Atmanirbhar Bharat
Concept created by the Modi government of India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Atmanirbhar Bharat (translation: Self-Reliant India)[1] is a Hindi phrase and a policy framework in India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first used the term "self-reliance" in English in 2014 in discussions of national security, poverty alleviation, and the Digital India initiative during his first prime-ministerial campaign.
The phrase gained prominence during the announcement of India's economic stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[1]
History
In 2022, Union Home Minister Amit Shah acknowledged that slogans such as "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (pronounced [ˈaːt̪mənɪrbʱərət̪]), "Make in India", and "Vocal for Local"[2] were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's efforts during the Swadeshi movement.[3] He stated that pre-independence aspirations that had been forgotten are now being revived, adapted, and put into practice.
Defence Sector
The Indian defence sector also requires self-sufficiency in military logistics, including food supplies during emergencies.[5]
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) amended the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) in 2020.[6][needs update] Under the new rules, the private sector was allowed to form joint ventures with public sector undertakings in India by acquiring a 51% stake. The private sector was also permitted to export up to 25% of the production. The Indian Armed Forces have also stated that they would purchase the final product. The Indian Multi-Role Helicopter was the first major project to follow this process.[7]
2020 Economic Stimulus
During the coronavirus pandemic in India, amid lockdown measures and an existing economic slowdown, the government issued an adapted version of the self-reliance policy.[8] On 12 May 2020, Prime Minister Modi publicly used the Hindi phrase for the first time, stating:[9] (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."[10][11] While the speech was in Hindi, the reference by the Press Information Bureau to both "self-reliance" and "self-sufficiency" led to some confusion.[10][11] The Government of India announced an economic package known as the "Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan" (transl. Self-reliant India Mission).[12] The initiative received a mixed response.[13]
According to Swaminathan Aiyar, writing for The 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,[14] and doing the same thing again was not advisable.[14] Sadanand Dhume was sceptical of the terminology and language related to the phrase, and whether it was meant for the revival of pre-liberalization era policies.[15] "Aatmanirbharta" or Self-Reliance was the Oxford Hindi Word of the Year in 2020.[16][17]
This adapted plan for self-reliance or "Atmanirbharta" emerged with a readiness to associate with and challenge the global economy, unlike the past decades, when there had been a wish to disassociate, such as during the pre-independence Swadeshi movement and with post-independence foreign aid.[18] Swadeshi, however, has been adapted with slogans such as "vocal for local," while at the same time, global interconnectedness is being promoted.[18] The government aims to reconcile this; according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, "The policies created by Modi aim to reduce domestic market access to imports, but at the same time to open the economy and export to the rest of the world."[19]
Along with the coronavirus pandemic, Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan could be seen in the context of India-China border relations and India's economic dependence on China in some sectors.[20] There were calls for India to boycott Chinese products and promote an Atmanirbhar 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.[21] Following the Galwan Valley skirmish on 15 June 2020, which resulted in many deaths, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said if the government was serious about making India self-reliant, Chinese companies should not be given contracts for projects such as the Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System.[22][23] A Chinese company was awarded a contract for 5.6 km (3.5 miles) of the project.[24]
While Atmanirbhar Bharat has been extensively promoted during the premiership of Narendra Modi, especially in rhetoric and speeches, this is not always apparent in government policies. [25] There has been concern that Atmanirbhar Bharat is political messaging that has no economic impact.[26] India's trade deficit restricts a reduction in dependence on imports, limiting protectionism and isolationism.[27] Protectionist tendencies such as tariff increases, however, have been seen during this phase.[28] The general trend of the Modi government has been to support domestic industries rather than global ones.[29] Subsidies are being used as incentives to get global business leaders into India.[28] The initiative has been accused of crony capitalism and of giving false hope to small businesses that align with the messaging.[30] On 7 December 2021, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh said that for India to be self-reliant, states must be self-reliant.[31][32]
Use By The NDA Government
Prime Minister Modi used the phrase "self-reliance" in June 2014 about defense manufacturing for self-reliance in national security.[33] He reiterated this over the years; in 2018, he spoke of the need for India to make its weapons.[34] In August 2014, he connected self-reliance to Digital India,[35] in September 2014, about making the poor self-reliant,[36] and in March 2022, in relation to technologies.[37]
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.[38][39] The concept requires policies that are efficient and resilient and encourage equity and competitiveness.[40] It means being self-sustaining and self-generating;[40] and creating "wealth and values not only for ourselves but for the larger humanity".[41] In March 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign is not about bringing back socialism or import substitution; rather, the intent is to boost manufacturing.[42] The five pillars of Atmanirbhar Bharat are economy, infrastructure, technology-driven systems, vibrant demography, and demand.[43]
