Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Modi’s Make in India Gains Face Rahul Gandhi’s Criticism
This opinion article says India is making more products at home than it did before.
It praises Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat programs.
The author says factories now make many more phones, electronics and defence products.
The article also says India is beginning to produce and package computer chips.
It points to a C-295 military aircraft assembled in India as another example.
Rahul Gandhi and his supporters question how strong India’s economy really is.
They argue that changing the GDP base year may have affected the reported growth figure.
The author rejects that criticism and says the manufacturing improvements are supported by measurable production and export numbers.
The opinion article says India’s real GDP grew 7.8% in April-June 2026, exceeding the growth rates cited for China, the United States and several Asian economies.
It attributes manufacturing gains to Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Production Linked Incentive scheme and related economic reforms.
According to the article, electronics production reached about ₹13.11 lakh crore and mobile-phone production ₹6.27 lakh crore in 2025-26.
Defence production reportedly reached ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, while defence exports reached ₹38,424 crore.
The article highlights semiconductor plants, the India-assembled C-295 aircraft, shipbuilding, space achievements and a hydrogen-powered train as evidence of industrial progress.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi and the Modi government’s economic programs are central to the article; the piece was written by Sanju Verma.
- What
- The opinion assesses Make in India and argues that India has made substantial progress in manufacturing, defence, electronics, semiconductors and other strategic sectors.
- When
- The article was published on September 1, 2026, and discusses results through the April-June 2026 quarter and financial year 2025-26.
- Where
- The developments described took place in India, including facilities and projects in Gujarat, Vadodara and other Indian states.
- Why
- The author seeks to defend the Modi government’s economic record and counter Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of India’s growth and manufacturing performance.
Rahul Gandhi and Critics
Make in India Supporters
GDP base year
Rahul Gandhi and Critics
Rahul Gandhi’s supporters and the Congress ecosystem are described as arguing that the 7.8% growth figure was driven by changing the GDP base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23.
Make in India Supporters
The author says changing the base year is a normal statistical practice and argues that the criticism is intended to undermine the Modi government’s economic record.
State of the economy
Rahul Gandhi and Critics
Rahul Gandhi is described as calling India a “Dead Economy,” while his critics question the significance of the reported growth rate.
Make in India Supporters
The author says India’s reported growth exceeded the comparison figures cited for China, the United States, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, and therefore rejects the “Dead Economy” characterization.
Manufacturing achievements
Rahul Gandhi and Critics
The article presents Rahul Gandhi’s position as one that challenges the effectiveness of Make in India and the interpretation of its results.
Make in India Supporters
The author argues that rising electronics and defence production, increased exports, semiconductor facilities and the India-assembled C-295 demonstrate tangible progress.
- GDP growth
- India’s real GDP growth was reported as 7.8% in the April-June 2026 quarter.
- Manufacturing FDI
- The article says manufacturing equity inflows totaled approximately $184 billion between April 2014 and March 2025.
- PLI scheme
- The Production Linked Incentive scheme covers 14 sectors with an estimated combined outlay of ₹1.97 lakh crore.
- PLI results
- By late 2025 or early 2026, the article says PLI-linked investments exceeded ₹2.40 lakh crore, while production and sales crossed ₹20.41 lakh crore.
- Mobile phones
- More than 99% of mobile phones used in India are described as domestically manufactured, with over 300 manufacturing units operating.
- Defence production
- Domestic defence production reportedly reached ₹1.78 lakh crore in financial year 2025-26.
- C-295 aircraft
- The first India-assembled C-295 reportedly completed its maiden test flight in June 2026.