🇮🇳 Make in India: A Vision Worth Pursuing, But Still Miles to Go

The Make in India initiative was launched with a bold and admirable vision—to transform India into a global manufacturing hub, attract foreign investment, and empower domestic enterprises. On paper, it’s a rallying cry for self-reliance, innovation, and national pride. But in practice, the road to realizing this dream remains riddled with contradictions, misalignments, and systemic hurdles.

🚧 Where Vision Meets Reality: The Policy Paradox

The government’s intent to bring foreign manufacturers into joint ventures with Indian entities is commendable. However, the execution falters due to policies that are still not entrepreneur-friendly. Technology transfer, a cornerstone of industrial growth, doesn’t come cheap. It demands massive investment, trust, and long-term commitment—none of which are incentivized under current frameworks.

One of the most glaring deterrents is the L1 policy in government tenders, which prioritizes the lowest bidder. This creates an uneven playing field where Indian manufacturers, even after investing in infrastructure and technology, are forced to compete with cheap imports—often from China. Why would a visionary entrepreneur risk capital and innovation when the system rewards cost-cutting over quality and reliability?

🏛️ Political Volatility: A Silent Threat

While the current government has taken steps to ease business operations and promote indigenous efforts, the political landscape remains unpredictable. A change in leadership could reverse progress overnight, especially if foreign interests begin to influence policy decisions. This instability discourages long-term investment and strategic planning—two pillars essential for industrial transformation.

🧩 Misunderstanding the IT Ecosystem

Another critical misalignment lies in how the government perceives IT brands. Unlike local restaurants that produce and sell everything in-house, IT businesses operate in a complex ecosystem. Components are sourced globally, integrated locally, and supported through services. Expecting Indian IT brands to manufacture every part while also acting as service providers is not just impractical—it’s fundamentally flawed.

The role of a brand in IT is to curate, integrate, and deliver reliable solutions—not to reinvent the wheel for every component. This misunderstanding leads to unrealistic expectations and policy pressures that stifle innovation rather than encourage it.

🌱 Starting Somewhere: The Case of AADONA

Despite these challenges, Indian brands like AADONA have stepped up with courage and conviction. Founded with the vision of creating a truly Indian IT brand that meets global standards, AADONA is navigating the rough waters of policy, competition, and market expectations.

In a recent statement, AADONA’s CEO Mr Pinakii Chatterjje shared:

Pinakii Chatterjje “India is one of the most potential-rich countries—with brilliant minds and hardworking hands. There’s no doubt the current government has taken the right steps, even if the journey ahead is tough. We stand firmly with the dream of making India self-reliant and bringing back the ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’ era. We have everything we need to achieve it.”

✊ The Way Forward

The Make in India initiative is not a failure—it’s a beginning. But for it to succeed, we need:

• Policy reforms that reward innovation, not just low cost.

• Stable political commitment across party lines.

• Realistic expectations from IT and tech brands.

• Support for technology acquisition and R&D.

India doesn’t lack talent or ambition. What it needs is a system that nurtures both. Until then, brands like AADONA will continue to build, innovate, and hope—because the dream of a self-reliant India is worth every struggle.