Deep Dive

India’s manufacturing story is moving beyond assembly, with companies across sectors betting big on scale, technology and global exports. As these manufacturing majors expand their footprint, can they turn India into the world’s next factory?

Manufacturing companies are seeking better-skilled workers. But low wages remain a problem

As high-tech manufacturing comes of age in India, companies are seeking better-skilled workers. But low wages and poor working conditions are making workers look elsewhere. Can this gulf be bridged?

How limited access to capital and inadequate infrastructure are impeding the growth of MSMEs

Limited access to affordable capital, restricted market reach, and inadequate infrastructure are impeding the growth of small businesses that contribute nearly a third of India's economic output.

How a Few Districts Drive India’s Manufacturing Economy

The top seven districts account for over 81% of net value added in the state by manufacturing.

Virtuous Circle: A Question of Scale

Bigger factories are more productive, competitive, and export-ready; but India's manufacturing plants remain smaller than global peers.

How India Lives analysis shows how India’s manufacturing prowess is spread across its districts

A total of 69 districts exported manufacturing goods worth $1 bn-plus in FY26. They are well spread out, reducing risk.

How Chief Ministers are becoming Marketers-in-Chiefs

How states are competing for industrial investment and reshaping India's manufacturing map through infrastructure, incentives, and easier business rules.

How Tamil Nadu is continuing to lead in manufacturing with factories and factory workers

Tamil Nadu continues to lead with the largest number of factories and manufacturing workers but new contenders, including UP, Haryana and Chhattisgarh, are also coming up.

UP: The Road to Infra Boom

Good quality infrastructure is a precondition for investments. Capex is not just a priority of the Centre. States like UP, Bihar, and Assam are taking it forward.

Once You Invest in Andhra, It Is No Longer Your Project. It Is Ours: AP's IT Minister Nara Lokesh

Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications and Human Resource Development, on the state's journey to becoming a manufacturing hub till 2047.

Punjab To Be Part of Electronics Supply Chains: Punjab’s Minister for Industries & Commerce Aman Arora

Punjab's Minister for Industries and Commerce, Aman Arora, on how the state plans to be a leader in agritech, defence, aerospace, and electronics system design.

Next Phase of Tamil Nadu’s Growth is About Creating Value Over Volume: TN’s Minister for Industries S. Keerthana

TN's Minister for Industries S. Keerthana, on how the state is preparing for the next decade of global manufacturing.

Choosing The Champion States: How we arrived at India’s top-performing manufacturing states

The methodology behind the ranking of India's Top 10 manufacturing states.

Large Manufacturing Universe: Why Indian manufacturing must build a distinct advantage

To compete globally, Indian manufacturing must build a distinct advantage and not rely only on being the cheapest producer.

Numero Uno Gujarat: How Gujarat, the growth giant, is attracting massive investments in manufacturing

Gujarat always had a strong manufacturing base in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil refining and tiles. Now, the state is attracting massive investments in areas like automobiles, electronics, renewable energy, portsand even ship building.

How We Did It: The methodology behind the ranking of India’s Top 10 manufacturing states

The methodology behind the ranking of India's Top 10 manufacturing states.

Interview

Romal Shetty, CEO of Deloitte South Asia, on the findings of the deep-dive into India Inc's manufacturing prowess and what it will take for the country to become a factory to the world.

Talent is Telangana's Greatest Advantage: State IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu

D. Sridhar Babu, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics, Communications, Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs, Telangana, on the state's manufacturing prowess, its position as a global GCC hub, and more.

Uttar Pradesh Is Getting a New Identity as India's Growth Engine: UP's Minister for Industries Nand Gopal Gupta

Minister for Industries Nand Gopal Gupta on how the state worked on areas such as labour regulation and land administration to make the state business-friendly.

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini on how to extend infra beyond traditional NCR Locations

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on creation of high-quality jobs, promoting MSMEs, and why it makes sense to look beyond NCR districts for setting up industries.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on the state's $100-bn infra-ambition

Mahatashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on steps to drive the next phase of growth, plans to target billions of dollars in new investment, and more.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on how the state offers speed, scale, and certainty

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on what is powering the state's manufacturing boom, the opportunity from shifting global supply chains, focus on next-generation industries, and why governance, not incentives alone, will determine who wins the investment race.

EAC-PM's Rakesh Mohan on why better labour regulations are required for higher productivity

Rakesh Mohan, Part Time Member of EAC-PM and former Deputy Governor, RBI, says India needs to be more export oriented, produce at a much higher scale, and focus on quality.

Editor's Note

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India initiative, launched in September 2014, recognised this trend early. Over 12 years later, on our 80th Independence Day, he said the world has virtually junked globalisation and underlined that the country needs to build a strong manufacturing base.