Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, assessing the progress and impact of the PLI initiative. A cumulative incentive amount of ₹21,534 crore has been disbursed across 12 of the 14 sectors under the scheme—including electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, textiles, and food processing.
The scheme, aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing, has significantly contributed to India’s self-reliance and export competitiveness, according to an official statement.
Pharmaceuticals
The sector reported ₹2.66 lakh crore in cumulative sales, including ₹1.7 lakh crore from exports over three years. In FY 2024–25 alone, exports of PLI-supported products contributed 27% to India’s total pharma exports. R&D investments under the scheme stood at ₹15,102 crore—40% of the sector’s total PLI-linked investment.
Bulk Drugs
The PLI Scheme for Bulk Drugs is aimed at enhancing domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs), Drug Intermediates (DIs), and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). As a result of the scheme, India has transitioned from being a net importer of bulk drugs—with a trade deficit of ₹1,930 crore in FY22—to a net exporter, registering a surplus of ₹2,280 crore in FY25. The initiative has significantly narrowed the gap between domestic production capacity and national demand for essential pharmaceutical ingredients.
Food Processing
Under the PLI Scheme for food products, cumulative investments of ₹9,032 crore have led to production and sales worth ₹3.80 lakh crore and the generation of 3.4 lakh direct and indirect jobs. By mandating the use of domestically grown agricultural produce—excluding additives, flavors, and edible oils—the scheme has boosted raw material procurement from rural and underdeveloped areas, directly benefiting farmers and strengthening local supply chains.
The scheme has also empowered Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with 70 MSMEs enrolled as direct beneficiaries and an additional 40 participating as contract manufacturers for larger firms. This has enhanced innovation, competitiveness, market access, and employment across the food processing value chain.
Notably, the sale of value-added marine products recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22% during the scheme period. The introduction of the Millet PLI Scheme further amplified growth, with sales of millet-based products increasing 25-fold in FY25 compared to the base year FY21. Millet procurement by PLI beneficiaries rose from 4,081 metric tonnes in FY23 to 16,130 metric tonnes in FY25, contributing to a measurable rise in rural household incomes.
Textiles
The textiles sector also recorded positive growth under the PLI Scheme. Exports of man-made fibre (MMF) textiles reached $6 billion in FY 2024–25, up from $5.7 billion in FY 2023–24. Additionally, exports of technical textiles rose to $3,356.5 million in FY 2024–25 from $2,986.6 million the previous year, reflecting growing global demand and enhanced domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Goyal highlighted the need for India to sharpen its focus on sectors where it holds a global competitive edge. He called for a shift from quantity-based to quality-centric skilling initiatives and urged ministries to work with the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) to address infrastructure bottlenecks.
“We must prepare a detailed roadmap for the next five years, both in terms of investments and incentive disbursements, to sustain the momentum,” Goyal said, stressing the importance of self-reliance and export-led growth.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from all relevant ministries involved in implementing the PLI schemes.