Congress Criticizes 'Make in India' Initiative, Calls it 'Fake in India'

The Congress party has criticized the 'Make in India' initiative launched by the Modi government, claiming that its original objectives have become mere "jumlas" and that the initiative has devolved into "Fake in India." Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, expressed concerns about the government's economic policies over the past decade, stating they have lacked stability, predictability, and sensibility.

Ramesh outlined four key objectives that were announced when 'Make in India' was launched in 2014. He stated, “Ten years later, a quick status check reveals the reality of these goals.”

Growth Rate: The first objective was to increase the growth rate of Indian industry to 12-14% per year. However, the annual growth rate for manufacturing has averaged only about 5.2% since 2014. Job Creation: The second goal was to create 100 million industrial jobs by 2022. In contrast, the number of manufacturing workers decreased from 51.3 million in 2017 to 35.65 million by 2022-23. Manufacturing's Share of GDP: The third aim was to raise the manufacturing sector's contribution to 25% of GDP by 2022, later extending it to 2025. Instead, the share of manufacturing in India's Gross Added Value has dropped from 18.1% in 2011-12 to 14.3% in 2022-23. Global Manufacturing Hub: The fourth objective was to position India as the "new factory of the world," surpassing China. Ramesh pointed out that rather than achieving this, India has grown increasingly dependent on Chinese imports, which rose from 11% in 2014 to 15% in recent years.

Ramesh remarked that economic policymaking over the last decade has been inconsistent, citing demonetization as an example. He claimed that fear and uncertainty have hindered private investment and that competition has been suppressed, benefiting a select few business conglomerates close to Prime Minister Modi.

In response to the criticism, Prime Minister Modi recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the 'Make in India' initiative, asserting that it has transformed a vision into a powerful movement, declaring that "Bharat is unstoppable." He emphasized the collective determination of 1.4 billion Indians to make the country a leader in manufacturing and innovation.

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