A modern information interface for the district's entrepreneurship and industrial ecosystem, grounded in official government sources.
The District Industries Centres (DICs) were established in 1978, which falls within the timeline of the Fifth Five-Year Plan (originally scheduled for 1974-1979 but terminated in 1978). The DIC program was launched on May 1, 1978, following the Industrial Policy Statement of 1977. This policy aimed to shift the focus of industrial development from urban centres to the district level.
The main objective of establishing DICs was to promote small-scale, village, and cottage industries in a decentralized manner. They were designed to provide all necessary services and facilities to entrepreneurs under one roof, known as the Single Window Clearance system.
Each District Industries Centre is headed by a General Manager, who is assisted by functional managers and project managers to handle various aspects like credit, raw materials, marketing, and training.
The Fifth Five-Year Plan was the period when the concept of Integrated Rural Development and decentralized industrial planning gained significant momentum, leading to the creation of these centres.
| Five-Year Plan | Period | Main Objectives and Features |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth Five-Year Plan | 1974–1978 | Focused on Garibi Hatao (Poverty Alleviation) and Self-Reliance. It was drafted by D. P. Dhar. The plan was terminated in 1978 and replaced with the Rolling Plan. |
| Sixth Five-Year Plan | 1980–1985 | Marked the beginning of economic liberalization. It focused on poverty eradication and technological self-reliance. Schemes like IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Programme) were emphasized. |
| Seventh Five-Year Plan | 1985–1990 | Focused on establishing a self-sufficient economy, creating opportunities for productive employment, and upgrading technology. The slogan was "Food, Work, and Productivity". |
| Eighth Five-Year Plan | 1992–1997 | Launched after the Economic Crisis of 1991. It focused on Human Resource Development, including employment, education, and public health, along with the LPG model (Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization). |
District Industries Centres play an important role in supporting entrepreneurs and promoting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The Industrial Policy of 1977 emphasized the decentralization of industries and gave priority to the tiny sector and handicrafts. This policy led to the development of the institutional framework of District Industries Centres across India.
The MSME Act of 2006 further strengthened the role of District Industries Centres in facilitating the growth and development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in India.
DIC, Ropar was initially located in Mohali Subdivision. Since Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District was carved out of Ropar, DIC Ropar was separated from that of SAS Nagar.
In 2022, the DIC office shifted to DC Complex, Rupnagar.
DICs have been functioning as the District-Level Single Window System to provide the following services:
Key statistics, registrations, industries and incentive overview