A recent NETRA discussion brought together industry stakeholders to exchange perspectives on the evolving battery manufacturing ecosystem in India, with a focus on supply chain challenges and the opportunities ahead for building globally competitive capabilities.

During the meeting, the importance of targeted policy support was highlighted, including measures such as calibrated import duties and capital assistance that could help Indian manufacturers achieve cost competitiveness over the next 5–6 years. It was also noted that strengthening India’s domestic manufacturing base must go hand-in-hand with developing export-oriented strategies, including exploring opportunities in international markets such as North America.

Participants also discussed the value of building stronger innovation infrastructure to support the sector. The concept of a rapid prototyping and testing facility was explored as a potential mechanism to accelerate technology validation and product development for emerging battery technologies.