Global hardware companies are pushing to extend timelines for setting up local manufacturing in India for laptops, desktops, and tablets. While they aim to capture a fast-growing market, they’re concerned that India’s licensing rules and quota requirements may disrupt or delay investment and operations, forcing companies to rethink rollout schedules.
India has poured billions into drones it largely doesn’t manufacture domestically, even as Indian-made systems find buyers overseas. The contrast raises questions about procurement choices, industrial capacity, and who actually benefits from defense and surveillance spending. With exports growing for some homegrown products, the mismatch between funding and production looks increasingly hard to ignore.
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Ahead of the Union Budget on February 1, the government is considering changes to an “inverted duty structure” affecting 13 to 14 products. In some cases, taxes on inputs are higher than on finished goods, inflating costs for manufacturers and weakening competitiveness. The Commerce Ministry has flagged the issue to the Finance Ministry, urging reform to support local manufacturing.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s New Delhi visit highlights India’s push to pull in large-scale foreign direct investment in advanced manufacturing and technology. Talks centered on deepening capital flows for priority sectors like semiconductors, shipbuilding, and energy, as both sides look to ride global supply-chain shifts and position India as a top investment destination.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India’s PLI scheme is designed to attract global firms by rewarding players with scale while strengthening both the domestic market and exports. Speaking at the M V Kamath Centenary Memorial Lecture, she argued that the government’s economic approach follows consistent short- and medium-term policy set within a long-term vision outlined in the Budget presented on February 1, 2021.
September IIP points to a softer industrial pulse, with manufactures—over 77% of the index—contracting by 3.9%. The sharpest drag came from automobiles, where motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers fell 14.9% year-on-year, pulling down broader output despite other components.
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Nearly every ocean shipment depends on steel containers, yet India long lagged behind China in this industry. Pandemic-era container shortages forced a shift, with domestic manufacturers improving quality and delivery. Now the bottleneck is scale and cost—whether India can compete with China on price while expanding output fast enough to meet demand.
Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran says the conglomerate’s footprint in Uttar Pradesh will more than double as the state is positioned as a major manufacturing and export hub. Tata Motors targets two million vehicles in five years, while Tata Consultancy Services plans to double its workforce. The expansion also includes new sectors alongside social development initiatives.
India’s solar rise was meant to be a sunrise, but the pace of new manufacturing and capacity growth is colliding with softer demand and export headwinds. With factories expanding faster than markets can absorb output, unsold panels are reportedly accumulating in warehouses. The result raises tough questions: is India building lasting clean energy strength, or drifting into an overbuild bubble?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called on German firms to partner with India for co-development and co-production of modern defence systems. He pointed to India’s expanding market and skilled workforce, pitching the collaboration as a way to build resilient supply chains and enable long-term investment. The effort will target niche technologies and deeper strategic cooperation.
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India and South Korea are sharpening their partnership as President Lee Jae-myung visits with an emphasis on trade and technology. South Korean firms have already invested heavily in India, but New Delhi wants deeper commitment in advanced manufacturing, including chips and ships. Both sides aim to double bilateral trade and make the economic relationship more balanced.
Asus is ramping up its push into India’s AI infrastructure, with talks involving the government and local hyperscalers to supply high-end compute servers. The move is partly driven by strains in the PC market, including component shortages and higher costs. Asus is also expanding domestic manufacturing capacity to support the growing India-led AI and server business.
Hitachi India plans to add more than 5,000 employees over the next five years, betting on India’s infrastructure push and digital transformation. The hiring drive will center on energy, artificial intelligence, and related resources, alongside growth in manufacturing and digital services. The Japanese conglomerate is positioning India as a key long-term market for its technology and infrastructure agenda.
India’s blue-collar wages are rising 5–6% annually, fueled by steady demand and performance-based incentives, according to Deloitte’s ‘Blue-Collar Workforce Trends 2025’. The report also notes a 10% jump in hiring intent in 2025, powered by manufacturing, automotive, e-commerce, and logistics as companies chase skilled talent.
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Vedanta Aluminium is creating a manufacturing hub at its Aluminium Park in Jharsuguda, Odisha, with two companies signing MOUs to establish downstream facilities. The move is designed to deepen value addition, strengthen small businesses linked to the ecosystem, and draw new investment. The park is also projected to generate significant job opportunities for the region.
Classic Legends says it is preparing a large jump in production capacity because its current plant is nearing its limit. After earlier challenges, sales have recovered sharply, leaving the company sold out with more bookings than it can fulfill today. It is now evaluating a greenfield factory and expects output to rise significantly in the coming years.
India is rolling out policy moves aimed at turning the country into a global manufacturing hub. PM Gati Shakti—bringing 16 ministries together for coordinated infrastructure planning—is expected to cut logistics costs. Separately, the corporate tax rate for new manufacturing has been reduced to 15%, reinforcing incentives for companies to expand production in India.
India’s clean energy ministry is reviewing petitions from solar manufacturers and developers contesting a new mandate requiring domestically made solar cells starting in June. Industry groups warn the country lacks enough local capacity, which could trigger supply shortages, higher module prices, and delays in renewable energy projects unless the rule is revised or phased.
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Bharat Forge’s board has approved restructuring of its German subsidiary, Bharat Forge CDP GmbH, including a potential shutdown of operations in Ennepetal. The company cites sustained market challenges and persistent cost disadvantages that have made the unit hard to compete. Final decisions are expected after reviewing restructuring options and implications for operations.
Eveready Industries India has inaugurated India’s only operating alkaline battery facility in Jammu’s Samba, backed by an investment of about INR 200 crore. The plant is designed for peak output of around 360 million alkaline batteries annually, aims to cut import dependence, and plans over 500 direct and indirect jobs. It also features 1 MW rooftop solar, rainwater harvesting, and a zero-discharge design.
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