A decade ago, celebrating a swadeshi Diwali meant choosing khadi clothes or handmade crafts. Today, it includes iPhones made in Bengaluru, SUVs rolling out of Pune, and airfryers assembled in Ahmedabad. India’s journey from a traditional swadeshi movement to a high-tech manufacturing powerhouse is reshaping the festive economy, with Diwali sales this year expected to cross an unprecedented ₹4.75 lakh crore, equivalent to $57 billion.
A Shift From Imports To Indian Innovation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly called on Indians to “buy Indian, build Indian,” emphasizing that the nation’s biggest challenge is dependency on imports. The sentiment is clearly taking root. According to trade body CAIT, nearly every major retail outlet is now stocked with swadeshi alternatives from electronics and automobiles to everyday essentials.
Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of CAIT, stated that supporting locally made products is no longer just patriotic, but economically strategic. “Every Indian purchase strengthens our economy and empowers small traders,” he said.
The Made-In-India Tech Boom
Perhaps the most symbolic representation of India’s manufacturing rise is the iPhone 17. Once fully dependent on China, Apple now manufactures one in five iPhones in India. In FY25 alone, Apple assembled $22 billion worth of devices domestically, a 60 percent increase over the previous year with exports making up nearly 80 percent.
Similarly, Samsung, which began Indian operations in 1996, now runs the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturing unit in Noida. The company has expanded into laptops, tablets, and wearables, positioning India as a major global hub.
Other tech and consumer brands are following suit. Croma’s CEO Shibashish Roy highlighted a growing consumer pride in purchasing Indian-made electronics, while companies like LG, IFB, Panasonic, and Philips’ parent firm Versuni are increasing domestic production to meet festive demand.
Global Giants Betting On India
French multinational Schneider Electric now manufactures 85 percent of its Indian retail portfolio locally, operating 31 plants across the country and planning three more. Sumati Sahgal, Vice President at Schneider Electric, noted a double-digit growth in sales for Made-in-India products this Diwali season.
LG Electronics has doubled its investment, with two factories in Noida and Pune and a third coming up in Andhra Pradesh. Panasonic’s India head, Fumiyasu Fujimori, said festive demand has surged by over 25 percent compared to last year, thanks to local production efficiencies.
The Automobile Sector Drives The Swadeshi Story
No sector embodies India’s self-reliance more than the automobile industry. Maruti Suzuki exported over 42,000 cars in September alone, its highest-ever monthly record. Rahul Bharti, the company’s senior executive officer, called it “a 21-gun salute to Make in India.”
Japanese brands like Honda and Nissan have also ramped up exports from India, while Hyundai announced plans to invest ₹45,000 crore to make India its second-largest market after the US. Meanwhile, Tata Motors, Skoda-Volkswagen, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Kia are all scaling production capacity to cater to both domestic and international markets.
Even the electric vehicle space is booming. Greaves Electric Mobility, the company behind Ampere scooters and Eltra three-wheelers, reported record sales growth this festive season — a sign that India’s clean mobility transition is accelerating.
A Swadeshi Diwali Of The Future
This new wave of swadeshi is not about rejecting the world, but leading it. From the khadi revolution of the past to the high-tech assembly lines of today, India’s production story has evolved into a symbol of national pride, self-reliance, and global competitiveness.
As India lights diyas this Diwali, it also illuminates a new economic era one where every purchase is both a celebration and an investment in the nation’s future.
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