Atmanirbhar Bharat (transl. Self-Reliant India)[1] is a policy framework introduced by theGovernment of India during theCOVID-19 pandemic. It aimed to economic self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on external sources. The program outlines measures that to strengthen local production capabilities, supports the nation's economic stability, and expand India's role in international trade networks.[2]
IndianPrime Minister Narendra Modi had first coined the English term "Self-reliance" as early as 2014 in discussions surrounding national security, poverty alleviation, and theDigital India initiative. Its equivalent Hindi phrase,Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), gained prominence during the announcement of India's economic stimulus package in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[3]
IndigenousHAL Tejas, a multirole light fighter, with some imported technologies. Indigenous content is 59.7% by value and 75.5% by numbers (2016). Indigenization of a number of parts is underway.[7]
The Indian defence sector also required self-sufficiency inmilitary logistics, including food during emergencies.[9]
TheMinistry of Defence (MoD) was going to amend the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) in 2020[10].[needs update] Under the new rules, the private sector will be allowed to form joint ventures withpublic sector undertakings in India by acquiring a 51% stake. The private sector will be permitted to export up to 25% of the production to third countries.Indian Armed Forces have also assured support that they would purchase the end product.TheIndian Multi-Role Helicopter is the first major project to follow this process.[11]
During thecoronavirus pandemic in India, thelockdown, an existing slowdown in the growth of the domestic economy and theeconomic impact of the pandemic, the government issued an adapted idea of self-reliance.[12] On 12 May 2020, Prime Minister Modi publicly used the Hindi phrase for the first time stating:[13] (trans.) "The state of the world today teaches us that (AtmaNirbhar Bharat) 'Self-reliant India' is the only path. It is said in our scriptures—Eshah Panthah. That is—self-sufficient India."[14][15] While the speech was in Hindi, the reference by thePress Information Bureau to both "self-reliance" and "self-sufficiency" led to some confusion.[14][15] Under Modi's leadership, theGovernment of India announced an economic package known as the "Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan" (transl. Self-reliant India Mission).[16]The initiative received a mixed response.[17]
According toSwaminathan Aiyar writing forThe Economic Times, "atmanirbhar" can be translated as both self-reliance and self-sufficiency. In the 1960s and 1970s, India's drive for self-sufficiency was unsuccessful,[18] and doing the same thing again is not advisable.[18]Sadanand Dhume was sceptical of the terminology and language related to the phrase, and whether it was meant for the revival ofpre-liberalization era policies.[19] "Aatmanirbharta" or Self-Reliance was the OxfordHindiWord of the Year in 2020.[20][1]
This adapted plan for self-reliance or "Aatmanirbharta" emerged with a readiness to associate and challenge the globaleconomy, unlike the past decades where there had been a wish to disassociate, such as during the pre-independenceSwadeshi movement and with post-independence foreign aid.[21] Swadeshi, however, has been adapted with slogans such as "vocal for local" while at the same time, global interconnectedness is being promoted.[21] The government aims to reconcile this; according to theEconomist Intelligence Unit; "The policies created by Modi's aims to reduce domestic market access to imports, but at the same time open the economy and export to the rest of the world".[22]
Along with the coronavirus pandemic, Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan could be seen in the context of India-China border relations and India's economic dependence onChina in some sectors.[23] Calls for India toboycott Chinese products and promote anAtmanirbhar Bharat. In contrast, India faces practical challenges in the near term, as it imports ₹6.4 trillion ($75 billion USD) worth of goods from China annually and certain sectors of its economy are reliant on China.[24] Following theGalwan Valley skirmish on 15 June 2020, which resulted in a number of deaths,Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, an affiliate of theRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said if the government was serious about making India self-reliant, Chinese companies should not be given contracts for projects such as theDelhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System.[25][26] A Chinese company was awarded a contract for 5.6 km (3.5 miles) of the project.[27]
