The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F) on December 16, 2025, notified regarding the PLI scheme for Pharmaceuticals.
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes implemented by the Department of Pharmaceuticals have significantly reduced India’s dependence on imports by enabling import substitution worth ₹3,591 crore of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Key Starting Materials (KSMs), and Drug Intermediates (DIs).
Under the PLI Scheme for Bulk Drugs, manufacturing capacity has been created for 26 critical KSMs/APIs, resulting in cumulative sales of ₹2,315 crore (including exports of ₹508 crore) up to September 2025, thereby avoiding imports worth ₹1,807 crore. The scheme aims to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential APIs and reduce risks arising from dependence on single-source imports.
The PLI Scheme for Pharmaceuticals has strengthened domestic manufacturing of high-value medicines and diversified product portfolios. For the first time, 191 KSMs/DIs/APIs have been produced under this scheme, generating cumulative sales of ₹8,110 crore (including exports of ₹6,326 crore) up to September 2025, resulting in import avoidance of ₹1,784 crore.
Additionally, under the Pharmaceuticals Research and Innovation Promotion (PRIP) Scheme, financial assistance is provided to industry, MSMEs, startups, and National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) to support R&D, validation, and commercialization of new medicines, complex generics, biosimilars, and novel medical devices. The scheme also supports the development of research infrastructure through Centres of Excellence. The tenure for the scheme approving three bulk drug parks extends till March 2027, with progress details provided in the Annexure.
[Release ID: 2204595]
