Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) is a comprehensive policy framework and national concept, not an act or a single scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 12, 2020. The initiative was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to address the economic disruption and vulnerabilities in global supply chains, aiming to revive the economy and reduce import dependency. It is ideologically rooted in the historical Swadeshi movement, but is framed as neither protectionist nor isolationist, seeking instead to build internal strength while engaging with the world.
The concept is built on five pillars: Economy, Infrastructure, System (technology-driven arrangements), Vibrant Demography, and Demand. Its mechanism, known as the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, was supported by a special economic package of ₹20 lakh crore, equivalent to approximately 10% of India's GDP. Key provisions include structural reforms focusing on Land, Labour, Liquidity, and Laws.
The framework connects to several related schemes and reforms, such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme across 14 sectors to boost domestic manufacturing, and the Pradhan Mantri Aatmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana (PMANSY) to strengthen healthcare infrastructure. A significant change implemented under the Abhiyan was the redefinition of MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) by amending the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, to allow for higher investment and turnover limits. More recently, the strategy has seen a renewed push, sometimes termed Atmanirbhar 2.0, to strengthen energy security and shield key supply chains against global conflicts.