India, April 29 -- India's manufacturing sector stands at a critical and troubling juncture. Despite ambitious initiatives like 'Make in India' and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, manufacturing's contribution to GDP has declined from 17.4% in 2006 to approximately 13% in recent years. This is in stark contrast to competitors like China, where manufacturing accounts for nearly 28% of GDP, or Vietnam at 25%. The gap isn't just in numbers - it represents missed opportunities for job creation, economic growth, and technological advancement. It is reflecting in the jobs crisis in India and had an impact on electoral results.

The challenges facing Indian manufacturing are manifold. Infrastructure bottlenecks, complex regulatory f...