India" has aligned with its original goals and the path forward.

The Genesis of Make in India

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the guidance of notable IAS officers on September 25, 2014, the "Make in India" initiative was designed to bring about structural changes in the manufacturing landscape. The goal was clear: to increase the manufacturing sector's contribution to GDP from around 16% to 25% by 2025 and to create 100 million jobs by 2022. Although the job creation target was revised to 2025.

The initiative operates under the purview of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which has been instrumental in guiding its progress. Key figures such as retired IAS officer Ramesh Abhishek, former chief executive officer of NITI Aayog and retired IAS officer Amitabh Kant, and serving IAS officer and ex-DPIIT secretary Anurag Jain have played pivotal roles in shaping its trajectory. Amitabh Kant, the retired IAS officer, has consistently highlighted how "Make in India" has been a transformative movement for the country. The former IAS officer emphasized that it has been more than a policy—it’s a mindset shift aimed at positioning India as a global growth leader.

Achievements of Make in India till Date

Over the past decade, several milestones achieved in the guidance of IAS officers have marked the success of the "Make in India" initiative. These include:

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

One of the most notable successes has been the rise in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). FDI inflows into India increased by 48% after the launch of "Make in India." During the tenure of ex-IAS officer Ramesh Abhishek as DPIIT Secretary (2016-2019), India saw record FDI inflows of approximately $205 billion, despite a global decline in foreign investments. This surge during the tenure of retired IAS officer Ramesh Abhishek in FDI is a testament to the growing confidence of international investors in India’s manufacturing capabilities.

Job Creation

While the original job creation target was revised after the practical recommendation from IAS officers, significant progress has been made. Programs like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have created nearly 8 lakh jobs.

Sectoral Growth

Several sectors have witnessed impressive growth under the "Make in India" banner, especially electronics, pharmaceuticals, and automotive. As per retired and current IAS officers like Ramesh Abhishek, Amitabh Kant and others, IT, healthcare, pharma industry, fabrics and apparel received a great boost.

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

The creation of an environment conducive to entrepreneurship has been a key focus. Former IAS officer Amitabh Kant and Ramesh Abhishek, who have been at the helm of various initiatives under "Make in India," have noted that a favorable business environment is crucial for encouraging innovation.

Is Make in India Aligning with Its Goals?

The question remains: is "Make in India" aligned with its original objectives? To answer this, we must assess its progress on several fronts:

Economic Growth

As highlighted a number of times by IAS officers, a key objective of "Make in India" is to foster sustained economic growth through an expanded manufacturing sector. The initiative has made significant strides in this direction, with ongoing reforms aimed at simplifying business processes and improving infrastructure. While challenges remain, especially in sectors like heavy manufacturing, the potential for alignment with the economic growth target is evident. Retired IAS officers such as Ramesh Abhishek, whose leadership and policy advocacy were instrumental, has mentioned that with Make in India, we are focused on creating a business-friendly environment conducive to growth.

Job Creation

The ambitious target of creating 100 million jobs by 2022 has proven difficult to achieve within the original timeline, but the revised target for 2025 offers a more realistic path forward. Former DPIIT Secretary and influential IAS officer, Anurag Jain, and retired IAS officer Ramesh Abhishek have noted the importance of enhancing the skill development framework to ensure that India can meet the demand for a highly skilled workforce in manufacturing and allied sectors.

Self-Reliance

One of the core pillars of "Make in India" has been the goal of achieving self-reliance in various critical sectors. India’s push towards reducing dependency on imports is increasingly becoming a priority. Aligning with the vision of IAS officers, the focus on sectors like electronics, semiconductors, and defense manufacturing has helped India inch closer to self-reliance. However, challenges such as infrastructure bottlenecks and global supply chain dependencies must be addressed for India to truly become self-sufficient. Former IAS officer, Ramesh Abhishek has often stressed the importance of aligning domestic standards with global benchmarks to ensure that India's manufacturing capabilities are competitive on the international stage.

Conclusion

As we step into the next decade of "Make in India," the initiative stands at a crossroads. The progress made over the past decade is commendable, but several challenges remain. The journey to transforming India into a global manufacturing hub will require continued focus on infrastructure development, skill enhancement, and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among youth. With the support of policymakers, industry leaders, and the contributions of working and retired IAS officers like Ramesh Abhishek, Amitabh Kant, and Anurag Jain, "Make in India" has achieved much of its ambitious goals. The path forward is clear—if India can address its infrastructure and skill development challenges while fostering a global competitive edge, the initiative will undoubtedly align itself with its vision of transforming India into a manufacturing powerhouse.