From 'Make In India' To 'Invent In India': A Policy Roadmap For The National IP Sector

Vishal Anand , Pooja Kumari

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biotechnology, Intellectual Property (IP), Invent In India, Make In India.

This article posits that for India to achieve its ambition of becoming a developed nation and a global economic leader, a strategic evolution from the manufacturing-centric ‘Make in India’ initiative to an innovation-driven ‘Invent in India’ paradigm is imperative. While ‘Make in India’ successfully laid a foundation by boosting manufacturing and attracting foreign direct investment, it risks consigning India to the middle-income trap if not complemented by a robust ecosystem for domestic innovation. The linchpin of this transition is a dynamic, efficient, and forward-looking national Intellectual Property (IP) sector. This article critically analyses India’s current IP landscape, identifying systemic challenges in administration, enforcement, ecosystem linkages, and substantive law. It argues that the National IPR Policy of 2016, while a commendable first step, requires a more ambitious and actionable successor. To this end, the article proposes a comprehensive four-pillar policy roadmap. The pillars are: (1) Modernising IP Administration and Infrastructure through technology and human capital; (2) Strengthening IP Enforcement and Adjudication via specialised courts and calibrated damages; (3) Fostering a vibrant Innovation Ecosystem by bridging the gap between academia and industry and providing targeted fiscal incentives; and (4) Reforming Substantive IP Law to address the challenges of emerging technologies like AI and biotechnology. The article concludes that successfully navigating the path from ‘Make in India’ to ‘Invent in India’ is not merely an economic strategy but a nation-building imperative, requiring sustained political will and a fundamental shift towards valuing and protecting indigenous intellectual creation.

Volume 10 Issue 9, September-2025

Pages : a155-a162