While Atmanirbhar Bharat has been extensively promoted during thepremiership of Narendra Modi, especially in rhetoric and speeches, this is not always apparent in government policies.[28] There has been concern thatAtmanirbhar Bharat is political messaging that has no economic impact.[29] India'strade deficit restricts a reduction in dependence on imports, limiting protectionism and isolationism.[30] Protectionist tendencies such as tariff increases, however, have been seen during this phase.[31] The general trend of the Modi government has been to support domestic industries rather than global ones.[32] Subsidies are being used as incentives to get global business leaders into India.[31] The initiative has been accused ofcrony capitalism and of giving false hope to small businesses that align with the messaging.[33] On December 7, 2021, theChief Minister of Madhya Pradesh said for India to be self-reliant, states must be self-reliant.[34][35]
Prime Minister Modi used the phrase "self-reliance" in June 2014 about defence manufacturing for self-reliance in national security.[36] He reiterated this over the years; in 2018, he spoke of the need for India to make its weapons.[37] In August 2014, he connected self-reliance toDigital India,[38] in September 2014 about making the poor self-reliant,[39] and in March 2022 in relation to technologies.[40]
Proponents of Atmanirbhar Bharat, including Modi and his cabinet ministers for finance and law, have said this self-reliance policy does not aim to be protectionist, exclusionist, or isolationist. For India, self-reliance means being a larger and more important part of the world economy.[41][42] The concept requires policies that are efficient and resilient, and encourage equity and competitiveness.[43] It means being self-sustaining and self-generating;[43] and creating "wealth and values not only for ourselves but for the larger humanity".[44] In March 2021, Finance MinisterNirmala Sitharaman said the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign is not about bringing backsocialism or import substitution, rather the intent is to boost manufacturing.[45] The five pillars of Atmanirbhar Bharat are economy, infrastructure, technology-driven systems, vibrant demography, and demand.[46]
A 5ml vial ofCovaxin[47][48] has been conveyed as a symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat.[49]
The research, development, and manufacture ofCOVID-19 vaccinations in India was connected in separate statements toatmanirbharta by the President,[50] Vice-president,[51] Prime Minister,[49] and other Union ministers.[52] Modi stated; "Made in India vaccines are a symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat".[49]
On May 12, October 12, and November 12, 2020, the government announced three Atmanirbhar Bharat packages worth₹29.87trillion (equivalent to₹35 trillion or US$420 billion in 2023) in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The second and third economic stimulus packages were labelled Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan 2.0 and 3.0.[53][54][55] As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat packages, the government decided to change the definition ofSmall and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs),[56] boosting the scope for private participation in several sectors,[57] increasingforeign direct investment (FDI) in the defence sector;[57] and the changes found support in many sectors such as solar energy manufacturing.[58]
The growth of India'spersonal protective equipment (PPE) sector from limited production before March 2020 to 450,000 pieces a day by the beginning of July 2020 is considered an example of a self-reliant India.[59][60] The PPE industry in India became a₹100billion (equivalent to₹120 billion or US$1.4 billion in 2023) industry in three months, the second largest after China.[61]
The importance of education and research for self-reliance has been recognised.[62] In an address to the students ofVisva-Bharati University, the newNational Education Policy of India was connected to the creation of an Atmanirbhar Bharat,[63] and Prime Minister Modi challenged the students to make the villages surrounding the university self-reliant.[64] TheIndian Minister of Education has also stressed the link between education and Atmanirbhar Bharat.[65] Educationist and university administratorC. Raj Kumar said the vision of an 'Atmanirbhar University' combines the vision ofJohn Henry Newman's work "Idea of a University" with theHumboldtian model of higher education.[65] Apex public education bodies such asAICTE have asked universities to use Indian books where possible in an effort to promote Atmanirbhar Bharat.[66] Thehome minister acknowledged the new policy also gives due importance tosvabhasha, theIndian language.[5]
The Defence Minister,Rajnath Singh, addressed an Atmanirbhar Bharat Defence Industry Outreach Webinar in August 2020. Government and private defence leaders are in attendance.
