During the early phase of globalisation, advanced nations such as Germany, & South Korea have been able to create high-quality branded goods, i.e.: ‘Made in Germany’ signifies excellence and reliability regarding the production of all types of engineering products such as automobiles, with Germany being home to the majority of the world’s most prestigious automotive brands: Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, and Audi.
Similarly, brands from South Korea, such as Samsung and LG, are known for their innovation, reliability, and cutting-edge technology. In the last two decades, Made in China goods have conquered the world with their quality, reliability, and affordability, and China now exports to many countries worldwide. Over the last two decades, China has built world-class brands such as BYD, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Huawei by investing heavily in R&D, innovation, and design. While manufacturing creates jobs and contributes to economic growth, design (for example, Apple and Nike) creates value, and innovation creates enduring brands.
A relatively recent development worldwide is the growing reputation of the country that is ‘Made in India‘.
For many years, India was a “back office” country for the world—home primarily to service-oriented professionals and software engineers. India did not have a strong manufacturing base and was often limited to innovation only when it adapted technology created by others. The government launched the Make in India program in 2014, designed to transform India into a global manufacturing hub, attract capital investment, create jobs, and increase the country’s competitiveness. The government announced the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in 2020 to support the manufacturing sector. After years of hard work and investment, these programmes have transcended the realm of manufacturing and no longer view India as just an outsourced factory for global manufacturers, but seek to turn India into a country where products, technologies and ideas are conceived, designed, manufactured and sold globally.
India’s smartphone manufacturing story is one of the most successful in the world. Due to the reforms and other concrete steps taken by the government, India has emerged as the second-largest mobile manufacturing country globally. India now accounts for over 25% of global iPhone output, and over 30% of Samsung’s mid- to premium smartphones. Together, the two companies contribute over 94% of India’s smartphone exports.
This transformation can be seen across a wide variety of sectors nationwide. Ten years ago, it would have seemed unbelievable that footwear manufactured in Bihar would be shipped to the Russian military. Hajipur, once primarily engaged in agriculture, has shifted to producing speciality footwear for global markets. While this example may seem trivial, it points to a more profound transformation happening everywhere: the manufacturing sector’s base is expanding beyond its historical industrial hubs into other locations and sectors across India. As a result, India has become one of the most sought-after locations in the world for manufacturers (MNCs) to do business.
Historically, India was one of the world’s largest importers of defence equipment. Today, Indian companies produce sniper rifles, ammunition, and high-tech military systems for customers worldwide. Defence production in India has reached record levels, and defence exports are growing rapidly. Once one of the largest importers of defence equipment in the world, India now exports defence products to approximately 80 countries, with exports rising from ₹686 crore in FY 2013-14 to ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025-26. The Made-in-India BrahMos missiles are sought after by other nations.
Ride the Vande Bharat sleeper train, designed and manufactured in India and embodying a completely new engineering philosophy developed from the convergence of technologies, design, and aesthetics, making use of indigenous innovation. With manufacturing costs nearly 40% lower than in Europe, the Vande Bharat train exemplifies India’s cost competitiveness and is now being positioned for export to global markets — a showcase of Indian engineering and design.
India has become a destination for providing world-class healthcare solutions at low cost. For example, Aurolab of Aravind Eye Care System exemplifies a Made-in-India, designed-for-the-world manufacturing model, combining frugal innovation, high-quality production, and global-scale distribution of affordable ophthalmic products for eye-care professionals worldwide.
Innovating on such a large scale is a unique strength of India. India understands constraints and affordability. Whereas other countries try to innovate for millions, India has successfully developed Digital Public Goods that will benefit billions of people. This capability has enabled work on one of the largest Digital Public Infrastructures (Aadhaar, UPI, Digilocker, and ONDC). All of these are digital public rails on which entrepreneurs can develop businesses, services, and innovations. Many countries around the world are studying Digital Public Good in India as a model for how technology can be inclusive, affordable, and scalable. The Indian manufacturing industry can emulate DPI’s success on a large scale to build a global brand for the sector.
The success of Make in India can be seen everywhere, from smartphones being produced on such a large scale to the country now being amongst the leading exporters of pharmaceuticals and automobiles, as well as having a strong potential to attract global supply chains looking to build resilience and diversify. Manufacturing, however, is just one small piece of a much larger value chain. As such, those designing products, owning IP, defining customer experiences and creating strong and enduring brands will continue to earn most of the long-term economic benefit.
Many global companies are including India as part of their long-term strategic objectives. For example, Apple and IKEA continue to expand their manufacturing presence in India to promote this diversification strategy and become global partners. India is now viewed as more than just a market; it is seen as an additional location for manufacturing goods and innovating products. This shift will have implications that go beyond product manufacturing. Product design leads to patent activity, the establishment of research institutions and start-ups, and the creation of brand-name products – all contribute to a nation’s influence globally.
The transition from “Make in India” to “Designed in India” will be the most significant opportunity unfolding in the Indian economy today. To make India a Design Hub for global products, India should invest in creating institutions such as the National Institute of Design across the nation. It requires significant investment, the deployment of global best practices, advanced technologies, rigorous quality standards, and continuous innovation to become a hub for the design of high-tech products. Success in the manufacturing sector signals that India’s industrial ecosystem is maturing, and India should not neglect this golden opportunity.
Pursuant to the National Design Policy announced in January 2007, the Central Government established the India Design Council in March 2009 to promote and strengthen design as a strategic tool for national and industrial development. Also, a few National Institutes of Design (NID) have been established, but the country needs more to boost its economy. It is high time for the government to revitalise the NID policy, which was released nearly two decades ago.
In his address on the 78th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised a vision for India’s future, emphasising innovation, self-reliance, and global leadership across diverse sectors. Highlighting the importance of indigenous creativity and innovation, he introduced the slogan “Design in India, Design for the World,” urging the nation to develop products and solutions that not only meet domestic needs but also compete successfully in global markets. Through collaboration between the industry and the government, manufacturers can create a global impact, and this can be done easily when every company thinks like Apple’s founder, Steve Jobs.
The author is Senior Manager at the Centre for Business Innovation, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad
