The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed business association organization and advocacy group, making it a key institution in the Indian economy. Its origin dates back to 1895, when it was founded as the Engineering and Iron Trades Association (EITA). The initial problem it sought to solve was pressuring the colonial government to place orders for iron, steel, and engineering goods with companies based in India, rather than exclusively with UK firms.
The organization underwent several name changes, including the Indian Engineering Association (IEA) in 1912 and the Confederation of Engineering Industry (CEI) in 1986. It was formally renamed the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on January 1, 1992, in response to the government's plan to liberalize the Indian economy and to broaden its membership beyond the engineering sector.
CII works by creating an environment conducive to India's development, partnering with Industry, Government, and civil society through advisory and consultative processes. It engages with central and state governments to recommend policies and enhance efficiency, competitiveness, and business opportunities for its members. It connects directly to the landmark economic liberalization reforms of 1991, where it played a significant role. More recently, it was appointed as the B20 India Secretariat during India's G20 Presidency in 2023. The core mechanism of policy advocacy and industry development has stayed the same, but the name change in 1992 and the broadening of its scope to include all sectors marked a major shift. For 2026-27, CII has identified "Accelerating Competitiveness: Growth, Resilience, Inclusion, Sustainability, Trust" as its theme.