The ‘Make in India’ initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as one of the most significant endeavours in the country's history, aimed at transforming India into a global manufacturing powerhouse. Launched in 2014, it has brought together government, businesses, and other stakeholders to align their strategies and efforts towards making India a hub for global production for over 10 years now. This transformation hinges on several interconnected elements: strategic alignment between businesses and government, a commitment to sustainable practices, the embrace of cutting-edge technologies, and the cultivation of a skilled workforce. These elements are not merely components of ‘Make in India’ but are fundamental to securing India’s leadership in the global manufacturing arena.

In today’s interconnected world, businesses operate within a fluctuating global landscape. Aligning company strategies with supportive government policies is crucial for navigating these complexities. Effective strategies and policies provide the necessary framework for businesses to thrive amidst global challenges like shifting demand, supply chain vulnerabilities, and escalating production costs.

In the world of global manufacturing, companies must navigate an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment. This makes the alignment between a company’s strategies and government policies vital for success. The right strategies and policies provide businesses with the framework and support needed to flourish, especially in the face of challenges such as fluctuating global demand, supply chain disruptions, and rising production costs.

The Major goal of this initiative is to boost the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP, create millions of jobs, and attract foreign investments through relaxed FDI norms and improved infrastructure. The initiative also focuses on enhancing the ease of doing business, promoting innovation, and improving skills through vocational training. While it has had some success, challenges like labor laws and infrastructure gaps remain. Ultimately, ‘Make in India’ aims to position India as a competitive player in the global market, driving economic growth and export expansion.

Additionally, diversity and inclusion must be prioritised. Women, in particular, have been underrepresented in manufacturing industries globally, and India is no exception. Promoting gender equality in the manufacturing sector can help unlock the full potential of the workforce and foster a more inclusive, innovative, and collaborative work environment. Diverse teams bring a range of perspectives, which is essential for solving complex problems and driving innovation. By empowering women and other underrepresented groups in manufacturing, India can ensure that its workforce is not only skilled but also diverse and adaptable.

Cultivating a skilled workforce is paramount. India’s young population represents a significant advantage, but realising its full potential requires strategic investment in skill development, up skilling, and industry-academia partnerships. Training programs focused on advanced manufacturing technologies are essential. Collaborations between industry and educational institutions will ensure curricula align with industry needs. Promoting diversity and inclusion, particularly the participation of women in manufacturing, will unlock greater innovation and create a more robust workforce.

At the heart of India's growth potential lies the ‘China Plus One’ strategy, which calls for businesses to diversify their supply chains beyond China. As businesses around the world look to reduce their dependence on China, India is well-positioned to capitalise on this shift. To attract investment and foster growth, India must offer the right incentives, improve ease of doing business, and provide a clear and consistent regulatory framework. 

For companies, aligning their strategies with the changing global business landscape is equally important. In addition to pursuing cost-effectiveness, companies must focus on areas such as research and development (R&D), innovation, quality control, and sustainability. India’s manufacturing sector must prioritise R&D to drive product and process innovation, allowing it to stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of global consumers. The government can play a significant role by providing incentives for R&D, supporting collaborations between businesses and research institutions, and encouraging the development of new technologies.

Moreover, India must ensure that its policies are agile, responding to global shifts and emerging opportunities. Policymakers must focus on creating a regulatory environment that encourages investment in infrastructure, simplifies trade processes, and minimises bureaucracy. By strengthening these frameworks, India can establish itself as a reliable and competitive manufacturing destination for global companies.

Sustainability is one of the most pressing issues facing the global manufacturing sector today. As countries and businesses increasingly focus on reducing their environmental impact, India’s manufacturing sector must prioritise green manufacturing practices. Green manufacturing involves the adoption of environmentally friendly processes, reduction of energy consumption, lowering carbon footprints, and implementing a circular economy approach, where resources are reused and waste is minimised.

For India to be recognised as a global manufacturing leader, it must lead by example in reducing its carbon emissions. Manufacturing processes that rely on fossil fuels, excessive energy consumption, and wasteful practices contribute significantly to environmental degradation. In contrast, green manufacturing not only minimises these environmental impacts but also presents significant economic opportunities. By reducing energy consumption, Indian manufacturers can lower operational costs, while adopting circular economy practices—such as recycling, reusing, and repurposing materials—can open new markets for eco-friendly products and services.

