India is emerging as a competitive player in the digital manufacturing revolution through Additive Manufacturing (AM), a 3D-printing technology that uses digital files to create physical products, according to a government factsheet released on Wednesday.

The National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing (NSAM), launched in 2022, aims to build a strong domestic AM ecosystem. The initiative has so far trained more than 1.54 lakh people and supported 56 AM startups.

The government has now moved the strategy into its NSAM 2.0 phase, with plans to expand the market beyond the targets set under NSAM 1.0. The new phase aims to position AM as a key building block of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat, the factsheet said.

AM is rapidly transforming the manufacturing sector by converting digital designs into physical products. The technology has emerged as a major engineering frontier, offering applications across several industries.

The global AM machines market could reach $149 billion by 2035, while the AM-electronics supply chain could expand from $18 billion to $112 billion. These trends present India with an opportunity to build a competitive manufacturing ecosystem covering polymers, metals, composites, ceramics and semiconductor-grade materials.

The government will also showcase emerging technologies, including AM, at the second edition of the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC-2026), scheduled for October 27-29.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will organise ESTIC-2026 to advance emerging science and technology frontiers with transformative applications. The conclave will promote strategic collaborations and support India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

The three-day event will cover 12 thematic areas and feature plenary sessions, technical discussions and exhibitions.

AM Boosts India’s Space Manufacturing

India’s space programme has begun using additive manufacturing to develop lighter and faster hardware.

In May 2024, IIT Madras-incubated startup Agnikul Cosmos launched ‘Agnibaan – SOrTeD’, featuring a single-piece, 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine. The mission demonstrated how AM can support complex engine designs and accelerate indigenous space-hardware development.

NSAM is also supporting startups in research and development focused on critical engine components manufactured through AM.

Defence Adopts 3D-Printing Technology

The Armed Forces are also using AM to accelerate construction and develop resilient infrastructure.

The Indian Army inaugurated its first AM-printed two-storey dwelling unit in Ahmedabad after completing the structure in just 12 weeks. The Army has also expanded the technology to precast defence structures in operational areas such as Ladakh.

NSAM is supporting all three branches of the Armed Forces in establishing workshop-level facilities for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) applications.

AM Opens New Healthcare Opportunities

The Technology Development Board is supporting the development of 3D-printed bone grafts using indigenous bioceramic materials.

The technology allows manufacturers to create grafts tailored to a patient’s specific anatomy and medical requirements. It could reduce India’s dependence on imports, strengthen domestic medical manufacturing and enable more personalised healthcare, the factsheet said.

With applications spanning space, defence, healthcare and advanced manufacturing, India is increasingly using additive manufacturing to strengthen its domestic technology capabilities and build a globally competitive digital manufacturing ecosystem.