Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first Toy Fair in Delhi on Saturday. Reiterating his Aatmanirbhar (self-reliance) pitch, Modi said India has to become self-reliant in the toy sector and cater to the global audience.

Urging toy manufacturers to use less plastic, the PM asked national companies to increase use of eco-friendly materials and focus on innovation.

Claiming that India's share in the USD 100 billion global toy market is very less, Modi said the Centre was aiming to boost the country's toy industry.

अगर आज Made in India की demand है तो आज Handmade in India की demand भी उतनी ही बढ़ रही है।

आज लोग खिलौनों को केवल एक product के रूप में ही नहीं खरीदते हैं बल्कि उस खिलौने से जुड़े अनुभव से भी जुड़ना चाहते हैं।

इसलिए हमें Handmade In India को भी promote करना है: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 27, 2021

Stating that about 85 per cent of the toys sold in the country are imported, Modi said, "We need to promote hand-made in India toys.'

During the inauguration, the prime minister also interacted with traditional toymakers from Chennapatnam, Varanasi and Jaipur and exhorted them to innovate and make traditional toys that are relevant, keeping in view the changing taste of children.

Modi also said the government has prepared a National Toy Action Plan by involving 15 ministries with a view to make the domestic toy industry competitive.

अब देश ने खिलौना उद्योग को 24 प्रमुख क्षेत्रों में दर्जा दिया है।

National Toy Action Plan भी तैयार किया गया है।

इसमें 15 मंत्रालयों और विभागों को शामिल किया गया है ताकि ये उद्योग competitive बने, देश खिलौनों में आत्मनिर्भर बनें, और भारत के खिलौने दुनिया में भी जाएँ: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 27, 2021

The initiative, he added, is aimed at making India Aatmanirbhar in the toy sector and also increasing the presence of domestic toys in the global market.

खिलौनों के क्षेत्र में भारत के पास tradition भी है और technology भी है, भारत के पास concepts भी हैं, और competence भी है।

हम दुनिया को eco-friendly toys की ओर वापस लेकर जा सकते हैं, हमारे software engineers computer games के जरिए भारत की कहानियों को दुनिया तक पहुंचा सकते हैं: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 27, 2021

The Indian toy industry has tradition, technology, concepts and competence, Modi said, stressing that "we can give to the world eco-friendly toys".