Regional Performance of India’s Electronic and Manufacturing Sectors

Electronic technology and the Electronic Industry have immense potential to enhance living standards in India by supporting industrial modernization, employment generation, and sustained economic growth. Recognized as a "sunrise sector" since the Sixth and Seventh Five-Year Plans, the industry received policy support through de-licensing, modernization, capacity expansion, and export promotion, gaining strategic importance in India's industrial and technological development. This study analyzes the growth and performance of the Electronic Industry and Electronic Products Industry in India from 1975-76 to 2007-08, focusing on growth patterns, production, employment, capital formation, and productivity, with special emphasis on the impact of post-1991 economic liberalization. Using secondary, census-based data and econometric techniques across six sub-sectors, the study finds that although long-term growth was positive, post-reform performance weakened due to rising import dependence and competition, indicating the need for stronger domestic manufacturing and technological upgradation.