Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises

The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises is a branch of the Government of India responsible for promoting the development and growth of the country’s heavy industries and overseeing the performance of public sector enterprises (PSEs). The ministry was formed in 1999 by merging the Department of Heavy Industry and the Ministry of Industry’s Department of Public Enterprises.

Objectives and Functions

The primary objectives and functions of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises include:

• Formulating and implementing policies, plans, and programmes for the development of India’s heavy industry sector, including the capital goods industry, machine tools industry, and automotive industry.
• Promoting the growth and competitiveness of PSEs through policy interventions, financial support, and performance monitoring.
• Facilitating the modernization and technological upgradation of heavy industries and PSEs to enhance their productivity and efficiency.
• Encouraging research and development (R&D) activities in the heavy industry sector to foster innovation and technological advancement.
• Attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the heavy industry sector to boost domestic manufacturing and create employment opportunities.
• Coordinating with other ministries, state governments, and industry associations to address the challenges faced by heavy industries and PSEs.

Organizational Structure

The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises is headed by a cabinet-level minister, who is assisted by a minister of state and a team of bureaucrats, including a secretary, additional secretaries, joint secretaries, and other officials. The ministry has several subordinate offices and autonomous bodies, such as:

• Department of Heavy Industry (DHI)
• Department of Public Enterprises (DPE)
• Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
• Heavy Engineering Corporation Limited (HEC)

Key Initiatives and Schemes

The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises has launched several key initiatives and schemes to support the growth and development of heavy industries and PSEs in India, such as:

• Make in India
• National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020
• Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) Scheme
• Scheme for Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector
• Revitalizing Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE) by 2022

Achievements

The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises has made significant contributions to the growth and development of India’s heavy industry sector and PSEs. Some of its notable achievements include:

• Facilitating the establishment of a robust automotive industry in India, with the country becoming the world’s fourth-largest automobile market and the seventh-largest commercial vehicle manufacturer.
• Supporting the growth of the capital goods industry, with India becoming a net exporter of engineering goods and the sector contributing significantly to the country’s GDP and employment generation.
• Promoting the adoption of electric mobility in India, with the sales of electric vehicles growing by over 20% year-on-year and the country setting ambitious targets for electric vehicle deployment.
• Improving the performance and profitability of CPSEs, with the net profit of operating CPSEs increasing from Rs. 1.28 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 1.89 lakh crore in 2019-20.
• Encouraging the participation of private sector players in the heavy industry sector through policy reforms and initiatives like Make in India, leading to increased investment and job creation.