Industrial Policy & MSMEs
Industrial Policy & MSME
Industrial Policy Resolutions from 1948 to 1991 liberalisation, MSME definitions and support, Make in India, PLI scheme, CCI and competition policy, industrial corridors, SEZs, and manufacturing sector reforms.
Key Dates
Industrial Policy Resolution 1948 — mixed economy, state control of key industries
Industrial Policy Resolution 1956 — Mahalanobis model, 3 categories (Schedule A, B, C) of industries
New Industrial Policy — de-licensing, de-reservation, disinvestment, FDI liberalisation
MSME Development Act — defined Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
Make in India initiative launched (September 25) — 25 focus sectors for manufacturing
PLI (Production Linked Incentive) scheme launched across 14 sectors with Rs 1.97 lakh crore outlay
MSME definition revised — based on investment AND turnover (Aatmanirbhar Bharat package)
Industries (Development and Regulation) Act 1951 — established industrial licensing system requiring government permission to set up/expand factories
MRTP Act enacted to prevent monopolistic and restrictive trade practices — required large firms to seek government permission for expansion
Industrial Policy 1977 (Janata Party) — emphasis on small-scale and cottage industries, decentralisation
Industrial Policy 1980 — promoted large industry alongside small sector; initiated economic liberalisation selectively
Competition Act 2002 enacted — replaced MRTP Act; CCI established for pro-competition regulation
India Semiconductor Mission launched — Rs 76,000 crore incentives for semiconductor fabrication and design
PM Vishwakarma launched — credit, skilling support for traditional artisans across 18 trades
Industrial Policy Resolutions — Pre-Reform Era
IPR 1948: independent India's first industrial policy. Mixed economy framework. Industries divided into 4 categories: (1) exclusive state monopoly (arms, atomic energy, railways), (2) state-initiative but private participation allowed (coal, iron & steel, aircraft, telecom, shipbuilding, minerals — 6 industries), (3) government regulation through licensing, (4) remaining — open to private sector. The resolution reflected Nehruvian socialism — state drives industrialisation, private sector supplements. IPR 1956 (called the "economic constitution of India"): based on the Mahalanobis model (Second FYP) and the socialist pattern of society resolution (Avadi session, 1955). Schedule A: 17 industries exclusively for the state (heavy industry, mining, defence, railways, air transport, atomic energy, iron & steel). Schedule B: 12 industries where the state would progressively establish undertakings but private sector could supplement (chemicals, fertilisers, antibiotics, road/sea transport). Schedule C: all remaining — open to private sector under licensing. This policy dominated until 1991. The IDR Act 1951 was the enforcement tool — firms needed industrial licences to start, expand, or diversify. The resulting "Licence Raj" bred inefficiency, corruption, and rent-seeking. Small-scale reservation from 1967 reserved 800+ items (textiles, toys, garments) exclusively for SSIs, preventing economies of scale and making Indian manufacturing globally uncompetitive.
New Industrial Policy 1991 — Liberalisation
The 1991 BoP crisis forced structural reform. PM Narasimha Rao and FM Manmohan Singh announced the New Industrial Policy on July 24, 1991. Key reforms: (1) De-licensing — abolished for all industries except 18 (reduced progressively to 6, now only 2: defence production and atomic energy substances). Ended the Licence Raj. (2) De-reservation from public sector — reduced from 17 to 8, now only 3 (atomic energy, defence aircraft/warships, railway operations), and even these have been partially opened. (3) Disinvestment — selling government stakes in PSUs. DIPAM manages the process. Landmark: Air India privatised to Tata Group (2022), LIC IPO (2022). (4) FDI liberalisation — automatic approval up to 51% in 34 industries (now automatic route covers most sectors up to 100%); few sectors need government route (defence, media, multi-brand retail, telecom). (5) MRTP Act amendments — pre-entry restrictions removed; later replaced by Competition Act 2002. (6) Foreign technology agreements — automatic approval, royalty payments liberalised. Impact: GDP growth accelerated from ~3.5% (1950-1990 average) to ~6–7% (1991-2010) and ~7%+ post-2010. Unfinished agenda: (a) land and labour law rigidity, (b) infrastructure deficits, (c) complex tax compliance (partly addressed by GST), (d) judicial delays in contract enforcement.
