The ‘Make in India’ initiative was launched by the Government of India in September 2014 as part of a wider set of nation-building initiatives which were aimed to promote domestic manufacturing and attract foreign investment. Make In India’s scheme led by the Department of Promotion of Industry and International Trade (DPIIT) primarily focuses on 25 prominent sectors. The program was devised to increase the share of manufacturing in the country’s GDP and create employment opportunities in the country. As part of the initiative, a ‘Make in India’ logo was designed to promote Indian products and services.
The ‘Make in India’ logo is a symbol of quality, reliability, and innovation that represents the Indian manufacturing industry. It features an upward-facing lion, made up of gears, which symbolizes strength and national pride, while embodying the spirit of the initiative and representing the global nature of manufacturing. The lion is portrayed as leaping forward, indicating the country’s determination to move ahead. It has been designed to be both timeless and contemporary, and it is instantly recognizable as a symbol of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. With its combination of elements, the logo is a powerful visual representation of the progress and potential of the country. It effectively portrays the vision of the mission and its commitment to driving India’s economic growth and development.
In this article, we will discuss the guidelines for the use of the ‘Make in India’ logo in India issued by the DPIIT (vide its notification bearing no. F. No.: 5(46)/2014-BE-III dated 12th December 2016) and how these guidelines must be interpreted to ensure that the logo is used in a proper and appropriate manner so that such use represents the Indian manufacturing industry in a positive way. As per the said notification, these guidelines have been framed to establish the criteria in which permission for use of the said logo will be granted.
These guidelines provide for several different rules for the application to use the logo, such as:
- The ‘Make in India’ logo is a registered trademark of the DPIIT. Any user of this intellectual property acknowledges that DPIIT is its sole owner.
- An application for using the logo must be made to the Joint Secretary (BE-III) of DPIIT.
- All applications for use of the logo must be received by the DPIIT at least 30 days prior to the usage and must be made in the format prescribed by these guidelines.
- The DPIIT may ask for any additional information pertaining to the events, publications, websites/portals, or electronic media where the logo is to be used before taking any decision.
- DPIIT reserves the right to withdraw permission for the use of the MII logo by giving sufficient notice. Further, they also reserve the right to view the proposed design and layout of MII prior to the finalization of the same.
- The Central and the State government authorities have a right to use the logo for events, brochures, publicity material and advertisements that Promote the “Make in India” initiative.
- An application for use of the logo for events, publications, websites/portals will be considered on factors such as nature and importance of the event, profile / track record of the organisers, profile of participants and delegates, other deliverables offered by way of exhibition space at the venue, distribution of DPIIT’s publicity material in the delegate kits, etc. It is pertinent to note that permissions are only granted if the subject matter relates to the 25 approved sectors under “Make in India” campaign or promote the cause.
- An application for use of the logo on electronic media on electronic media such as television debates and discussions will be considered on factors such as nature of the programme, profile / track record of the producers of the programme, target audience, contents of the programme, inclusion of manufacturing related content in the programme and the extent to which the programme would help in increasing awareness about the 25 approved sectors under “Make in India” as well as the culture and heritage of the country.
- An application to use the logo for any other purpose will be considered on the basis of its merit after evaluating factors such as visibility, impact and the extent about manufacturing or its related aspects. For instance, a company which is manufacturing its products in India can apply for a permission to apply the logo on its products in the format prescribed under these guidelines.
The ‘Make in India’ logo has been designed to promote Indian products and services and to create a sense of pride and confidence in the country’s capabilities. However, it is essential to follow the guidelines for the use of the logo to ensure that it is used appropriately and accurately. The guidelines mentioned below are intended to help individuals, organizations, and companies use the logo in a manner that promotes the initiative without diluting or discrediting it. Some relevant aspects that need to be kept in mind regarding the use of the logo have been listed below:
- Eligibility Criteria: Only those companies or manufacturers who have a manufacturing or service facility in India are entitled to apply for the use of the logo.
- Approval Process: Companies or manufacturers who meet the eligibility criteria must apply for approval to use the ‘Make in India’ logo. Once the application is approved, the company or manufacturer can use the ‘Make in India’ logo on their products or services.
- Proper Usage: The ‘Make in India’ logo should be used in a proper and appropriate manner. It should not be distorted, modified, or used in a way that may misrepresent the Indian manufacturing industry.
- Use of the logo on advertisements and marketing materials: The ‘Make in India’ logo can be used on advertisements and marketing materials, but it should not be the focus of the material. The logo should be used in a way that complements the advertisement or marketing material and promotes the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
- Non-transferability: The right to use the ‘Make in India’ logo is non-transferable. It cannot be sold, leased, or transferred to another company or manufacturer. The logo can only be used by the company or manufacturer who has been granted permission to use it by the DPIIT.
- Termination of Use: The DPIIT reserves the right to terminate the use of the ‘Make in India’ logo if a company or manufacturer is found to have violated any of the guidelines or eligibility criteria. The DPIIT can also terminate the use of the logo if the company or manufacturer is found to be involved in any illegal or unethical practices.
- Enforcement: The DPIIT has the authority to take legal action against any company or manufacturer who violates the guidelines or eligibility criteria for the use of the ‘Make in India’ logo.
‘Make in India’ is an initiative by the Indian government to boost domestic manufacturing and promote India as a global manufacturing hub. It was launched to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, protect intellectual property & build best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure. The ‘Make in India’ logo, which is an integral part of the initiative, was designed to represent India’s growth as a global manufacturing hub. By following the guidelines for the use of the Make in India logo, companies and manufacturers can showcase their products and services as being made in India and contribute to the growth of the Indian manufacturing industry.