COVID-19 Pandemic Initiatives
The research, development, and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccinations in India were connected in separate statements to atmanirbharta by the President,[47] Vice-president,[48] Prime Minister,[46] and other Union ministers.[49] Modi stated, "Made in India vaccines are a symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat".[46]
On May 12, October 12, and November 12, 2020, the government announced three Atmanirbhar Bharat packages worth ₹29.87 trillion (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.[50][51][52] As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat packages, the government decided to change the definition of Small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs),[53] boosting the scope for private participation in several sectors,[54] increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the defence sector;[54] and the changes found support in many sectors such as solar energy manufacturing.[55]
The growth of India's personal 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.[56][57] The PPE industry in India became a ₹100 billion (equivalent to ₹120 billion or US$1.4 billion in 2023) industry in three months, the second largest after China.[58]
In July 2020, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution issued a statement placing food rationing within the ambit of Atmanirbhar Bharat.[9] In August 2020, following the migrant workers crisis during the pandemic, the same ministry made a statement placing the welfare of migrants within the concept's ambit.[9]
Other initiatives
The importance of education and research for self-reliance has been recognised.[59] In an address to the students of Visva-Bharati University, the new National Education Policy of India was connected to the creation of an Atmanirbhar Bharat,[60] and Prime Minister Modi challenged the students to make the villages surrounding the university self-reliant.[61] The Indian Minister of Education has also stressed the link between education and Atmanirbhar Bharat.[62] Educationist and university administrator C. Raj Kumar said the vision of an "Atmanirbhar University" combines the vision of John Henry Newman's work "Idea of a University" with the Humboldtian model of higher education.[62] Apex public education bodies such as AICTE have asked universities to use Indian books where possible in an effort to promote Atmanirbhar Bharat.[63] The home minister acknowledged that the new policy also gives due importance to svabhasha, the Indian language.[3]
During a speech in 2017, Prime Minister Modi said his government was trying to tap human capital flight and had the aim of engaging India's diaspora.[64] To this effect, new organisations such as the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) in the space sector would aim to channel India's space talent.[65] Dependence in the pharmaceutical sector upon active pharmaceutical ingredients is being addressed; out of 53 raw materials that were imported, 35 were being produced in India by March 2022.[66]
In August 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the Defence Ministry was "now ready for a big push to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative" by imposing import prohibitions on 101 military items in a staged manner over five years.[67][68] In the following months, more positive indigenisation lists and negative import lists were released.[69][70][71] The new legislation[a] was portrayed as an initiative towards increasing India's self-reliance.[73][74] A new category of procurement, Indian Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured (Indian-IDDM), was created.[75] Reform of the Ordnance Factory Board and giving the new defence public sector undertaking (PSU) units large-scale orders was a move towards military self-reliance.[76] Equipment manufactured under Indian-IDDM has been handed over to the military.[77][78] In the fiscal year 2022, the Ministry of Defence decided to spend 65% of its capital budget on domestic procurement.[79] Increased self-reliance is also being seen in the construction of its warships and submarines.[80]
The phrase was also connected to the 2021,[81] and 2022 Union budgets.[82][83] Targets for self-reliance in fertiliser production by 2023 have been announced.[84] Government-backed events to provide for the implementation and promotion of self-reliance and associated slogans such as "vocal for local", have materialised in the form of the country's first national toy fair, which was digitally launched in February 2021,[85] and the associated brainstorming event Toycathon.[86] In July 2020, the government launched the Atmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge to encourage the building of apps.[87] 6,940 entries were received, of which 24 apps were chosen as winners, including mapping apps, fact-checking apps, and a cricket video game. The challenge's success led to its continuation through another round of entry submission.[88] Government schemes also support the implementation of self-reliant initiatives.[89]
Slogans
Slogans initiated under Atmanirbhar Bharat include "Vocal for Local", "Local for Global", "Make for the World" and "Brain Drain to Brain Gain".[90][91]
Vocal for local
Products should be "Made in India" and promoted to make them competitive.[91][92] During the Independence 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."[93][94] Amul managing director RS Sodhi said the phrase vocal for local, "meant that products be made competitive vis-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".[91] An extension of this slogan is 'local for global', meaning locally made Indian products should have global appeal and reach.[91] The slogan has been extended to sectors such as toy manufacturing: "Time to be vocal for local toys".[95][96]
