India has successfully avoided pharmaceutical raw material imports worth Rs 1,362 crore as of March 2025, thanks to the boost in domestic manufacturing capacity for 25 key drug components under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Bulk Drugs, the government informed Parliament.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel stated that investments under the scheme have already exceeded expectations. Against a committed investment of Rs 3,938.5 crore over six years, the sector has seen an actual investment of Rs 4,570 crore up to March 2025. The scheme has also led to cumulative sales of Rs 1,817 crore, including exports worth Rs 455 crore.
The PLI Scheme for Bulk Drugs, with a total budgetary outlay of Rs 6,940 crore, is aimed at reducing India’s dependence on foreign sources for critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs), Drug Intermediates (DIs), and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). It also seeks to minimize supply disruptions and ensure long-term pharmaceutical security by establishing a robust domestic production ecosystem.