In August 2020, Defence MinisterRajnath Singh announced theDefence Ministry was "now ready for a big push to Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative" by imposing import prohibitions on 101 military items in a staged manner over five years.[70][71] In the following months, more positive indigenization lists and negative import lists were released.[72][73][74] New legislation[a] was portrayed as initiative towards increasing India's self-reliance.[76][77] A new category of procurement, Indian Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (Indian-IDDM) was created.[78] Reform of theOrdnance Factory Board and giving the new defence public sector undertaking (PSU) units large-scale orders was a move towards military self-reliance.[79] Equipment manufactured under Indian-IDDM has been handed over to the military.[80][81] In the fiscal year 2022, the Ministry of defence decided to spend 65% of its capital budget on domestic procurement.[82] Increased self-reliance is also being seen in the construction of its warships and submarines.[83]
The phrase was also connected to the2021,[84] and2022 Union budgets.[85][86] Targets for self-reliance infertiliser production by 2023 have been announced.[87] Government-backed events to provide for the implementation and promotion of self-reliance, and associated slogans such as 'vocal for local' have Materialized in the form of the country's first national toy fair, which was digitally launched in February 2021,[88] and the associated brainstorming eventToycathon.[89] In July 2020, the government launched the Atmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge to encourage the building of apps.[90] 6,940 entries were received, of which 24 apps were chosen as winners, including mapping apps, fact-checking apps a cricket video game. The challenge's success led to its continuation through another round of entry submission.[91] Government schemes also support the implementation of self-reliant initiatives.[92]
Products should be "made in India" and promoted to make them competitive.[94][95] During theIndependence Day speech in 2020, Prime Minister Modi said; "The mindset of free India should be "vocal for local". We should appreciate our local products if we don't do this, then our products will not get the opportunity to do better and will not get encouraged."[96][97]Amul managing director RS Sodhi said the phrase vocal for local "meant that products be made competitivevis-à-vis global brands" and that "it didn't mean that one must only buy products that have a logo 'made in India' on it".[94] An extension of this slogan is 'local for global', meaning locally made Indian products should have global appeal and reach.[94] The slogan has been extended to sectors such as toy manufacturing; "time to be vocal for local toys".[98][99]
Prime Minister Modi, during the 2020 Independence speech, said "Make for World" should go together with 'Make in India' and that the slogan "Make for World" should be a key slogan like 'Make in India' is.[96][100] A variation of the slogan is "Make in India for the world".[101]Arvind Panagariya, the first vice-chairperson ofNITI Aayog, said in an interview withGovindraj Ethiraj that implementation of the slogan is a matter of optics and policy change.[102]
Under the Make for the World vision, India in 2025 became the topsmartphone exporter to the U.S. for the first time, fueled by Apple's shift in manufacturing amid global trade realignments, overtakingChina with a 240% year-on-year surge in shipments.[103]
In June 2020, India's Finance MinisterNirmala Sitharaman said, "At least don't buy Ganesha idols from China" after commenting on India's over-reliance on "non-essential" Chinese imports.[104]
Atmanirbhar Bharat has been called a re-packaged version or revival of theMake in India movement using new slogans such as "Vocal for Local".[105][106][107] Opposition members have spoken about India enacting policies and building companies since its independence to make the nation self-reliant—Steel Authority of India (SAIL) for steel production, IIT for domestic engineers,All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for medical science,Defence Research and Development Organisation for defence research,Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for aviation,Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for space research,Central Coalfields (CCL),NTPC andGAIL in the area of energy; criticizing the advertising tactics.[3] Some have rephrased it as "Fend For Yourself" campaign;[108] it has also been called "economic nationalism".[109] It has been noted the phrase has been used so extensively that it has become "India's overarching national policy for growth and development".[13] Unfinished reforms in the Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda span from government reform to urban reform to civil service reform.[110]
