India's Additive Manufacturing Progress and National Strategy
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has made significant progress in implementing the National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing (NSAM) introduced in February 2022. The strategy serves as India's guiding policy framework for 3D printing and additive manufacturing, aligned with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, with clear time-bound national targets.
Under NSAM, India has trained over 154,000 individuals in additive manufacturing-related skills and supported 56 AM start-ups, strengthening the innovation and entrepreneurship base. The network of national centres has enabled development of 65 India-specific technologies covering materials, machines, Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), and printed products. The strategy aims to capture 5% of the global additive manufacturing market, add nearly US$1 billion to India's GDP, develop 50 India-specific technologies, nurture 100 new start-ups, develop 500 new products, and train 100,000 skilled workers.
Sectoral Applications and Achievements
Additive manufacturing is being adopted across critical sectors with demonstrated results. In space and aerospace, IIT Madras-incubated start-up Agnikul Cosmos launched Agnibaan - SOrTeD in May 2024 featuring a single-piece, AM printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine. In defense, the Indian Army inaugurated its first AM-printed two-story dwelling unit at Ahmedabad built in just 12 weeks and has extended the technology to precast defenses in operational terrains like Ladakh.
Healthcare applications include MeitY-supported AM-based medical device manufacturing and startups like OsteoForge developing natural silk-based implants. The Technology Development Board is supporting 3D-printed bone grafts made from indigenous bioceramic materials. In electronics, NSAM has demonstrated AM printed electronics components including batteries, antennas, varistors, and capacitors, with IISc demonstrating Photonic Integrated Circuit blocks using AM printing.
Construction sector applications show promising results, with the Kelvin 6K Pro on-site 3D construction printer demonstrating ability to build 2,500 sq ft homes in under 30 days using low-carbon geopolymer material, indicating potential for 30% lower material and logistics costs and 90% lower emissions compared with cement-based construction.
Institutional Framework and Future Plans
The government has established seven specialised Development and Deployment Centres to support research and development, skilling, and hands-on technology access. NSAM 2.0 is being conceptualized to accelerate Intellectual Property Rights generation, grow AM network through Digital Integration, develop globally competitive technologies for commercialization, improve affordability of machines and materials through clusters, and strengthen the additive manufacturing electronics value chain.
The strategy plans to expand the additive manufacturing start-up base, provide extensive support to Indian defense, promote Sustainable Development Goal-driven pilot programmes, and deepen international cooperation through standards, joint research and technology partnerships. The global AM machines market is projected to reach USD 149 billion by 2035, with the AM-electronics supply chain set to grow from USD 18 billion to USD 112 billion, positioning India for competitive manufacturing across polymers, metals, composites, ceramics and semiconductor-grade materials.