Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, or Self-Reliant India Mission, is a drastic measure taken by the Indian government to transform India into a self-reliant and independent nation in various fields such as the economy, infrastructure, and technology. It encompasses concepts such as ‘Local for Global,’ ‘Made for World,’ and ‘Vocal for Local.’

It was while the pandemic was going on that Mr. Modi of India announced this mission intending to run into the international supply chain markets and let India be self-reliant. To aid revival by promoting local manufacturing, the government disbursed funds worth Rs. 20 lakh crore (US$ 268.74 billion), which is a staggering 10% of India’s GDP.

Key Takeaways

• Atmanirbhar Bharat emphasizes promoting domestic manufacturing and reducing the reliance on imports.
• To assure India’s role in world trade while retaining its autonomy.
• Infrastructure development and technological growth are the hallmarks of this mission.
• Different reforms were introduced by the government directed at promoting growth and the independence of the economy.
• Concept of “Atmanirbhar Bharat:”
• Defining Self-Reliance in the Indian Context
• The Indian government initiated “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” which means Self-Reliant India, to make India self-reliant and powerful. One should be clear about the fact that self-reliance does not mean being closed off, but enhancing national capacity; it does this within the framework of the global economy for mutual help and support, with the objective of conserving and building the Indian economy by promoting the development of domestic industries while decreasing imports. 

Historical Background and Evolution

The history of self-reliant India is rooted in the freedom movement, when Mahatma Gandhi laid stress upon local production and boycotting imports, thereby way of self-sufficiency. The turn of events- LPG- Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization, shifted the focus from local production to global economic engagement.

However, during the watershed moment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, in the year 2020, the new ideology of self-reliance and self-sufficiency was put into motion. The government initiated the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, an all-encompassing movement to revive the economy towards self-sufficiency. It turned the crisis into an opportunity, inviting local entrepreneurs to flourish and nurture the economy.

Objectives and Goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

The Atmanirbhar Bharat movement rests on five pillars-Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography, and Demand. The major objectives behind the mission are:

• Promote indigenous manufacturing: Promoting indigenous industries and providing employment via small companies driving GDP.

• Reduce import dependence: The Atmanirbhar Bharat envisaged replacement with domestic manufacturing with safety features and qualities equivalent to world-class standards.

• Promoting local products: Encouraging individuals to further buy and use products produced within India.

Atmanirbhar Bharat is not merely a policy but a movement to create a more robust self-dependent India where small businesses are strengthened to provide for the creation of an economic ecosystem that can be self-sustaining. It aims at finding the right balance between the self-reliance of India and international trade in making the country a player in the global market. 

Five Pillars of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is an economic motivation initiative by the Government of India to enhance the various sectors after-covid times. These depend on five important pillars:

1. Infrastructure:

One of the key missions is to put infrastructure in place that would better connect, logistical and industrial development across the geography of the country. This infrastructure funding can also open up several jobs in a variety of sectors.

2. Economy:

This sector’s focus will be on strengthening economic activity, offering techniques to various sectors, upgrading infrastructure, and easing the way for business. The heart of this whole thing is defending the competitiveness and immunity of the entire economy at times of disturbance, particularly for India.

3. System:

The government envisages doing all-around harmonization of governance under labor legislation and tax to regulatory frameworks that are efficient and friendly toward businesses.

4. Demand:

All opening up their purchasing power more and blasting domestic consumption through open-ended demand.

5. Demographics:

Diverse India will have to develop education systems, acquisition skills, economic opportunities, and base employment sources that are severely involved and knowledgeable to convert to a powerhouse, a universally accountable one, with every demographic dividend it offers.

These may well be the five pillars on which inclusive growth, development, and autonomy in India will gain sustain in creating jobs, improving quality of life and purchasing power, and getting more and more into India’s GDP.

Need for Self-Reliant India

In 2020, Acuite Ratings & Research released a report that identified that 40 sub-sectors like agro-based products, drug formulations, chemicals, automobile components, handicrafts, cosmetics, and consumer electronics accounted for imports of US$ 33.6 billion from China only. According to the report, India’s domestic manufacturing industries can replace 25% of the total imports from China. It also indicated that in FY 2022, the country could reduce US$ 8.4 billion of trade deficit with China, by substituting imports from sectors such as drug formulations, chemicals, automobile components, handicrafts, cosmetics, and consumer electronics.

According to the data from the first half of FY 2024, the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the industrial sector increased by 9.3%. This was driven by strong increases of 7.6%, 9.3%, and 10.5% in the mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and construction sector respectively. 

Beneficiaries and Benefits of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

The advantages and support provided under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India include the cottage industry, home-based enterprises, small-scale industries, MSMEs, laborers, farmers, middle-class individuals, and Indian industries that are consistently and diligently contributing to the growth of our economy.

Important sectors in which this mission shall prove beneficial include:

• Agricultural and supply chain & system.
• Rational Tax System
• Reformation of Infrastructure
• Capable Human Resources
• To encourage startups and small-scale units
• Financial condition.
• Good investment opportunities
• Make in India Mission

Benefits of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

All three, e.i., primary, secondary, and tertiary sector receives benefits of the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan 2021. Here are the benefits of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan scheme: 

• Job creation: The policy has created numerous job opportunities by raising funding for MGNREGA and the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana. 
• Improved infrastructure: The scheme has proved beneficial for improving the infrastructure, including warehousing, dairy, connectivity, cold chains, and logistics.
• Better access to credit: Credit facilities for MSMEs, street vendors, and local businesses have been improved through this initiative of the government.
• Economic growth: This policy has created an environment that encourages investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship, thus raising domestic growth and boosting self-dependence.
• Lowering dependence on imports: with the growth in domestic production, the dependence on foreign goods has lessened. 
• Better health sector: The scheme has invested sufficiently to improve the condition of public health labs and health and wellness centers and aims to open new ones for public welfare.
• Improved fisheries: The scheme has also helped in advancing marine and inland fisheries through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, generating local employment and contributing economy.
• Ease of doing business: The initiative has decriminalized the Companies Act, 2013, which has made the act of doing business easier. 
• Better access to Public Distribution System: Through this policy, the migrant workers have now access to the Public Distribution System through the One Nation One Card. 

