Is India Self-reliant in Bearings?

India’s manufacturing landscape is undergoing a profound transformation driven by the twin imperatives of technological advancement and strategic self-reliance. As critical components that enable motion, efficiency, and safety across virtually every industrial sector, bearings occupy a pivotal position in this journey. From automotive and railways to aerospace, renewable energy, machine tools, and emerging e-mobility platforms, the demand for high-precision, high-performance bearings is rising sharply.

The question of whether India is truly self-reliant in bearings, therefore, goes beyond import substitution. It touches upon the nation’s ability to design, develop, test, and manufacture advanced bearing technologies that meet global standards, while also responding to industry-specific challenges such as high speeds, extreme temperatures, corrosive environments, electrification, and sustainability.

The Indian bearing industry—led by established domestic manufacturers and supported by a growing ecosystem of R&D, materials science, and smart manufacturing—has made remarkable progress in recent years. Companies are now not only expanding capacity, but also building indigenous technological capabilities, strengthening supply chains, and aligning closely with national priorities such as Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and the Vision 2047 roadmap.

Against this backdrop, the following responses evaluate India’s current level of self-reliance, the advancements shaping the sector, and the readiness of local manufacturers to supply both conventional and high-technology bearings for the industries of tomorrow. – Editor