India, July 5 -- India does not lack production capability or institutional support; it lacks consistent consumer preference.

The next time you buy a toy, a phone accessory, or even Diwali lights, pause for a moment and read the label. The small act of checking where a product is made can have a larger impact than most of us realise. By choosing domestically produced goods wherever possible, Indian consumers can directly support local industries, protect jobs, and reduce India's growing dependence on imports.

Yet this is a power we rarely exercise. Every day, millions of purchases are made without a second thought about the origin of the products. A cheaper option is picked, convenience takes over, and the label is ignored. What seems l...