MSME Sector — Backbone of the Economy
MSMEs contribute ~30% of GDP, ~45% of manufacturing output, ~48% of exports, and employ ~11 crore people (second-largest employer after agriculture). About 6.3 crore MSMEs exist; 99% are micro. Revised definition (2020, Aatmanirbhar Bharat) — composite investment + turnover criteria: Micro (investment up to Rs 1 crore, turnover up to Rs 5 crore), Small (Rs 10 crore / Rs 50 crore), Medium (Rs 50 crore / Rs 250 crore). The earlier classification was investment-only with separate manufacturing/services limits; 2020 removed that distinction. Export turnover is excluded (encouraging MSME exports). Udyam Registration: online, Aadhaar-linked, PAN-based. 2.8+ crore registrations (2024). Benefits: PSL (7.5% to micro enterprises), government procurement preference (25% from MSMEs, 3% from SC/ST and women-owned), CGTMSE (collateral-free loans up to Rs 5 crore), SAMADHAAN portal (buyer must pay within 45 days), TReDS for bill discounting. Challenges: (1) Credit gap — demand Rs 70 lakh crore vs supply Rs 22 lakh crore (gap Rs 48 lakh crore); only 16% have formal credit access. (2) Outdated technology. (3) Historical SSI reservation prevented scaling. (4) Multiple compliance burdens (being simplified via Udyam, GST). (5) Large-firm payment delays — SAMADHAAN has limited effectiveness.
Make in India, PLI & Semiconductor Mission
Make in India (2014): 25 focus sectors (automobiles, chemicals, IT, pharma, textiles, tourism, food processing). Four pillars: New Processes (ease of doing business), New Infrastructure (corridors, smart cities), New Sectors (defence, aviation opened to FDI), New Mindset (government as facilitator). EoDB rank improved from 142 (2014) to 63 (2020). Manufacturing GDP share remained ~17% (target was 25% by 2022). PLI Scheme (2020): 4–6% of incremental sales for 5 years across 14 sectors: mobile/electronics, pharma, telecom, food, auto, solar PV, batteries, textiles, specialty steel, white goods, drones, semiconductors. Total outlay: Rs 1.97 lakh crore. Results by 2024: Rs 10.8 lakh crore production/sales, Rs 1.3 lakh crore investment, 8.5 lakh direct jobs. India became the 2nd-largest mobile phone manufacturer — from net importer to net exporter. Electronics production: Rs 9.52 lakh crore (FY24). India Semiconductor Mission (2021): Rs 76,000 crore. Micron ($2.7 billion OSAT, Sanand Gujarat). Tata Electronics (fab in Dholera, OSAT in Morigaon). CG Power + Renesas (OSAT, Gujarat). The push is strategic — COVID chip shortages exposed supply chain vulnerability. India targets a significant share of the $1 trillion global semiconductor market by 2030.
Competition Policy & CCI
Competition Act 2002 replaced MRTP Act 1969, shifting from "preventing monopoly" to "promoting competition." MRTP focused on firm size; the Competition Act targets anti-competitive behaviour regardless of size. CCI (established 2003, fully functional 2009): statutory, quasi-judicial body. HQ New Delhi. Chairperson + 6 members. Three mandates: (1) Anti-competitive agreements (Section 3): horizontal (cartels, price fixing, bid rigging, market sharing) presumed to cause AAEC. Vertical (exclusive dealing, tie-in, resale price maintenance) assessed under rule of reason. (2) Abuse of dominant position (Section 4): dominance itself is legal; abuse is not. Predatory pricing, discriminatory conditions, entry barriers, denial of market access. Major cases: Google (Rs 1,337.76 crore for Android practices, 2022; Rs 936 crore for PlayStore billing, 2022), Coal India, DLF, cement cartel (Rs 6,307 crore, 2012). (3) Merger regulation (Sections 5-6): combinations above asset/turnover thresholds need CCI approval within 150 days (210 with extension). Competition (Amendment) Act 2023: deal value threshold of Rs 2,000 crore (targeting digital acquisitions with low revenue but high market impact), settlement and commitment framework, reduced merger timeline. Digital competition: CCI's Big Tech investigations and the proposed Digital Competition Bill signal growing focus on platform economy competition.
