Number of schemes being implemented to realise vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in pharma sector: Minister

The PLI Scheme for Pharmaceuticals aims to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities by increasing investment and production in the sector and contributing to product diversification to high-value goods in the pharmaceutical sector. It incentivises production of high-value medicines such as biopharmaceuticals, complex generic drugs, patented drugs or drugs nearing patent expiry, auto-immune drugs, anti-cancer drugs, etc. as well as production of APIs/KSMs/DIs other than those notified under the PLI Scheme for Bulk Drugs, thereby contributing to self-reliance. The scheme has enabled enhanced investment and production in eligible products. As of March 2025, the committed investment of Rs 17,275 crore targeted over the six-year period of the scheme stands substantially exceeded with cumulative investment of Rs 37,306 crore made by the scheme’s third year, and cumulative sales of approved products of Rs 2,66,528 crore have been made, including exports of Rs 1,70,807 crore. The cumulative sales of Rs 2,94,000 crore targeted over the six-year period of the scheme are expected to be exceeded in the scheme’s fourth year.

The objective of the PLI Scheme for Bulk Drugs is to improve self-reliance and reduce import dependence in critical KSMs, DIs and APIs. As of March 2025, the committed investment of Rs 3,938.5 crore under projects approved under the scheme for investment over the six-year production period of the scheme stands substantially exceeded with cumulative investment of Rs 4,570 crore made by the scheme’s third year. Further, production capacity has been created for 25 APIs/KSMs/DIs.

Under the Bulk Drugs Park scheme, three parks have been approved and are at various stages of development in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, through their respective State Implementing Agencies. The total project cost of these is over Rs 6,300 crore, with Central assistance to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore each for creation of common infrastructure facilities. These parks would offer land and utilities such as power, water, effluent treatment plant, steam, solid waste management, warehouse facilities at a subsidised rate. The State Implementing Agencies of the three States are also offering fiscal incentives in the form of capital subsidy on fixed capital investment, interest subsidy, State Goods and Services Tax reimbursement, exemption of stamp duty and registration charges, etc.

The Strengthening of Pharmaceutical Industry scheme supports realisation of the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat through the following sub-schemes:

1. Assistance to Pharmaceutical Industry for Common Facilities (API-CF): The scheme aims to strengthen the existing infrastructure facilities by providing financial assistance to pharmaceutical clusters for creation of common facilities. It helps create tangible assets as common facilities, such as testing labs, R&D labs, effluent treatment plants and training centres, thereby supporting the long-term viability and growth of the clusters by enabling them to develop and leverage shared resources. Under API-CF, projects with total grant-in-aid to the tune of ₹ 139.33 crore to pharmaceutical clusters have been approved for creation of common facilities and are at various stages of execution. Once these common facilities are created, they are expected to provide access to common facilities to around 1,300 existing pharmaceutical units, besides catalysing the augmentation of capacities at these clusters through the setting up of new pharmaceutical units and expansion of existing units.
2. Revamped Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (RPTUAS): The scheme aims to support upgrade of production facilities of small and medium pharmaceutical companies having average turnover of less than ₹ 500 crore, to attain the standards specified in the revised Schedule M to the Drugs Rules, 1945 and the World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP), thereby improving their competitiveness, both domestically and globally. Under this, till 1.7.2025, support for upgrade to attain the said standards has been approved for 142 micro, small and medium pharmaceutical companies, with total sanctioned amount of ₹135.84 crore.

Enabled by these schemes, over the last six financial years, the export of drugs and pharmaceuticals has increased by 92%, from Rs 1,28,028 crore in FY2018-19 to Rs 2,45,962 crore in FY2024-25.

The Government launched the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana scheme to make quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all. Under the scheme, dedicated outlets known as Jan Aushadhi Kendras are opened across the country to provide medicines at prices that are about 50% to 80% lower than those of leading branded medicines in the market. Till 30.6.2025, a total of 16,912 Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened and on the average, about 10 to 12 lakh persons visit these Kendras daily and avail of quality medicines at affordable prices. 2,110 medicines and 315 surgicals, medical consumables and devices are under the scheme product basket, covering all major therapeutic groups, such as cardiovascular, anti-cancers, anti-diabetic, anti-infectives, anti-allergic and gastro-intestinal medicines and nutraceuticals. As a result of the scheme, in the last 11 years, estimated savings of about Rs 38,000 crore have accrued to citizens in comparison to the prices of branded medicines. Further, the scheme has provided self-employment to over 16,000 persons, including over 6,800 women entrepreneurs.