Conceptualised by Frost & Sullivan to recognise Indian manufacturing capability and global competitiveness, the India Manufacturing Excellence Awards (IMEA) 2026 edition was held at Mumbai recently. Looked upon as a platform to identify future ready factories in India, the thirteenth edition of IMEA, Hyundai Motor India Limited, Chennai, was awarded ‘Indian Manufacturer of The Year’. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd – Automotive Division, Igatpuri, was the first runner up in the category. In his address, Nitin Kalothia, Director, Manufacturing & Process Consulting Practice, Frost & Sullivan, drew attention to manufacturing. Manufacturing, he said, contributes 16 per cent to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and has become one of the core aspects towards increasing competitiveness. “It is the key driver of economic prosperity and creates more wealth than any other industry,” he added. Drawing attention to the current challenge of low demand, increasing raw material, and labour cost, Kalothia stated that manufacturing challenges are calling organisations to adopt advanced manufacturing practices. It is thus that the companies can stay efficient and competitive, he said.