**Executive Summary**
The National Productivity Council (NPC) celebrated its 68th Foundation Day on February 12, 2026, marking the commencement of National Productivity Week (February 12-18, 2026). The event focused on integrating into global value chains through Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, with the goal of strengthening India's productivity ecosystem and advancing MSME sectors. Key stakeholders include Central Ministries, State Governments, MSMEs and industry associations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **NPC's 68th Foundation Day:**
* Celebrated on February 12, 2026, in New Delhi.
* Marks the start of National Productivity Week (February 12-18, 2026).
* **Keynote Address by NPC Chairman and DPIIT Secretary:**
* Focused on strengthening India's productivity ecosystem.
* Aimed at achieving a USD 30 trillion economy.
* Emphasized integrating into global value chains through "Make for the World" initiatives.
* **Productivity Improvement Goals:**
* Competitive pricing and cost efficiency.
* Enabling business environment.
* **DPIIT's Reform Initiatives:**
* Compliance reduction, tax rationalization, Startup promotion, regulatory simplification, and calibrated tariff reforms.
* **MSME Focus:**
* Clusters are described as centres of collective efficiency.
* NPC called to deepen shop-floor productivity culture and expand MSME outreach.
* **Other Discussions:**
* Institutional and financial support mechanisms for MSMEs.
* Energy-efficient industrial ecosystems and sustainable production practices.
* **Technical Sessions:**
* Focused on "Eco-industrial Clusters for Sustainable Development."
* **NPC's Initiatives:**
* Developed an Industry 4.0 Readiness Assessment Framework.
* Proposals for an Indian Productivity Rating System and 5S Assessment Framework.
* Establishment of a Learning & Development Centre.
* Youth engagement initiatives.
* Establishment of the India Centre for BRICS Industrial Competencies.
* **NPC Commitment:**
* Advancing a nationwide productivity movement.
* Integrating efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness.
**Impact Analysis**
**NPC**
*Impact*
* Responsible for organising National Productivity Week.
* Driving productivity improvements in the industrial sector.
*Action Required*
* Implement and promote the Industry 4.0 Readiness Assessment Framework.
* Establish and manage the Learning & Development Centre.
* Expand MSME outreach.
* Strengthen partnerships with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO).
**MSMEs and Cluster Enterprises**
*Impact*
* Subject to productivity improvements and efficiency standards
* Potential beneficiaries of financial and institutional support.
*Action Required*
* Adapt to Industry 4.0 standards.
* Adopt best practices in productivity and sustainability.
**Policymakers and Industry Leaders**
*Impact*
* Involved in deliberating strategies for productivity enhancement
*Action Required*
* Implement actionable strategies for productivity enhancement
**Indian Industries**
*Impact*
* Increase the productivity of processes and employee effectiveness.
*Action Required*
* Invest in new technologies.
* Promote the development of new skills.
* Encourage effective communication.
Key Entities Referenced
National Productivity Council (NPC): A key organization focused on productivity enhancement in India, organizing events and initiatives.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: A Government of India initiative focused on making India self-reliant.
Make in India: A Government of India initiative focused on encouraging domestic manufacturing.
DPIIT: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, involved in reform initiatives mentioned in the context.
Asian Productivity Organization (APO): An intergovernmental organization that NPC is strengthening partnerships with.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
68th Foundation Day of NPC Marks
Commencement of National Productivity Week
2026
Integration into Global Value Chains Strengthened through
Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India Initiatives
Posted On: 12 FEB 2026 8:38PM by PIB Delhi
The National Productivity Council (NPC) celebrated its 68th Foundation Day on 12th February 2026 at a
national-level programme held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The event marked the commencement
of National Productivity Week (12–18 February 2026), which is being observed across the country
through NPC’s 12 Regional Directorates, 24 Local Productivity Councils, State Governments, partner
Central Ministries, MSMEs, and industry associations.
Delivering the keynote address, Chairman, NPC and Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia,
articulated a forward-looking vision to strengthen India’s productivity ecosystem in pursuit of the national
aspiration of becoming a USD 30 trillion economy. He emphasised deeper integration into global value
chains through strengthened Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, alongside a strategic shift
towards “Make for the World.”
He underscored that productivity improvements must translate into competitive pricing, cost efficiency,
and a more enabling business environment. Referring to DPIIT’s reform initiatives—including compliance
reduction, tax rationalisation, Startup promotion, regulatory simplification, and calibrated tariff reforms—
he stressed that sustained global competitiveness requires both technological advancement and systematic
process re-engineering. Appreciating the theme, “Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximizing Productivity in
MSMEs,” he described clusters as centres of collective efficiency that enable shared infrastructure, testing
facilities, design centres, and knowledge exchange. He called upon NPC to deepen shop-floor productivity
culture, expand MSME outreach through its nationwide network, foster academic collaboration, develop
specialised service models, and strengthen partnerships with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO).
Chairman-Cum-Managing Director, National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. Dr. Subhransu Sekhar
Acharya, highlighted institutional and financial support mechanisms for MSMEs and cluster enterprises,
while Shri Krushna Chandra Panigrahy, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, emphasised
energy-efficient industrial ecosystems and sustainable production practices.
Technical sessions on “Eco-industrial Clusters for Sustainable Development” brought together
policymakers and industry leaders to deliberate on actionable strategies for productivity enhancement.
Shri Ashok Kumar, DDG, BEE, spoke on integrating energy efficiency within clusters; Shri Amit Jain,
International Sustainability Expert, shared global best practices; and Dr. Shailendra Singh, Director,
Maruti Suzuki India Limited, presented industry experiences in lean manufacturing and sustainable supply
chains focusing on the achievements of the Maruti Suzuki Centre for Excellence in this context.In her address, Director General, NPC Ms. Neerja Sekhar, emphasised that productivity must encompass
the shop floor, strategic decision-making, and techno-managerial operations. She informed that NPC has
developed an Industry 4.0 Readiness Assessment Framework to guide enterprises in digital
transformation. She also outlined proposals for an Indian Productivity Rating System, a 5S Assessment
Framework for export readiness, revival of sector-specific productivity benchmarks, and the establishment
of a Learning & Development Centre to integrate productivity-linked tools into entrepreneurial training.
She highlighted youth engagement initiatives, including nationwide competitions and the proposed “Pro-
Talks” platform, and informed about the establishment of the India Centre for BRICS Industrial
Competencies in NPC to strengthen international collaboration in productivity enhancement.
Through the celebrations of Foundation Day and National Productivity Week, NPC reaffirmed its
commitment to advancing a nationwide productivity movement integrating efficiency, sustainability, and
competitiveness to position India’s MSME sector as a key driver of economic transformation.
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Abhishek Dayal/Garima Singh/Anushka Pandey
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