Industrial Corridors & Special Zones
National Industrial Corridor Development Programme: 11 corridors, 32 projects. DMIC (Delhi-Mumbai): flagship — 1,504 km along the Dedicated Freight Corridor. 24 investment nodes, 8 smart cities. JICA providing $4.5 billion. First-phase cities: Dholera SIR (Gujarat), Shendra-Bidkin (Aurangabad), Greater Noida, Vikram Udyogpuri (Ujjain). Other corridors: CBIC (Chennai-Bengaluru), BMIC (Bengaluru-Mumbai), AKIC (Amritsar-Kolkata), ECEC (Vizag-Chennai), Hyderabad-Nagpur, Hyderabad-Bengaluru. PM Gati Shakti: GIS-based master plan integrating planning across 16 ministries. 1,500+ data layers on a single platform. Eliminates silos and reduces project delays. SEZs (Act 2005, operational February 2006): 100% export income tax exemption for first 5 years, 50% for next 5, 50% of ploughed-back for next 5. 268 operational (2024), Rs 22.5 lakh crore cumulative exports, 27 lakh workers. Performance is mixed — tax revenue loss exceeds Rs 1 lakh crore, and most SEZs focus on IT/ITES rather than manufacturing. The DESH Bill was proposed to replace the SEZ Act but remains unenacted. NIMZs (5,000+ hectare townships under National Manufacturing Policy 2011) saw limited implementation. Invest India handles investment promotion and facilitation — recognised as World's Most Awarded IPA (UN).
Ease of Doing Business Reforms
India's EoDB rank improved from 142 (2014) to 63 (2020). Key reforms: (1) Starting a business: SPICe+ integrates incorporation with DIN, PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, GST. Time cut from 30 days to 2 days. (2) Construction permits: online system, Common Application Form, single-window clearance in many states. (3) Registering property: DILRMP for digital land records, online stamp duty. (4) Getting credit: CIBs strengthened, CERSAI for movable property. IBC 2016: average resolution 330 days (vs 4.3 years pre-IBC); recovery rate improved from 26% to 36%. (5) Paying taxes: GST unified 17 indirect taxes. E-assessment and faceless appeals for income tax. (6) Trading across borders: ICEGATE, port single window, risk-based inspections, reduced turnaround. (7) Enforcing contracts: commercial courts and e-courts, though average enforcement still takes 1,445 days. State-level reforms: DPIIT's BRAP ranks states — top: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka. These rankings drive competitive federalism. Jan Vishwas Act 2023 decriminalised 183 offences across 42 Acts, converting criminal penalties to civil/administrative ones. MCA21 (3.0) digitises company law compliance.
Public Sector Enterprises & Disinvestment
India has 389 CPSEs; 265 are operational (2023-24). Total investment: Rs 22.72 lakh crore. Net profit: Rs 3.67 lakh crore (FY24). 14.4 lakh employees. Maharatna (12): ONGC, NTPC, IOC, Coal India, BHEL, GAIL, SAIL, BPCL, Power Grid, HPCL, NHPC, Oil India. Navratna (14), Miniratna (72 Cat-I, 56 Cat-II). Maharatna status allows up to Rs 5,000 crore investment in a single project, JVs, subsidiaries, and overseas acquisitions without government approval. 2021 Budget announced new PSE policy: CPSEs classified as "strategic" (minimum 4 per sector, rest privatised) or "non-strategic" (privatisation/merger/closure). Strategic sectors: atomic energy, defence, power, telecom, banking/insurance, transport, mining, exploration. Landmark transactions: Air India to Tata Group for Rs 18,000 crore (2022). LIC IPO (Rs 20,557 crore, 3.5% stake). IDBI Bank sale (60.72% by government + LIC, in progress). Disinvestment consistently falls short of targets — FY24 target Rs 51,000 crore, actual Rs 16,507 crore. Political constraints, market conditions, and valuation disputes delay privatisation.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat & Self-Reliance Strategy
Announced May 2020 during COVID. Total package: Rs 20 lakh crore (~10% of GDP) combining fiscal stimulus, credit guarantees, and structural reforms. Five pillars: Economy, Infrastructure, Technology, Demography, Demand. Key measures: (1) ECLGS — Rs 5 lakh crore collateral-free credit to MSMEs; 1.19 crore borrowers; prevented mass closures. (2) MSME definition revision (investment + turnover). (3) Defence — 75% of capital acquisition budget for domestic procurement; two positive indigenisation lists (411 items banned from import); production reached Rs 1.27 lakh crore (FY24); India became 8th-largest arms exporter. (4) Agricultural reforms (farm laws — later repealed). (5) Labour code consolidation. Concept distinction: "self-reliance," not "self-sufficiency." The goal is competitive manufacturing that can export, not autarky. India remains committed to FTAs (India-Australia ECTA, India-UAE CEPA, 2022) and WTO obligations. However, average applied tariff rose from 8.9% (2014) to 14.3% (2022), which critics say contradicts the competitive narrative. Key outcomes: electronics manufacturing from $37 billion (2015-16) to $101 billion (2023-24). Mobile exports: $11 billion (FY24) from near-zero in 2014. Defence exports: Rs 21,083 crore (FY24, up from Rs 1,521 crore FY17). Strategy aims to reduce import dependence in electronics, pharma API, defence, energy, and food while participating in global value chains.