Additionally, sustainability is increasingly becoming a key consideration for international buyers. Consumers and businesses are demanding that products be produced with minimal environmental impact. Meeting global environmental standards will not only help Indian manufacturers gain access to new markets but will also enhance the country’s reputation as a responsible player in the global economy. International trade agreements and consumer preferences are increasingly favoring companies that prioritise sustainability, and India’s manufacturing sector must respond to this demand. By incorporating green manufacturing practices into their operations, Indian manufacturers can differentiate themselves and add value to their products while addressing the global need for environmentally responsible practices.

Sustainability also extends to the way India handles its raw materials. For instance, India’s mining industry plays a vital role in supplying essential resources to manufacturing, but it is also under pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Promoting sustainable mining techniques and efficient resource use across industries is key to ensuring that India’s raw material sector can support manufacturing in a way that does not deplete natural resources or damage the environment.

The government can further support green manufacturing through policies that provide incentives for sustainable practices, including renewable energy adoption, energy-efficient technologies, and waste-reduction strategies. By linking sustainability goals to financial and regulatory incentives, the government can create a robust framework for Indian manufacturers to transition to greener production methods.

The future of manufacturing hinges on the integration of advanced technologies like automation, robotics, AI, machine learning, 3D printing, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which are transforming how products are designed, produced, and delivered. These technologies help reduce manual labor, increase precision, enhance production speeds, and improve safety, particularly in hazardous environments. Automation and robotics also lower operational costs and boost product quality and consistency. Additionally, digitalisation through real-time data collection, predictive analytics, and sensors allows for improved supply chain management and production efficiency, enabling manufacturers to quickly adapt to changing demands. For India to remain competitive in the global manufacturing sector, embracing these advancements is crucial to driving growth, improving productivity, and optimising processes.

To fully harness the potential of these technologies, India needs to invest in digital infrastructure, build a skilled workforce that can operate and maintain these systems, and foster a culture of continuous innovation. Integrating advanced manufacturing technologies into Indian factories will require substantial investments, but the long-term benefits, including increased competitiveness, higher quality products, and reduced costs, will make it worthwhile.

No manufacturing transformation can succeed without the right people driving it. India’s young and diverse population offers a significant advantage in building a capable workforce for the manufacturing sector. However, for this workforce to contribute effectively, it is essential to invest in skill development, up skilling, and industry-academia collaboration.

India’s manufacturing sector is becoming increasingly technology-driven, and as a result, workers need to acquire new skills to operate advanced manufacturing systems. Training programs must be developed to teach workers how to work with automation, robotics, AI, and other cutting-edge technologies. Industry-academia collaboration will be essential in ensuring that educational institutions align their curricula with the evolving needs of the industry, producing graduates who are well-equipped to thrive in the modern manufacturing environment.

The ‘Make in India’ initiative gives a holistic opportunity to India for driving growth. Achieving this vision requires a concerted focus on strategic alignment, sustainability, technological advancement, and workforce development. By prioritising these elements, India can establish a robust manufacturing ecosystem capable of competing on the world stage, driving economic growth, and contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive global manufacturing landscape. This includes championing local innovation, such as in the drone sector, to position India as a global leader in cutting-edge technology—truly embodying the principle of ‘local for global’ and showcasing India’s potential as a powerhouse in the global manufacturing arena.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash is the Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, India's largest drone start-up and an entrepreneur who has been making rapid strides in the Global Changemakers Community. Agnishwar Jayaprakash founded Ignite-India, an innovation ecosystem established in over 70,000 schools and colleges across India.  The United Nations recognised the ecosystem as one of the Top 10 socio-economic initiatives in 2016. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School and has served in the UN under Assistant Secretary General Madam Lakshmi Puri. Founded in 2015 with a team of 5, he has scaled Garuda Aerospace to a 200+ member team having the largest drone fleet in India with over 400 drones and 500 pilots operating in 84 cities.