India Pharma Outlook Team | Wednesday, 23 July 2025
In a massive push to turn India pharma-independent, the central government has sanctioned 48 new projects under the PLI scheme to increase domestic production of essential drug ingredients called APIs and KSMs.
The initiative is a part of India's larger strategy to reduce imports and strengthen its pharma manufacturing ecosystem.
Compared to expected investments of about Rs 3,938 crore, actual investments had already surpassed Rs 4,000 crore even before the approval meeting because 34 of these projects had already been commissioned as part of the PLI scheme, and their sales have amounted to more than Rs 1,330 crore. It has already created more than 4,200 direct jobs.
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The PLI scheme for bulk drugs is on the basis of the incremental sales to offer financial incentives over 6 years. It includes 53 critical APIs that until now were mainly being imported from other countries.
The approval would be a giant step for the Indian pharma industry, one step ahead of becoming a world-conquering power in producing mass drugs. It also gives a stern message regarding the government's intention to have a robust supply chain while handling the threats of global disruptions and growing health care demands.
With all these projects on the cards, the Indian pharmaceutical sector is not only strengthening its domestic base but also solidifying its position as a global player.
