Three PLI Schemes Behind India's Push in Bulk Drugs, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices: Status as of June 2026
An announcement dated 25 September 2026 from the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, issued through PIB Delhi, takes stock of three Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes aimed at the health-products manufacturing chain. The schemes are meant to draw investment into the sector, protect the supply of critical active ingredients used in essential drugs, and build up a domestic medical device industry. They fit within the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat programmes, and the Government says they have deepened local manufacturing, lowered reliance on imports and encouraged adoption of newer technology.
The three schemes at a glance
- PLI Scheme for Bulk Drugs: promotes domestic manufacture of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs), Drug Intermediates (DIs) and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
- PLI Scheme for Pharmaceuticals: supports high-value finished medicines.
- PLI Scheme for Promoting Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices: rewards incremental sales of devices made in India.
PLI Scheme for Bulk Drugs
Scope and outlay
Approved in 2020 with a financial outlay of ₹6,940 crore, this scheme targets 41 identified critical products. Its purpose is to cut import dependence for APIs and other basic pharmaceutical building blocks, largely by attracting large greenfield manufacturing investments and making the supply chain more resilient.