EDITALK

Vision 2047 - Tick of Time for Beyond!

On India's 79th Independence Day, celebrated across the country on August 15, 2025, while addressing the Nation, from the ramparts of Red Fort in the National Capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, charted a bold roadmap for a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. With a sharp focus centred on self- reliance, innovation, and citizen empowerment, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s glorious journey from a nation dependent on others to a globally confident, technologically advanced, and economically resilient country. Looking ahead, he reminded citizens that India’s foremost strength lies in its people, innovation, and commitment to self-reliance, urging every Indian to contribute to nation-building, whether by buying India-made products or participating in scientific, technological, and entrepreneurial ventures to ensure a prosperous, powerful, and Viksit Bharat by the nation’s centenary of independence. India's global brand story and strategy is now no longer being narrated only through diplomacy, exports or legacy corporations. It is increasingly being shaped by creators, designers and engineers. Today, as India's creator economy matures, creators are fast turning into the most visible ambassadors of Brand Bharat. Brand Bharat is what we Indians need to thus create, such that the world looks to India, as the country it would most wish to align with, trust and rely upon. PM Modi further called on global creators to "Create in India, Create for the World." He positioned India's creative industries, as the backbone of the country's "orange economy." The emphasis was clear. India is no longer just a production base or a rapidly growing market, but a creative powerhouse well-capable of building globally relevant intellectual property. Hence, keeping his Vision 2047 (Viksit Bharat) in sharp focus, the Indian horological industry too, must also sincerely go beyond, by charting and adopting a roadmap for itself, that aligns with the broader national goals of becoming a $30+ trillion economy, a global manufacturing hub, as well as a leader in technology and innovation by 2047. The revised roadmap has to therefore ideally shift from mere assembly to a "Design-Led, Digitally Powered, Made for the World" approach, which is critical for the industry to move forward from a consumption-led model to a meaningful and production- led one. A look here at the new roadmap that should ideally be followed by India's horological industry to align with Vision 2047: 1. Shift to "Design-Led, Digitally Powered" Manufacturing   Moving Beyond Assembly: The industry should try to move away from importing components to indigenous design and manufacturing (design-led). This holds great significance, if the industry is to truly go beyond.  Smartwatch Trajectory Shift: Capitalizing on the rapid shift toward wearables observed in recent years, even though Indian companies are heavily investing in developing home-grown technology for smartwatches and continuing to create new and ingenious models, while some are even moving towards high-end, they should now seriously try to focus on the export market also.  Technological Integration: They should lay emphasis on utilizing ML (Machine Learning) and data analytics to optimize production and create high-value, sophisticated and well-designed products, which is the way to thrust ahead.  2. "Make in India" & Atmanirbhar Bharat  Local Supply Chains: Indian companies should strengthen and support local component manufacturing (dials, cases etc) to increase the domestic value- add, as part of the broader aim as envisaged, for manufacturing to contribute 25% of India's GDP by 2047. While the industry leader in Indian watchmaking has already also begun to develop and make its own movements, more Indian companies should follow suit by at-least adopting minor alterations, if not the entire movement, with USP in mind. The objective should be to become self- reliant as far as, in movements too, as India already is, in other watch components.  Production-Linked Incentives (PLI): In order to scale up production and become globally competitive through electronics and advanced manufacturing, they should leverage PLI and other such schemes for their production staff, as this step would encourage them to produce and deliver better.  Reducing Import Dependence: The goal should be to reduce reliance on foreign components and strengthen self-reliance in precision manufacturing, by extending vendor development support.  3. Sustainability and Green Growth  Eco-friendly Materials: Indian watchmakers must adopt sustainable manufacturing practices, as are being regularly employed by many international watchmakers, such as using recycled materials for watch straps, cases, and packaging, in line with India’s Net-Zero goal. This is vital for the nation's environment in terms of avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.  Energy Efficiency: They should plan their production process in a way that helps reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing facilities and ensures compliance with international environmental standards, which in turn will help to enhance the global appeal of "Made in India" products.  4. Globalizing "Made in India"  Export-Oriented Growth: The roadmap should include expanding the global footprint of Indian brands, transforming from merely being a domestic consumption hub to a major exporter. It's high time that Indian companies also looked beyond India, to have their "Made in India" products visibly recognised, as it's only then that the country's esteem will rise, although some companies have already begun to do so.  Leveraging Diaspora: The Indian diaspora should also be utilized by Indian watchmakers to promote Brand Bharat actively and to its fullest, by building brand visibility and distribution networks worldwide, showcasing Indian ingenuity, and craftsmanship. This is always advantageous, because it will uplift the country's image in other countries as its skills in watchmaking prowess and talent will then be exhibited to the fore.   5. Talent and Skill Development  Skilling for Industry 4.0 (Fourth Industrial Revolution): Indian companies must prepare their workforce for advanced, digital-driven manufacturing, ensuring skills align with modern, high-tech horological techniques. This implies integration of intelligent digital technologies as well as robotics—into manufacturing to create "smart factories". It will also enable machines to communicate, analyze data, and operate autonomously, enhancing productivity, customization, and efficiency. This is significant, if the Indian watchmakers are to remain competitive both nationally and internationally and achieve the desired scale, leading up to Vision 2047.  Collaborative R&D: Partnerships have to be fostered between industry, academia, and research institutions to drive innovation in design and materials.   Human Resources to Play its Defining Role: Companies must have a strong and vigilant HR Department, in order that the best talent and professionals are scouted for and recruited from the finest and most outstanding institutions of national repute, to man different disciplines. These are the people who have to work toward helping to reach Vision 2047. Meanwhile, as India’s retail landscape continues to evolve, there is a quiet shift happening, and that's coming from beyond the metros. Now it's the Tier- II and Tier-III cities as well as rural India, which are quickly emerging as the epicentres of this transformation, driven by a new generation of consumers who are curious, aspirational, and increasingly experimental with their style choices. With higher disposable incomes, affordable internet access, and growing exposure to global trends through digital platforms and influencers, shoppers in these regions are now  active participants in shaping the demand of lifestyle products. What was once viewed as a catch-up market, should therefore actively define the revised marketing strategies of watchmaking companies, while some who have understood this shift, are already moving into these markets rapidly, to make their presence felt and entrench themselves firmly. This is definitely India's next phase of growth. So, by following such a roadmap, the Indian horological industry too, should move from a largely fragmented, import-dependent market to a cohesive, high-tech, and sustainable global player, directly contributing to the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 dream of PM Modi, which should augur well for this industry, its growth as well as for India as a whole! The promotion of 'Brand Bharat,' should definitely be, the defining strategy of Indian Horological Industry, as this suggested plan will eventually lead us towards better times!

Hemal M. Kharod