KEY POINTS
- Mobile, auto, and defence exports saw massive growth under Make in India.
- Pharma, engineering, and space sectors expanded rapidly in the last decade.
- Toy, cement, and agriculture exports more than doubled, showing strong sectoral gains.
On 21 June 2025, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while interacting with two technicians at Delhi’s Nehru Place, criticised the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, calling it a failure and claiming that manufacturing was at record lows.
This report counters that claim by showcasing India’s remarkable progress in domestic manufacturing since the launch of ‘Make in India’ in 2014. It highlights the top sectors that have witnessed significant growth and are now far ahead in terms of domestic manufacturing compared to their 2014 levels.
India Emerges as Global Mobile Manufacturing Hub with 97% Domestic Output and Surging Exports
- Sector:- Mobile Phone Manufacturing
- 2013-2014: Met 25% Domestic Demand
- 2023-2024: Met 97% Domestic Demand
India is seeing a boom in mobile phone manufacturing. Domestic production has grown from meeting just 25% of domestic demand in 2014-15 to 97% in FY 2023-24, reaching ₹4.1 lakh crore. Exports rose sharply too 91% in 2022-23 and another 42% in 2023-24, hitting $15.6 billion, making smartphones India’s fourth largest export, With over 200 factories and strong government support like the PLI scheme and Make In India, India is now the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer.
India’s Defence Exports Jump 31 Times in 10 Years, Reaching ₹21,083 Crore in 2023-2024
- Sector:- Defence Exports
- 2014:- ₹4,312 crore
- 2014:- ₹88,319 crore
India’s defence and aerospace exports reached an all-time high of Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, marking a 32.5% growth over the previous year. Over the past decade, exports have surged 31 times, with contributions from both the private sector 60% and defence PSUs 40%. A comparison of two decades shows exports grew from Rs 4,312 crore in 2004-14 to Rs 88,319 crore in 2014-24. The number of defence export authorisations also rose to 1,507 in FY24, underscoring India’s growing global footprint in defence manufacturing.
India’s Merchandise Exports See Strong Growth Over the Decade, Boosted by Manufacturing and Global Demand
- Sector:- Merchandise Exports
- 2013-2014:- $314 Billion
- 2023-2024:- $437 Billion
India’s merchandise exports rose from $314 billion in 2013-14 to $437.1 billion in 2023-24, showing a steady rise over the past decade. This nearly 40% growth reflects the strengthening of India’s manufacturing sector, supported by government initiatives like Make in India and the Production Linked Incentive scheme, and a focus on export diversification has played a major role in boosting outbound trade.
India’s Pharmaceutical Exports Touch $30.47 Billion in FY 2024- 25, Highest March Growth in a Decade
- Sector:- Pharmaceutical Exports
- 2013-2014:- ₹90,415 Crore
- 2022-2023:- ₹2,04,110 Crore
India’s pharmaceutical exports saw steady growth in FY 2024-25, touching $30.47 billion, a 9.39% rise from the previous year’s $27.85 billion, growing nearly 11.9%. Over the past decade, India’s pharma exports more than doubled from ₹90,415 crore in 2013-14 to ₹2,04,110 crore in 2022-23, reflecting the sector’s resilience and global demand and industry expansion.
India’s Engineering Exports Soar 60% in a Decade, Touch $109.32 Billion in FY 2023-24
- Sector:- Engineering Goods Exports
- 2013-2014:- $62.26 Billion
- 2013-2024:- $109.32 Billion
India’s engineering goods exports have surged by 60% since 2014, rising from $62.26 billion in FY 2013-14 to $109.32 billion in FY 2023-24, reflecting the success of the ‘Make in India’ initiative and focused policy support. This rise aligns with broader industrial growth, as April 2025 saw a 2.7% rise in overall industrial production and a 3.4% jump in manufacturing output. Key sectors like machinery and capital goods led the charge, signalling strong investment, job creation and global demand for Indian engineering products.
India’s Agricultural Exports More Than Double in a Decade, Reaching $48.15 Billion in 2023-24
- Sector:- Agriculture Export
- 2013-2014:- $22.70 Billion
- 2023-2024:- $48.15 Billion
India’s agricultural exports have seen strong growth over the past decade, rising from $22.70 billion in 2013-14 to $48.15 billion in 2023-24. The highest jump was recorded in 2022-23, when agricultural exports touched an all-time high of $53.1 billion. This rise was driven by strong demand for products like rice, spices, and coffee. Despite these challenges, India remains one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters.
India’s Auto Exports Soar to 53.6 Lakh Units in 2025, Nearly 10 times Since 2014
- Sector:- Automobile Export
- 2013-2014:- 5.5 Lakhs Unit
- 2024-2025:- 53.6 Lakhs Unit
India’s automobile exports saw a strong rebound in FY 2024-25 to reach 53.6 lakh units, up from 45 lakh units in FY 2023-24. This marks a major jump compared to 5.5 lakh units in FY 2013-14. Two-wheeler led the surge with 41.98 lakh units exported, followed by 7.70 lakh passenger vehicles, 3.11 lakh three-wheelers and 81,000 commercial vehicles.
India’s Space Start-Up Ecosystem Soars in a Decade, Powered by Policy Reforms and Private Innovation
- Sector:- Space Start-up
- 2014:- 1 Start-up
- 2023:- 189 Start-up
India’s space start-up sector has taken off in the last decade, growing from just 1 start-up in 2014 to 189 by 2023. Investments in the sector have also seen a rise of $124.7 million. The Indian Space Policy 2023 has opened doors for private players to actively participate across all areas of space activities. As a result, several start-ups are now building and launching their own satellites, exploring satellite-based communication, and even setting up launchpads and mission control centres within ISRO campuses.
India’s Cement Sector Grows 67% in a Decade, Set for Stronger Demand by 2025
- Sector:- Cement
- 2013-2014:- 256 Million Tonnes
- 2023-2024:- 427 million Tonnes
India’s cement industry, a backbone of the construction and real estate sectors, is up from 427 million tonnes in FY24. India produced 256 million tonnes of cement in 2013-2014. This growth is largely driven by the government’s strong infrastructure spending, with ₹11.11 lakh crore allocated in FY25. India, the world’s second-largest cement producer, has an installed capacity of 622 million tonnes.
India’s Toy Exports Witness Steady and Remarkable 239% Growth Over the Past Decade
- Sector:- Toy Manufacturing
- 2014-2015:- $96.17 Million
- 2022-2023:- $325 Million
India’s toy industry saw major growth over the past decade, rising from $96.17 million in 2014-2015 to $325 million by 2022-23. Toy imports dropped by over 52%, while exports increased by 239%. The share of locally sourced materials in toy production rose from 33% to 88% and the number of domestic toy manufacturing units more than doubled. Toy manufacturers also saw a steady 10% annual growth possible through government initiatives like the National Action Plan for Toys.
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