Gov’t mulls new national design policy for global hub push

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Despite its push to promote manufacturing via "Make in India," the country has yet to step up its native design mark game.

The national government is eyeing to make India a global design hub, but to do this, a policy overhaul is in order.

And this is why, according to local media reports, the industry department is already in the middle of preparing a new national design policy—one that will replace the currently in-use policy that was approved way back in February 2007.

A government official told Live Mint the new policy will "focus on promoting specific sectors such as defence, medical devices and electronics." The government "will financially incentivise" designs that are approved under the new policy with a goal of turning them into mass market products, the official said, according to the report.

Currently, all mass-produced products are eligible for the "India Design Mark," or I Mark, including consumer electronics, machine tools, lighting systems, machinery, medical equipment, and agricultural machinery, among others. The India Design Mark, launched by the National Design Council in 2010, is a brand extension that serves as a promotional launch pad for new products and services entering the market, according to information from its website.

Native design marks like the India Design Mark is sought after by consumers and producers in many countries. In Japan, for example, native design marks is a proof that "the producer has followed ethical and environmentally sustainable production process."

Despite its push to promote manufacturing via "Make in India," the country has yet to step up its native design mark game. "In India, due to lack of awareness, design certification has not picked up. We are striving to change that," the government official said.