‘People Used To Mock Make in India, Country With 2G Now Has 5G In…’: PM Modi At IMC 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently highlighted India's technological progress at the India Mobile Congress 2025 in New Delhi. He recalled how people once mocked the "Make in India" initiative, questioning India's ability to produce advanced technology. However, he noted that India has transitioned from struggling with 2G to having 5G in nearly every district.

Modi also announced India's launch of its own 4G stack, marking a significant achievement. He stated that India is now among only five countries globally with this capability. The Prime Minister emphasised that this development is "export-ready" and will enhance India's business outreach.

Make in India Initiative

The "Make in India" programme was launched in September 2014 to transform the country into a global manufacturing hub. It aims to boost domestic production, attract foreign investment, and reduce import dependency by encouraging both Indian and international companies to manufacture within India.

This initiative covers 25 key sectors such as automobiles, defense, electronics, textiles, and renewable energy. It focuses on ease of doing business, innovation, skill development, and infrastructure growth. Despite challenges like bureaucratic delays and uneven state-level implementation, it has driven record foreign direct investment inflows and strengthened India's position in global value chains.

Controversial 2G Spectrum Case

The 2G spectrum allocation case remains one of India's most contentious political issues. During the United Progressive Alliance's second term (2009-2014), allegations arose regarding corruption and abuse of power in allocating 2G mobile telecommunication licenses to private companies.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India reported a notional loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the national exchequer due to this alleged scam. Although a trial court acquitted all accused parties in 2017 due to insufficient evidence, the case was frequently cited by the BJP during their 2014 election campaign as an example of corruption under the UPA regime.

India's tech revolution has made significant strides over the past decade. The country's advancements have answered skeptics who doubted its ability to develop technologically advanced products. As Modi pointed out, India's journey from grappling with basic telecom infrastructure to achieving widespread 5G coverage exemplifies this progress.

The Prime Minister's remarks at the event underscored India's commitment to becoming a leader in technology and manufacturing on a global scale. With initiatives like "Make in India," the nation continues to push forward despite challenges, aiming for sustained growth and innovation across various sectors.