Textile & Apparel Industry
Second-largest employer (4.5 crore direct) after agriculture. Contributes 2.3% to GDP, 12% to manufacturing output, 11% of exports. India: 2nd-largest producer of textiles and garments globally (after China), 2nd in cotton and silk, largest in jute. Domestic market: Rs 12 lakh crore (2024). Exports: $36.4 billion (FY24). Segments: cotton (40%), man-made fibres (25%), silk, wool, jute, technical textiles. PLI for Textiles (Rs 10,683 crore) targets MMF apparel, MMF fabrics, and technical textiles (not cotton). PM MITRA: 7 mega parks — Navsari (Gujarat), Lucknow (UP), Parbhani (Maharashtra), Virudhunagar (TN), Kalahandi (Odisha), Warangal (Telangana), Amravati (Maharashtra). Rs 70,000 crore investment, 20 lakh employment. ATUFS: capital subsidy for modernisation. SAMARTH: skill training for 10 lakh workers. India's global trade share (~5%) lags behind China (~31%), Vietnam (~7%), Bangladesh (~7.5% in apparel). Reasons: higher labour costs than Bangladesh/Vietnam, fragmented supply chain, scale issues, FTA disadvantage (Bangladesh has duty-free EU access under EBA; India faces 9.6% average tariff). India-UK and India-EU FTA negotiations include textile market access as a key demand.
Pharmaceutical & Chemical Industry
India is the "pharmacy of the world" — 3rd-largest producer by volume, largest generic supplier globally (20% of global volume). Pharma exports: $27.9 billion (FY24). India supplies 50% of Africa's and 40% of US generic demand. Domestic market: Rs 2.08 lakh crore. 500+ API manufacturers, 10,500+ manufacturing units, 62 US-FDA-approved plants. API dependence on China: 68% by value — a strategic vulnerability. PLI for Pharma (Rs 15,000 crore) incentivises domestic API production. PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras: 10,000+ stores, generics at 50–90% discount, Rs 2,000 crore revenue (FY24). 3 Bulk Drug Parks (Himachal, Gujarat, AP) with Rs 3,000 crore central support. NPPA fixes ceiling prices under DPCO 2013; NLEM covers 384 drugs. 2023 trade margin cap: 35% retail margin on 1,850 anti-cancer drugs. Patent regime: Patents Act 1970 (amended 2005 per TRIPS) allows compulsory licensing. India issued its first CL in 2012 (Nexavar, Bayer → Natco). Section 3(d) blocks patent evergreening — the Novartis Glivec case (SC, 2013) upheld India's right to deny patents for incremental innovation. Chemical industry: 6th largest globally, 3rd in Asia. PLI for specialty chemicals targets import substitution. PCPIRs in Gujarat and AP.
