Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Campaign: India’s vision for Self-Reliant – Modi ka Sankalp, Desh ka Jeevan-Mantra (Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi)
The Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan was officially launched by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on September 25, 2025, aligning with the Birth Anniversary of its Ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. The nationwide campaign is scheduled to run for three months, concluding on December 25, 2025, the Birth Anniversary of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Former Prime Minister of India. The initiative aims to promote self-reliant and “Vocal for Local” among citizen, encouraging support for locally indigenous products and services. It also seeks to highlight the government efforts in fostering economic resilience and reducing dependence on external resources.
Origin of Atmanirbhar Bharat and its connection to Swadeshi Movements: The Swadeshi movement emerged during India’s struggle for Independence, particularly after the Partition of Bengal in 1905 by the British. It encouraged Indian to use locally-made goods and boycott foreign products, aiming to weaken British economic control. Leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Raipat Rai, Aurobindo Ghosh and Mahatma Gandhi promoted Swadeshi as a means of economic empowerment and national self-reliant. These leaders’ organised boycotts of British goods encouraged local handicrafts and promoted nation education institution. Later, Mahatma Gandhi became the most influential figure in popularising the Swadeshi ethos at the National level.
Post- Independent, India continued to emphasize self-reliant particularly in sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and energy. The Planning Commission initiatives and policies like import substitution industrialization aimed to reduce dependency on foreign goods were established. India initiated the Five-year Plans focussing on domestic production and heavy industries. In 1960-1980’s India promoted Swadeshi in agriculture, technology and defence.
Emergence of Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative came at a time when the whole world was under lockdown due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, creating unprecedented challenges for economic globally. Recognising the urgency to strengthen India’s economic resilience, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi envisioned a Self-Reliant India capable of meeting its own needs while competing globally. Under his visionary leadership, Atmanirbhar Bharat took a new dimension, encompassing economic reforms, technological innovation and strategic self-sufficiency across critical sectors.
The initiative was officially announced on 12th May, 2020 during his National Address, marking a historic moment in India’s journey towards self-reliant. It called upon citizen; industries and Government alike to adopt the principles of “Vocal for Local” promote indigenous manufacturing and contribute to building a stronger, resilient and globally competitive India. He announced an economic stimulus package worth Rs. 20 lakh crores, aimed at mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This comprehensive package, equivalent to nearly 10% of India GDP, targeted multiple sectors including MSMEs, Agriculture, Labourers, Small Business and Healthcare.
The initiative was designed not only to revive the economy but also to promote self-reliant, strengthen domestic industries and create employment opportunities across the Country.
Key Government initiatives under Atmanirbhar Bharat include:
- Economic stimulus package (Rs. 20 Lakh Crore)
- Vocal for Local Campaign
- Make in India 2.0
- Support for MSMEs and Start-ups
- Agricultural and Rural Development initiatives 6) Strategic sectors and Defence manufacturing 7) Technology and Digital India.
Complementing this vision is the Har Ghar Swadeshi initiative, which translates the National goal into everyday action at the household level. By encouraging citizens to choose Indian-made products, support local business and adopt sustainable practices. Har Ghar Swadeshi ensures that self-reliant is not just a policy but a living, grassroots movement. Every purchase, every preference for domestic goods becomes a step toward economic empowerment, job creation and preservation of India’s cultural heritage. Together, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Har Ghar Swadeshi form a synergistic framework; the farmer provider the strategic vision, policy support and economic stimulus, while the latter mobilized citizens to implement it in daily life. This dual approach transforms India’s historical Swadeshi ethos into a modern, inclusive movement, making self-reliant a collective responsibility and a source of National pride.
By connecting the Governments Five Pillars of Atmanirbhar Bharat- Economy, Infrastructure, Technology – driven system, Vibrant Demography and Demand with the collective spirit of 145 crore Indians, the Nation is scripting a new chapter of progress and resilience. What began as a response to the global crisis of COVID-19 has now evolved into a transformative national movement, blending the timeless ideals of Swadeshi with the dynamism of a modern India as it is not merely preparing to meet the challenges of today. It is marching confidently towards a self-reliant, globally competitive and proud future, One Home at a time.
Bikramjit Kongkham
Co-convenor and Media In charge of
Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Campaign
BJP, Manipur Pradesh.
