Towards a Self-Reliant IndiaDr M ArokiaswamyThere was a time when Indian ingenuity gave birth to Jugaad – the term that symbolises the ability to improvise anything for convenience in the absence of resources. There are literally thousands of examples of how self-made entrepreneurs across the country devised Jugaad solutions to overcome practical problems. Jugaad was a mixed bag – not all of it was good, though it served a purpose. While coupling a water pump for irrigation to the tractor’s output shaft by Punjab farmers is a good example, there were also the not-so-good ones like the notorious small diesel engine powered fish carts on Chennai streets th...
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The Cover story
Frugal Innovations – Scalable Automation
How frugal innovations and scalable solutions are helping build a self-reliant India.Frugal InnovationsThe Prime Minister’s call for a self-reliant India has inevitably brought into focus several issues faced by the domestic manufacturing sector, and its reliance on imports for critical technologies. Poor spend on R&D has long been a weak link in India’s manufacturing chain. It is against this backdrop that Industrial Automation invited a panel of technocrats to offer their views on how frugal innovations and scalable automation can help the industry overcome some of the challenges.Anil BhatiaFrugal innovation has spawned many success stories in India, wit...
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