Arvind Panagariya has criticized policies of self-sufficiency and protectionism as opposed to free trade in the context of India's past.[111][112][113]
By mid-2021, a number of global policy experts and those in theIndian diaspora acknowledged that Atmanirbhar Bharat is a promising initiative, while also expressing concerns.[114] In June 2021,Vinai Thummalapally, formerUS ambassador to Belize, said India's global exports of manufacturing products remain low and that through this program, competitive, valuable products would lead to export-led growth.[114]Nisha Desai Biswal, an American businesswoman, has said the lack of clarity on the definition of Atmanirbhar Bharat has resulted in a "pause" and that the program could be counterproductive.[114] Freddy Svane, Denmark's ambassador to India, and Himanshu Gulati, a Member of Parliament Norway, have both stated Denmark and Norway can help India in its self-reliant mission in the area of energy-efficient technologies.[114]
In June 2021, theUK India Business Council conducted a survey that found a majority of companies thought Atmanirbhar Bharat as an opportunity to increase business in India.[115] In January 2021,Kenneth Juster, theUS ambassador to India, said Atmanirbhar Bharat and the desire to play a larger economic role in the world may not be compatible.[116] In April 2022, theUnited States Trade Representative wrote in a report on foreign trade barriers in India: "U.S. exporters continue to encounter significant tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede imports of U.S. goods and services into India. While the Government of India has pursued ongoing economic reform efforts, it also continues to promote programs such as 'Make in India' (2014) and 'Self-Reliant India' (Atmanirbhar Bharat – May 2020) that seek to increase India's self-sufficiency by promoting domestic industry and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and imported goods".[117][118]
In July 2020, the Chief Executive ofLockheed Martin India stated "the company is "committed" to supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of self-reliance".[119]
^The Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP 2020) and Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (DAP 2020)[75]
Citations
^ab"Oxford Hindi Word of the Year 2020".languages.oup.com. 12 May 2020.Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved13 March 2021.The Oxford Hindi Word of the Year 2020 is... Aatmanirbhar Bharat or Self-Reliance.
^"Defence Procurement Policy".Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Ministry of Defence. 24 March 2017.Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved24 March 2021.
Tendulkar, Suresh D. (1974). "Planning for Growth, Redistribution and Self-Reliance in the Fifth Five-Year Plan-I".Economic and Political Weekly.9 (1/2):27–40.ISSN0012-9976.JSTOR4363346.
Biswas, A. K. (1995). "Paradox of Anti-Partition Agitation and Swadeshi Movement in Bengal (1905)".Social Scientist.23 (4/6):38–57.doi:10.2307/3520214.ISSN0970-0293.JSTOR3520214.
Batabyal, Rakesh, ed. (2007). "Economy and Development. Somnath Chatterjee. Surrendering Self-reliance".The Penguin Book of Modern Indian Speeches. 1877 to the Present. New Delhi: Penguin Books. pp. 603–611.ISBN978-0-14-310263-2....speech delivered on 4 March 1992...
Ramanujam S, Siddiq EA, Chopra VL, Sinha SK (1980).Science and agriculture: M S Swaminathan and the movement for self-reliance. Published on behalf of 21 Agricultural Societies of India.
Kelkar, Vijay Laxman (February 1980). "India and World Economy: Search for Self-Reliance".Economic and Political Weekly.15 (5/7): 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255,257–258.JSTOR4368372.
Mehrotra, N. N. (22 August 1987). "Indian Patents Act, Paris Convention and Self-Reliance".Economic and Political Weekly.22 (34):1461–1465.JSTOR4377407.
Valluri, S. R. (3 April 1993). "CSIR and Technological Self-Reliance".Economic and Political Weekly.28 (14):565–568.JSTOR4399551.
PM Modi's address to the Nation on COVID-19 (12 May 2020), PMO India (Timestamp 4:39 to 5:14) onYouTube
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