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Significant Features of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

• A ₹40,000 crore increase in funding for MGNREGS enhances employment opportunities for the masses and addresses work-related issues. 
• There is a rise in investments in public health and health reforms to prepare India for potential future pandemics. 
• The Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan promotes technology-driven education with a focus on equity. 
• Measures related to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) are improving the ease of doing business as part of the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. 
• The decriminalization of defaults under the Companies Act is also a significant development. 
• The Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is facilitating a better environment for corporations to do business in India. 
• A new public sector enterprise policy is being introduced to support a self-reliant India under the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. 
• For the fiscal year 2020-21, the borrowing limits for states have been raised from 3% to 5%, encouraging state-level reforms as part of the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

Key Achievements of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

Some major achievements of this “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” mission include these:

1. The Government of India launched the “Atmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024” on July 18, 2024, in New Delhi under the charge of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

2. At that very event, the 2023 edition of the National One District, One Product Awards, themed around the effort and concerted support for ODOP and geographical indicators for fulfilling India’s aspiration of being a US$5 trillion economy by 2027.

3. From the start of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana, up to December 2023, 60.49 lakh District Skill Officers (DSOs) have been disbursed Rs. 10,043 crores (about US$1.21 billion) through 1.52 lakh institutions.

4. This government objective has helped reduce the dependency on imports of air conditioners: India saw a 65% decline in split AC imports in a period extending from October 2020 to November 2020. 

5. In an order released in October 2020, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued curtailment of imports of refrigerators. 

6. So, within barely two months from the start of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission, India developed an indigenous supply chain of PPE kits, which added to the country’s self-reliance in providing PPE kits on time during the pandemic. 
7. The Government also launched the largest vaccination drive in the world with two “Made in India” vaccines-Covaxin and Covishield-while asserting its intention to make the country self-sufficient in January 2020. 

8. Our domestic supplies: India’s cumulative vaccination crossed 110 million on April 14, 2021.

Also Read: Achievements of Atal Innovation Mission

The Economy- the Citizens-nation-Flying High on Atmanirbhar Bharat

Jobs have been created, small businesses have been aided, their dependence on imported products has been curtailed, and this has become a backbone in supporting the economy of India while being useful to the citizens and the nation with self-sustainability. In the same vein, such schemes have also become laden with challenges and critiques. 

Despite its ambition, the mission faces various economic and social hurdles. One pressing issue is how to balance India’s desire for self-sufficiency so that its relations with the outside world do not inhibit exports. Reducing or boycotting imports is likely to have a great impact on international trading.

This concept of being self-sufficient raises protectionist issues that may shrink foreign investment opportunities. High tariffs and tight restrictions have been pressed on imports so as to achieve self-sufficiency. However, this creates trade disputes with countries that strongly support India’s export sector. 

To prove industries self-sufficient poses great strains on the social framework. The natural environment itself could be degraded and people could be forcibly moved for the sake of industries and employment opportunities. Though little businesses and local firms may prosper from this plan, MNCs and corporate conglomerates may face competition from indigenous products, again hindering economic gains. Managing economic expansion along with social welfare is quite a tricky and delicate exercise. 

Criticism from economists and analysts

Many economists are quick to point out that the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan may not be fitting to the contemporary trends of globalization. If the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme closes its doors to import during the process of self-reliance, this might spell challenges for India with respect to global supply chains. These include the isolation of Indian businesses from the global markets, which might further undermine India’s ability to compete. 

Among the criticisms, they assert that until major upgrades in infrastructure and education are made, it’s going to be impossible to reach complete and successful self-reliance. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether or how reducing dependency on imports can be done without sacrificing product quality or increasing prices. 

Addressing the Concerns

To address these concerns, the government must ensure that the policies do not drift towards autocracy. By encouraging innovation and upgrading the infrastructure, these issues can be dealt with. These are the likely measures that can help: 

• Enhancing innovation: the government can support startups and tech firms to build a culture of innovation.
• Development of infrastructure: By investing in modern infrastructure the government can support manufacturing and logistics. 
• Education and skill development: The government can improve educational facilities to educate individuals and the workforce with the required skills. 

The success of the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission depends on keeping the right balance between self-reliance and global integration. To ensure that India remains competitive while also supporting its domestic capabilities, the balance is important. 

Take Aways

The Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India played an important role in the economic growth of the country. It has proved beneficial not only in economic development but in other sectors as well. Through the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan scheme the government aimed to promote production in the defence sector, making India self-reliant for its defense needs. Besides, the scheme generated employment in various sectors by promoting and supporting MSMEs, MGNREGAs, and small and local business firms, protecting them from the international market. Under the scheme, the financial assistance was distributed among different sectors as per the requirements of the industry. 

Despite some challenges and concerns, Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India has been a success and has been implemented successfully in all the relevant sectors. The government aimed to assist individuals and small businesses, making them self-employed and generating goods that make India and its citizens less dependent on imported goods. It has given India an opportunity for self-reliance with a goal of sustainable development. 

In the post-COVID era, it was the Atmanirbhar scheme that generated employment and created an India that doesn’t rely on other countries for its basic and essential needs. The development of Covaxin and Covishield is the proof and result of its determination.

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