Make for the world
Prime Minister Modi, during the 2020 Independence Day speech, said 'Make for the World' should go together with 'Make in India' and that the slogan 'Make for the World' should be a key slogan like 'Make in India' is.[93][97] A variation of the slogan is "Make in India for the world".[98] Arvind Panagariya, the first vice-chairperson of NITI Aayog, said in an interview with Govindraj Ethiraj that implementation of the slogan is a matter of optics and policy change.[99]
Under the Make for the World vision, India in 2025 became the top smartphone exporter to the U.S. for the first time, fueled by Apple's shift in manufacturing amid global trade realignments, overtaking China with a 240% year-on-year surge in shipments.[100]
Domestic commentary
In June 2020, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "At least don't buy Ganesha idols from China" after commenting on India's over-reliance on 'non-essential' Chinese imports.[101]
Atmanirbhar Bharat has been called a re-packaged version or revival of the Make in India movement, using new slogans such as "Vocal for Local".[102][103][104] 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 and GAIL in the area of energy; criticising the advertising tactics.[105] Some have rephrased it as the "Fend For Yourself" campaign;[106] it has also been called "economic nationalism".[107] It has been noted that the phrase has been used so extensively that it has become "India's overarching national policy for growth and development".[9] Unfinished reforms in the Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda span from government reform to urban reform to civil service reform.[108]
Arvind Panagariya has criticised policies of self-sufficiency and protectionism as opposed to free trade in the context of India's past.[109][110][111]
International Reactions
By mid-2021, many global policy experts and those in the Indian diaspora acknowledged that Atmanirbhar Bharat is a promising initiative while also expressing concerns.[112] In June 2021, Vinai Thummalapally, former US 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.[112] 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.[112] Freddy Svane, Denmark's ambassador to India, and Himanshu Gulati, a Member of Parliament in Norway, have both stated that Denmark and Norway can help India in its self-reliant mission in the area of energy-efficient technologies.[112]
In June 2021, the UK India Business Council conducted a survey that found a majority of companies thought of Atmanirbhar Bharat as an opportunity to increase business in India.[113] In January 2021, Kenneth Juster, the US ambassador to India, said Atmanirbhar Bharat and the desire to play a larger economic role in the world may not be compatible.[114] In April 2022, the United 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.[115][116]
In July 2020, the Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin India stated that the company is "fully committed to supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of self-reliance".[117]
Impact on Domestic Industries
| sector | Indicator | Earlier data | Latest Data | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defence | Defence production | ₹46,429 crore (2014-15) | ₹1.54 lakh crore(2024-24) | PIB |
| Defence | Defence exports | ₹686 crore(2013-14) | ₹21,083 crore | PIB |
| Electronics | Electronics production value | $31 billion (2014–15) | $133 billion (2024–25) | HANS INDIA |
| Electronics | Mobile phone manufacturing unit | 2 units (2014) | 300+(2025) | PIB |
| Electronics | Electronics Exports | ₹38,000 crore (2014–15) | ₹3.27 lakh crore (2024–25) | PIB |
| Solar energy | Solar module manufacturing capacity | ~3 GW (2018) | 60+ GW capacity pipeline | Ministry of New and Renewable Energy |
See also
- Bibliography
- Nehru, Jawaharlal (1994) [1946 by The Signet Press, Calcutta]. The Discovery of India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press – via Internet Archive.
- Jalan, Bimal (1972). "A Policy Frame for Self-Reliance". Economic and Political Weekly. 7 (15): 757–762. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4361226.
- 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. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4363346.
- Baru, Sanjaya (1983). "Self-Reliance to Dependence in Indian Economic Development". Social Scientist. 11 (11): 34–46. doi:10.2307/3517074. ISSN 0970-0293. JSTOR 3517074.
- Chakrabarty, Bidyut (1992). "Jawaharlal Nehru and Planning, 1938-41: India at the Crossroads". Modern Asian Studies. 26 (2): 275–287. doi:10.1017/S0026749X00009781. ISSN 0026-749X. JSTOR 312676. S2CID 143462773.
- 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. ISSN 0970-0293. JSTOR 3520214.
- Behera, Laxman Kumar (July 2013). Indian Defence Industry: Issues of Self-Reliance (PDF). IDSA Monograph Series No. 21. Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. ISBN 978-93-82169-21-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2021.
- Singh, Bikramdeep (Winter 2013). "Defence Indigenisation: Made in India, by India, for India" (PDF). CLAWS Journal: 248–258.
- Alam, Asraful; Khan, Amir; Ghosal, Nilanjana; Satpati, Lakshminarayan (18 July 2021). "A review of resource management and self-reliance for sustainable development of India under COVID-19 scenario". Journal of Public Affairs. 21 (4) e2725. doi:10.1002/pa.2725. ISSN 1479-1854. PMC 8420201. PMID 34512186.
- Joshi, Shareen; Muchhal, Siddharth; Brennan, Connor; Pradhan, Ria; Yang, Joyce (February 2021), ""Atman Nirbhar Bharat" - Economic Crises and Self-Reliance in the COVID-19 Pandemic" (PDF), International Affairs Forum, Center for International Relations, archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2021
- Sarukkai, Sundar (September 2021). "Self-reliant India: self of a nation or a national self?". Journal of Social and Economic Development. 23 (S2) (published 2 November 2020): 357–365. doi:10.1007/s40847-020-00115-z. ISSN 0972-5792. PMC 7605322. PMID 34720471.
- Sen, Ronojoy; Murali, Vani Swarupa (October 2021), India's Self-Reliance Initiative: Old Idea or New Direction? (PDF), Singapore: Institute of South Asian Studies
Further reading
- Agarwal, Shriman Narayan (1944), The Gandhian Plan of Economic Development for India, Bombay: Padma Publications
- Banerjee, B N; Parikh, G D; Tarkunde, V M (1944), Peoples Plan for Economic Development of India, Bombay: Indian Federation of Labour, Delhi
- 65th Members Annual Conference 2021 on 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat its various aspects' (PDF), Indian Institute of Public Administration, 30 October 2021, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2022, retrieved 28 March 2022
Speeches
- 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. ISBN 978-0-14-310263-2.
...speech delivered on 4 March 1992...
- Reddy, Y. V. (13 July 2000). Capital Flows and Self Reliance Redefined (Speech). Twenty Seventh Frank Moraes Lecture. Chennai.
- Gandhi, Rajiv (28 December 1985). "Inaugural Speech by Congress President Rajiv Gandhi and The Centenary Resolve". India Today.
- Kalam, A. P. J. Abdul (21 February 2007). Evolution of Vision (Speech). Address at the DRDO Directors Conference, DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi.
- "PM Narendra Modi at IIT Global Summit: 'Pan IIT movement can help realise dream of Aatmanirbhar Bharat'". India Today. 4 December 2021.
- Verma, Lalmani (29 December 2021). "Be impatient for self-reliant India, PM Modi tells students at IIT Kanpur's 54th convocation". The Indian Express.
Books
- 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.
- Mohanty, Prasanna (2021). "6: AatmaNirbhar Bharat: Turning the Clock Back". An Unkept Promise: What Derailed the Indian Economy. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN 978-93-5479-189-5.
Journals
- Sharma, Krishna Nath (1967). "Self-Reliance and Aid: No Positive Relation". Economic and Political Weekly. 2 (50): 2209–2211. JSTOR 24478316.
- Gosalia, Sushila (1979). "The Gandhian model of self-reliance in the Indian economy". Intereconomics. 14 (2): 80–83. doi:10.1007/BF02930202. hdl:10419/139599. ISSN 0020-5346. S2CID 56358907.
- 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. JSTOR 4368372.
- Mehrotra, N. N. (22 August 1987). "Indian Patents Act, Paris Convention and Self-Reliance". Economic and Political Weekly. 22 (34): 1461–1465. JSTOR 4377407.
- Valluri, S. R. (3 April 1993). "CSIR and Technological Self-Reliance". Economic and Political Weekly. 28 (14): 565–568. JSTOR 4399551.
- Dedrick, Jason; Kraemer, Kenneth L. (May 1993). "Information Technology in India: The Quest for Self-Reliance" (PDF). Asian Survey. XXXIII (5): 463–492. doi:10.2307/2645313. JSTOR 2645313. S2CID 153517732.
- Srinivas, M N; Shah, A M (10 September 1960). "The Myth of Self-Sufficiency of the Indian Village" (PDF). The Economic Weekly: 1375–1378.
- Aggarwal, Aradhna (22 January 2022). "Export Performance and India's Tryst with Self-reliance in the Globalised World". Economic and Political Weekly. 57 (4): 7–8.
News
- Sharma, Shantanu Nandan (28 February 2021). "Modi govt has been quietly following the idea of Aatmanirbharta for the past seven years". The Economic Times.
- Weinraub, Bernard (29 June 1991). "Economic Crisis Forcing Once Self-Reliant India to Seek Aid". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
- Panag, Lt Gen (Retd) H. S. (3 June 2021). "'Positive indigenisation list' got lengthier but India's defence industry far from ready". ThePrint.
- PTI (2 June 2020). PM Modi Calls On India Inc. To Build An 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. Bloomberg Quint.
- Jagran (2 June 2020). PM Modi presents 5-I formula for 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat', says 'we will definitely get our growth back'. Jagran English.
- Ajoy Kumar (31 May 2020). Atmanirbhar Bharat and A Clueless Government. Outlook India.
- NITI Aayog (9 September 2020). "Atal Innovation Mission Launches Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-ANIC Initiative". www.pib.gov.in.
Think-tanks
- Behera, Laxman Kumar (10 August 2020), Atma Nirbhar in Defence Technology, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
- Mohanty, Aayush (February 2021), Reforms for Atmanirbhar Bharat (PDF), Vivekananda International Foundation
- Bhattacharji, Chetan (July 2020), Atmanirbhar Bharat: Missing a Focus on Air Pollution and Climate Change (PDF), ORF
- Singh, Angad (3 June 2021). "The proof of the pudding is not in the import negative list". ORF.
