Prime Minister Narendra Modi is strongly advocating for self-reliance in India, emphasizing the need to manufacture everything from semiconductor chips to ships within the country. He views dependence on foreign nations as a significant obstacle to India's progress and self-respect.
Speaking at the 'Samudra se Samriddhi' event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Modi stressed that "be it chips or ships, they must be Made in India". He criticized previous governments for policies that led to a decline in India's shipbuilding industry, causing the nation to rely heavily on foreign vessels. This dependence results in India paying approximately $75 billion annually to foreign shipping companies, an amount nearly equal to the country's defense budget.
To reverse this trend, Modi's government is implementing major reforms aimed at achieving maritime self-reliance. These include deregulation at Indian ports, the introduction of "One Nation, One Document" and "One Nation, One Port" initiatives to streamline trade, and legislative reforms with five new maritime laws to modernize shipping and port governance. Ships have also been declared as infrastructure to facilitate easier financing for Indian shipping companies, enabling them to compete globally.
The government has also unveiled schemes worth over ₹70,000 crore to modernize shipyards, adopt advanced technologies, and enhance design and quality standards. Modi highlighted the strategic importance of the shipbuilding industry, calling it the "Mother of All Industries" due to its multiplier effect on allied sectors like steel, machinery, and electronics. He noted that every rupee invested in shipbuilding would generate double the return, and 100 shipyard jobs would create 600 additional jobs in supporting industries.
Modi pointed out that India has built over 40 ships and submarines in the past decade, including the INS Vikrant, demonstrating the nation's capabilities and political will. He also mentioned the rise in Indian seafarers, placing India among the top three suppliers of maritime professionals globally.
In line with the vision of "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India), the government is also pushing for local production of high-import goods. The Commerce Ministry is expected to release a list of 100 such products, including chemicals and plastics, to encourage domestic manufacturing. This initiative aims to reduce import dependence by enhancing capacity and optimizing existing facilities.
Furthermore, the government introduced the Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products (DMI&SP) Policy, prioritizing Indian-made steel for public procurement to reduce import dependency. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Specialty Steel encourages domestic manufacturing of high-grade steel.
India is also making strides in the semiconductor sector, with plans to manufacture its first-ever 2 nm chip, a significant advancement from earlier technologies. This will support future developments in artificial intelligence, smartphones, and national security applications.
Modi emphasized that if India is to become a developed nation by 2047, it must become self-reliant, and all 140 crore citizens must commit to this resolve. He also announced the development of a world-class maritime museum at Lothal to honor India's ancient maritime legacy.
