Evaluate the progress of NSAM and suggest priorities for its next phase.

MeitY's National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing (NSAM), 2022, aimed to raise India's share of the global 3D-printing market to 5% within three years and add about US$1 billion to GDP [1]. NSAM is now entering its 2.0 phase. Its record so far shows strong inputs but outcomes that have not yet been proven.

Progress: Achievements

• Skilling: over 1,54,000 people trained [2].
• Start-up ecosystem: 56 AM start-ups supported, which builds a pipeline of deep-tech firms [2].
• Sector-specific centres: examples include the medical-devices CoE at AP MedTech Zone, Visakhapatnam and the opto-electronics CoE at C-MET Pune [1].
• Participatory design: the strategy was developed jointly by industry, academia and government [1].

Progress: Gaps

• Outputs, not outcomes: the three-year deadline has passed, but no figure for market share or GDP contribution has been published [2].
• Indigenisation not tracked: the core aim of making AM machines and AM-grade materials in India [1] has no reported count. If India prints on imported machines, most of the value stays abroad.
• Scale mismatch: 56 start-ups is a small base next to an AM machines market projected at USD 149 bn by 2035 [2], and no revenue or survival data is available for them.
• Regulatory vacuum: there is no AM-specific certification for printed implants or defence parts. Who owns a design file, and how files sent across borders are taxed, are still open questions.

Verdict: moderate progress. The foundations are in place, but whether the targets were met cannot be checked.

Priorities for NSAM 2.0

• Outcome metrics: publish market share and GDP contribution against the 2022 targets, and set new dated targets.
• Selective indigenisation: make metal-AM machines and titanium and stainless-steel powders in India for defence and aerospace [2]. Keep importing commodity plastic printers.
• Roadmap alignment: feed AM targets into NITI Aayog's Reimagining Manufacturing goal of manufacturing reaching 25% of GDP by 2035 [3].
• Scheme convergence: support the AM-electronics supply chain (expected to grow from USD 18 bn to USD 112 bn) [2] through approvals under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme [4].
• Market linkage and standards: pair each sector centre with a regulator or buyer who will test and purchase its products, and set certification and design-file rules early.

NSAM has built the human and entrepreneurial base for AM, but its success has to be measured in machines, materials and market share. If NSAM 2.0 is driven by outcome metrics, builds selectively at home and is linked with ECMS and NITI's roadmap, AM can become a pillar of Atmanirbhar Bharat and advance SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure).