A NEW ‘FOCUS PRODUCT SCHEME’ FOR FOOTWEAR & LEATHER SECTORS, SCHEME TO GENERATE EMPLOYMENT FOR 22 LAKH PERSONS

NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR TOYS TO MAKE INDIA A GLOBAL HUB FOR TOYS

A “National Manufacturing Mission” to cover small, medium and large industries for furthering “Make in India” was announced by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs , Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget 2025-26 in Parliament today. This will provide policy support, execution roadmaps, governance and monitoring framework for central ministries and states.

The National Manufacturing Mission will lay emphasis on five focal areas i.e. ease and cost of doing business; future ready workforce for in-demand jobs; a vibrant and dynamic MSME sector; availability of technology; and quality products.

The Mission will also support Clean Tech manufacturing and aims to improve domestic value addition and build the ecosystem for solar PV cells, EV batteries, motors and controllers, electrolyzers, wind turbines, very high voltage transmission equipment and grid scale batteries, the Union Finance Minister added.

The Finance Minister also outlined measures for Labour-Intensive Sectors, adding that Government will  undertake specific policy and facilitation measures to promote employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in labour-intensive sectors.

The Union Minister specified that to enhance the productivity, quality and competitiveness of India’s footwear and leather sector, a focus product scheme will be implemented. The Union Finance Minister further informed that the scheme will support design capacity, component manufacturing, and machinery required for production of non-leather quality footwear, besides the support for leather footwear and products. The scheme is expected to facilitate employment for 22 lakh persons, generate turnover of Rs. 4 lakh crore and exports of over Rs. 1.1 lakh crore.

The Union Minister further proposed National Action Plan for Toys to be implemented to make India a global hub for toys. The scheme will focus on development of clusters, skills, and a manufacturing ecosystem that will create high-quality, unique, innovative, and sustainable toys that will represent the 'Made in India' brand, the Minister added.

On the front of support for food processing, the Union Finance Minister reiterated Government’s commitment towards ‘Purvodaya’. The Union Minister proposed to establish a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management in Bihar. The institute will provide a strong fillip to food processing activities in the entire Eastern region. This will result in enhanced income for the farmers through value addition to their produce, and skilling, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for the youth.

National Manufacturing Mission boosts Make in India by strengthening manufacturing competitiveness, workforce, MSMEs and clean technology capacity. A National Manufacturing Mission will provide policy support, execution roadmaps and a governance framework to advance Make in India, emphasising ease and cost of doing business, workforce development, a dynamic MSME sector, technology availability and product quality. The Mission will support Clean Tech manufacturing across solar PV cells, EV batteries, motors and controllers, electrolyzers, wind turbines, very high voltage transmission equipment and grid-scale batteries. Complementary measures include a Focus Product Scheme for footwear and leather to support design, component manufacturing and machinery for leather and non-leather quality footwear, a National Action Plan for Toys to develop clusters and skills, and a National Institute of Food Technology in Bihar to boost food processing.