India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ mission has gained significant momentum in recent years, prioritising indigenous production and catalysing domestic innovation.

As this national priority evolves, there is a growing need for a comprehensive and quantitative measurement framework that captures the multi-dimensional nature of “atmanirbhar" (self-reliant) at a granular level.

Self-reliance today encompasses more than trade metrics; it includes technology independence, supply chain resilience, innovation capacity, and global competitiveness. As India intensifies its ‘Make in India’ initiative and positions itself as a manufacturing and innovation hub, measuring these dimensions becomes crucial.

India needs an ‘Atmanirbharta Index’ to measure, assess, collaborate, incentivise, and reform the private sector in line with its broader priorities of self-reliance and innovation.

The Atmanirbharta Index should go beyond aggregate sectoral assessments to provide company-level insights. This granularity would reveal which firms are truly driving self-reliance, identify best practices, and highlight areas needing intervention.

It would allow policymakers to design targeted strategies for specific firms or supply chains rather than rely on one-size-fits-all sectoral policies. Moreover, it would foster healthy competition, encouraging companies to strengthen their domestic foundations........

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