NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Theme : Indian Economy
Paper : GS - 3
The importance of Industrial policy of India was highlighted recently.Growth in the industrial sector is one of the vital figures that affect the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in India.
TABLE OF CONTENT
- Context
- About Industrial Sector
- Timeline of Industrial Sector
- Objectives of Industrial Policy
- Challenges
- Recent Government Initiatives
- Road Ahead
Context : The importance of Industrial policy of India was highlighted recently.Growth in the industrial sector is one of the vital figures that affect the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in India.
About Industrial Sector :
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Industry is an engine of economic growth because it offers economies of scale, embodies technological progress and generates forward and backward linkages that create positive spillover effects in the economy.
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Performance Analysis : Gradual unlocking of the economy, record vaccinations, improvement in consumer demand, continued policy support towards industries by the Government in the form of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and further reinforcements in 2021-22 have led to an upturn in the performance of the industrial sector.
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The growth of the industrial sector in the first half of 2021-22, was 22.9 percent vis a vis the corresponding period of 2020-21 .
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The industrial performance has shown improvement as reflected in the cumulative growth of Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
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Timeline of Industrial Sector :
- The quest for industrial development started soon after independence in 1947.
- The Industrial Policy Resolution of 1948 defined the broad contours of the policy delineating the role of the State in industrial development both as an entrepreneur and authority.
- This was followed by comprehensive enactment of Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951 (referred as IDR Act) that provides for the necessary framework for implementing the Industrial Policy and enables the Union Government to direct investment into desired channels of industrial activity inter alia through the mechanism of licensing keeping with national development objectives and goals.
- Economic reforms initiated since 1991 envisages a significantly bigger role for private initiatives. The policy has been progressively liberalized over years to the present.
Objectives of Industrial Policy :
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The main Objectives of the Industrial Policy of the Government are :
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to maintain a sustained growth in productivity;
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to enhance gainful employment;
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to achieve optimal utilization of human resources;
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to attain international competitiveness; and
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to transform India into a major partner and player in the global arena.
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Challenges :
- Industrial policies are more focused on large firms and many of the industries currently chosen to be under PLI (production linked incentives) are highly capital and skill Intensive. Even in Japan and South Korea, where industrial policy has been otherwise successful, it has often mainly helped large firms.
- In a world of geo-political conflicts and supply chain disruptions, national security is often considered a major goal.Hence sometimes resources are less allotted to the industrial sector .
- Indian politicians and bureaucracy are more comfortable with “top-down” over-centralised policies.
- The government had failed to instill confidence even as its policies till now had crippled the construction, manufacturing, real estate, pharma and other major contributors to the economy.Lakhs of workers have lost job opportunities because of the retrogressive policies.
- The role of industrial policy is not only to prevent coordination failures but also to avoid competing investments in a capital-scarce environment. Excess capacity leads to price wars, adversely affecting profits of firms — either leading to bankruptcy of firms or slowing down investment, both happening often in India (witness the aviation sector)
- Imperfect information with respect to firm-level investments in learning and training; and lack of information and coordination between technologically interdependent investments.
- Industry’s inadequate expenditure on research and development (R&D) and micro, the small and medium enterprises sector facing tough competition from cheap imports from China and other countries
- Lack of human capital has been a major constraint upon India historically being able to attract foreign investment (which Southeast Asian economies succeeded in attracting).
Recent Government Initiatives :
- Recently the Government has taken various steps to boost domestic investments in India.These include Promoting FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and improving Ease of Doing Business, Make in India initiative, National Infrastructure Pipeline, trade policy measures, One District One Product (ODOP), and PLI (Production Linked Incentive) Scheme etc.
- The Government of India has also taken up various Industrial Corridor Projects as part of the National Industrial Corridor Programme which is aimed at development of greenfield industrial nodes/regions .
- The Government developed the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan .
Road Ahead :
- This often requires making an extra effort to go beyond the traditional hidebound bureaucratic culture in India.
- The industrial policies need to be customized to local decentralized contexts, particularly when you want to help small and medium sized firms.
- Support for industrial policy has to be nuanced, multi-faceted and vigilant in its disciplining functions.
- There is the need to coordinate complementary investments when there are significant economies of scale and capital market imperfection
- India should adopt ‘complex self-adaptive systems’, which is the appropriate model for industrial growth where the Policy focus is on deregulating Indian industry; allowing freedom and flexibility to the industry in responding to market forces; and providing a policy regime that facilitates and fosters growth.
- In policy implementation one has to be particularly vigilant in monitoring the performance of the target firms, be strict with non-performing firms, and, if necessary, withdraw support from them.
FAQs :
1. What are the main Objectives of The Industrial Policy ?
Answer : The main Objectives of the Industrial Policy of the Government are :
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to maintain a sustained growth in productivity;
-
to enhance gainful employment;
-
to achieve optimal utilization of human resources;
-
to attain international competitiveness; and
-
to transform India into a major partner and player in the global arena.
2. Define Industry.
Answer : Industry is an engine of economic growth because it offers economies of scale, embodies technological progress and generates forward and backward linkages that create positive spillover effects in the economy.