Automobile & EV Industry
India is the 3rd-largest auto market globally. Production (FY24): 2.83 crore vehicles. Exports: 47.6 lakh. Contributes 7.1% to GDP, employs 3.7 crore (direct + indirect). Largest manufacturer of 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers globally. Key players: Maruti Suzuki (43% PV share), Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra. Global OEMs: Suzuki, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Renault-Nissan, MG. CVs: Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Eicher. EV transition: FAME II (2019, Rs 10,000 crore) subsidised 16 lakh EVs, ended March 2024. PM E-DRIVE (2024): Rs 10,900 crore successor for e-2W, e-3W, e-buses, charging. PLI for Automotive: Rs 25,938 crore. PLI for ACC batteries: Rs 18,100 crore. EV sales (FY24): 16 lakh units (10 lakh e-2W, 5.5 lakh e-3W, 0.9 lakh e-cars). Penetration: ~6.4% (target 30% by 2030). Challenges: (1) charging — ~12,000 public stations vs 4 lakh needed by 2030; (2) battery raw materials — lithium/cobalt sourced externally (J&K lithium reserves discovered but extraction years away); (3) EVs cost 30–50% more than ICE equivalents; (4) ICE supply chain employs millions needing reskilling. Vehicle Scrappage Policy (2021): fitness testing after 15 years (commercial), 20 years (private). Expected to replace 1 crore unfit vehicles.
Steel, Cement & Core Industries
Steel: India is the 2nd-largest crude steel producer. Production: 144 MT (FY24). Consumption: 136 MT. Capacity: 170 MT. National Steel Policy 2017 target: 300 MT by 2030-31. Major producers: Tata Steel, JSW, SAIL, JSPL, AMNS. PLI for Specialty Steel (Rs 6,322 crore) covers coated/plated, high-strength, electrical, and alloy steel. India imports $3.5 billion in specialty steel annually. Cement: 2nd-largest producer globally. Capacity: 600+ MT. Production: 391 MT (FY24). Top 5 (UltraTech, Adani, Ambuja, Shree, Dalmia) control ~50% market. CCI penalised cement companies Rs 6,307 crore for cartel behaviour (2012). Core Industries Index (8 industries): coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, electricity — 40.27% weight in IIP. IIP (Index of Industrial Production) published monthly by NSO across mining (14.4%), manufacturing (77.6%), and electricity (8%). Base year 2011-12. IIP growth: contracted 8.4% (FY21), recovered 11.4% (FY22), normalised to 5.7% (FY24). Manufacturing value added as % of GDP: ~17%, stagnant for two decades (target 25%). Stagnation is attributed to land/labour rigidity, infrastructure gaps, inverted duty structures, and dominance of informal micro-enterprises lacking scale.
Defence Manufacturing & Indigenisation
India is among the largest arms importers globally (4th in 2019-23, SIPRI). Government targets transformation from major importer to net exporter. Defence production: Rs 1.27 lakh crore (FY24), doubled from Rs 58,000 crore (FY17). Exports: Rs 21,083 crore (FY24), up from Rs 1,521 crore (FY17). Target: Rs 50,000 crore by 2028-29. Reforms: (1) FDI raised from 26% (2001) to 49% automatic (2014) to 74% (2020) to 100% under government route. (2) 4 Positive Indigenisation Lists notifying 509 items with timelines for import ban — LCA Tejas, artillery, helicopters, corvettes, ammunition, EW systems. (3) DAP-2020 preferences: Buy (Indian-IDDM), Buy (Indian), Buy and Make (Indian), Make, Strategic Partnership. (4) Defence Industrial Corridors: Tamil Nadu (Chennai-Hosur-Coimbatore-Salem-Tiruchirappalli) and UP (Aligarh-Agra-Jhansi-Chitrakoot-Lucknow-Kanpur). Rs 7,000 crore investment target each. (5) iDEX: 100+ challenges, 400+ startups engaged. Major platforms: LCA Tejas (HAL), INS Vikrant (indigenous carrier), BrahMos (India-Russia JV), Arjun MBT (DRDO/CVRDE), Pinaka MBRL. Ecosystem: 9 Defence PSUs, 7 new defence companies (corporatised from 41 Ordnance factories, 2021), 80+ private firms, 5,000+ MSMEs.
