PM Calls for Self Reliance as India Expands Domestic Manufacturing
Prime Minister on Monday underscored the importance of self-reliance in manufacturing, stating that India must produce everything needed for its progress within the country.
Addressing a gathering in Dahod, Gujarat, Modi said India has moved from an era of “despair and darkness” to a new age of confidence and development. At the event, the Prime Minister inaugurated, dedicated, and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over ₹24,000 crore. Highlighting India’s advances in manufacturing, he said, “140 crore Indians are united in building a Viksit Bharat,” and called for accelerating domestic production across sectors. Modi said that India is not only becoming self-sufficient in critical areas such as rail and metro technologies but is also emerging as a significant global exporter. “From smartphones and automobiles to defence equipment and medicines, India’s export portfolio is growing,” he said. The Prime Minister cited the Dahod Electric Locomotive Factory as an example of this progress and flagged off a newly built locomotive. He also announced that Gujarat has achieved 100 percent railway electrification—a milestone he described as historic.
Speaking on the transformation of India’s railway sector over the past decade, Modi highlighted the expansion of metro services and the operation of Vande Bharat trains on nearly 70 routes. He also announced the launch of a new Vande Bharat Express between Ahmedabad and Veraval. Modi said India is now manufacturing metro coaches and locomotives for international markets, exporting to countries such as Australia, France, Saudi Arabia, England, and others. He added that Indian-built passenger coaches are in use in Sri Lanka and Mozambique, and Indian components are reaching countries like Germany, Spain, and Italy. Gujarat’s industrial growth was also spotlighted, with Modi pointing to developments in education, IT, tourism, and semiconductors. A large-scale semiconductor plant is being set up in the state, further positioning India in the global chip-making sector. The Prime Minister also announced initiatives for tribal development, noting the launch of the Dhartii Aaba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, a new programme with an investment of ₹80,000 crore. He said his government is committed to supporting marginalised tribal communities through schemes like the PM Janman Yojana, focused on particularly vulnerable tribal groups.
Calling for a united national effort towards progress, Modi said, “Self-reliance is the need of the hour. India is not just manufacturing for itself but for the world.”
