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Make in India – What Worked and What Did Not When Make in India was launched in 2014 it sounded like a bold plan turn India into a place where things are not just consumed but actually made, on a big scale the idea was to cut down dependency on imports bring foreign companies in and create jobs for young people. Over the years it has had a mix of results some good and some not so impressive. On the positive side a lot of big names did step in companies like Apple and Samsung started making more phones in India and that gave a boost to electronics manufacturing. The government’s PLI schemes also played a role rewarding industries that increased production defence is another area where India has started building more on its own whether it is aircraft or naval equipment renewable energy has seen strong progress too with solar power equipment becoming one of the highlights these moves show that Make in India has not been just a slogan it has changed things on the ground in certain sectors. But then the challenges are hard to ignore manufacturing as a whole is still stuck at around 15–17 percent of GDP far from the big 25 percent target, job creation is another area where the gap is wide yes there are jobs in electronics assembly and automobiles but not nearly enough to keep up with the growing workforce. Add to that the usual problems like delays in land approvals, high transport costs, power issues in some regions and a lot of paperwork and you can see why small and medium businesses still struggle. Another reality is that even when India makes things a lot of the high value parts are still imported mobile phones are a clear example they are assembled here but most components come from outside. The same goes for semiconductors and advanced machinery the pandemic slowed things further by breaking supply chains and delaying projects. Even after recovery, the gap between ambition and reality is visible. That being said the initiative has done one very important thing it has put manufacturing at the center of India’s growth story people now talk more seriously about building things in India rather than just importing to really make it work, though India will need deeper reforms, stronger infrastructure, better training for workers and more support for research and innovation. The road is long but if these issues are fixed, Make in India could still turn into what it was meant to be not just a campaign but a genuine shift in how the country grows.