Startup India & Innovation Ecosystem
Startup India (January 16, 2016). India has the 3rd-largest startup ecosystem (after US and China). Recognised startups: 1.17 lakh+ (2024). Unicorns: 111+. Major sectors: Fintech (30+), EdTech, HealthTech, SaaS, e-commerce, agri-tech. Incentives: (1) Section 80-IAC tax holiday — 3 consecutive years within first 10. (2) Self-certification under 6 labour and 3 environmental laws. (3) Fund of Funds — Rs 10,000 crore via SIDBI, invested through 117 AIFs. (4) Seed Fund — Rs 945 crore for proof of concept. (5) Credit Guarantee — loans up to Rs 10 crore. Innovation ecosystem: AIM (NITI Aayog) runs 10,000 ATLs in schools, 68 AICs, Atal New India Challenges. India Innovation Index: Karnataka, Telangana, TN top states. Tech industry revenue: $254 billion (FY24). IT exports: $199 billion. 5.4 million employees. India leads in outsourcing but is transitioning to innovation-led models (GenAI, cloud, cybersecurity). Patent filings: 83,000+ (FY24), up from 45,000 (FY17). R&D spending: only 0.65% of GDP (vs Israel 5.4%, South Korea 4.8%, China 2.4%, US 3.5%). National Research Foundation (NRF) under NEP 2020: Rs 50,000 crore over 5 years to boost research.
Food Processing Industry
India is the 2nd-largest food producer but processes only ~10% (vs 65–70% in developed countries). Contributes 8.4% of manufacturing GVA, 13% of exports, and employs 19.3 lakh in registered units — 5th largest by production, consumption, and exports. PLI for Food Processing (Rs 10,900 crore): targets RTE/RTC, processed fruits/vegetables, marine products, mozzarella cheese for MSME units. PM Kisan SAMPADA: Mega Food Parks (42 sanctioned), Cold Chain (392 projects), Agro-Processing Clusters (85), Operation Greens (TOP crops — tomato, onion, potato — now extended to all perishables). FPOs + food processing: 10,000 FPOs for farm-to-fork value chains. ODOP (One District One Product) aligns with GI-tagged specialties (Darjeeling tea, Alphonso mango, Basmati rice). Agricultural exports: $53.1 billion (FY24). Top: rice, spices, marine products, meat, sugar. India leads globally in rice and spice exports. Challenges: (1) Post-harvest losses 5–16% for fruits/vegetables, 4–6% for cereals — Rs 90,000 crore annual loss. (2) Cold chain gaps — 8,000+ storages but 80% used for potatoes; fruits, vegetables, dairy lack temperature-controlled logistics. (3) FSSAI compliance improving but many units operate informally. (4) Fragmented supply chain — multiple intermediaries reduce farmer share.
Mining & Mineral Sector
India: 4th-largest iron ore producer, 2nd in coal, major in bauxite, manganese, chromite, limestone, mica. Mining contributes 1.75% to GDP, employs 11 lakh. 1,531 operational mines (2024). Mineral production value: Rs 2.55 lakh crore (FY23). Key minerals: coal (908 MT FY24, 2nd after China), iron ore (260 MT), limestone, bauxite, manganese, chromite, copper, gold. Governance: MMDR Act 1957 (amended multiple times). State governments grant mining leases (minerals in State List); Centre controls coal, lignite, atomic minerals. DMF (District Mineral Foundation): 30% (new) or 10% (existing) of royalty goes to mining-affected area development. Rs 74,000+ crore collected. NMET: 2% of royalty for geological exploration — India has explored only 10% of geological potential. Reforms: (1) MMDR Amendment 2015 — auction-based allocation via e-auction, replacing discretionary grants. (2) MMDR Amendment 2021 — composite licence (exploration + mining). (3) Critical Mineral Policy — India imports lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earths, graphite. Lithium reserves discovered in Reasi (J&K) — 5.9 MT inferred. KABIL (NALCO + HCL + MECL JV) secures overseas critical minerals — agreements with Australia, Argentina, Chile. Coal: commercial mining opened in 2020 (ending Coal India monopoly), revenue-sharing model. Gasification target: 100 MT by 2030.
Relevant Exams
UPSC regularly tests IPR 1956, 1991 reforms, MSME definitions, PLI sectors, CCI mandates, and the semiconductor mission. Banking exams cover MSME classification, PSL norms, CGTMSE, and MUDRA tiers. SSC exams ask about Make in India, industrial corridors, CCI, and EoDB rankings. PLI details, defence indigenisation, and startup ecosystem facts appear frequently in current affairs.