India’s national think tank unveils a strategic plan focusing on chemicals, textiles, solar photovoltaic manufacturing, and telecom to elevate the country’s position as a global manufacturing hub, with detailed sector-specific initiatives to boost domestic capabilities and export potential.
NITI Aayog has singled out chemicals, textiles, solar photovoltaic manufacturing and telecom and networking products as the first sectors in a wider plan to lift India’s standing as a global manufacturing base, according to the first volume of its new roadmap. The document is part of a larger assessment that began with 62 industries and narrowed the field to 12 where India could plausibly pursue world-class scale and influence.
The broader list also includes electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, defence and drones, steel, capital goods, food processing, and leather and footwear, reflecting the agency’s view that India’s manufacturing push must be anchored in sectors with strong export potential and room for deeper integration into international supply chains. The report says the goal is not simply to raise output, but to strengthen domestic capability, move production up the value chain, cut import dependence and improve competitiveness abroad.
In chemicals, NITI Aayog argues that India can build on existing capacity by expanding downstream production and using feedstock more efficiently. It also points to the importance of competitiveness-led investment and better use of free trade agreements. In textiles, which remain a major employer and exporter, the report highlights the need for better raw-material access, stronger infrastructure, improved technology adoption and skill development. It says technical textiles, man-made fibres, sustainable products and premium Indian weaves offer scope for higher-value exports.
Telecom and networking equipment is another area where the report sees industrial opportunity. India is already the world’s second-largest telecom market, with more than 1.2 billion subscribers, and the agency wants deeper localisation, stronger component manufacturing, industrial clustering and more robust testing and certification systems. In solar, the report notes that India had 106 GW of installed capacity as of March 2025 and would need a further 174 GW to meet its 2030 target of 280 GW. It says the domestic market is expected to expand at 17% to 20% a year between FY23 and FY30, but warns that stronger upstream manufacturing, research and development, technology partnerships and clean-tech clusters will be needed if India is to compete more effectively across the solar value chain.
The roadmap will be issued in three volumes. According to the current plan, the first covers the four sectors identified so far, while the remaining eight in the 12-sector framework will be addressed in later releases.
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