Overview

• Rahul Gandhi said manufacturing’s share of GDP has slipped to 14% since 2014, imports from China have more than doubled, and he accused the PLI scheme of being quietly rolled back.
• He posted a video of his meeting with mobile repair technicians Shivam and Saif in Delhi’s Nehru Place to illustrate skilled young workers lacking industrial opportunities.
• BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya responded that India has become the world’s second-largest mobile phone producer and that electronics output grew from ₹18,900 crore in 2013-14 to ₹4.22 lakh crore in 2023-24.
• BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari cited a 60% jump in engineering exports, defence exports rising to over ₹23,000 crore, and a 10-month high in the PMI as proof of manufacturing progress.
• The dispute underscores diverging views on India’s shift from assembly-focused activity to full-scale manufacturing and the feasibility of reaching a 25% manufacturing-to-GDP ratio by 2030.