The Indian pharmaceutical industry experienced significant progress in 2025 due to government programs like the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) and Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma Medtech Sector (PRIP). The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers announced that 2,202 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) were established in 2025 under the PMBJP, bringing the total to 17,610 since its inception. These centers, managed by the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), offer affordable generic versions of branded medicines.
The PMBJP program encompasses 2,110 medicines and 315 medical devices and consumables across 29 therapeutic categories, including anti-infectives, anti-diabetics, cardiovascular, anti-cancer, and gastro-intestinal medicines. Sales figures revealed that in 2024-25, PMBI recorded sales of Rs 2,022.47 crore, resulting in savings of around Rs 8,000 crore for citizens. In the ongoing fiscal year 2025-26, up to November, PMBI has achieved sales of Rs 1,409.32 crore, leading to savings of approximately Rs 5,637 crore for the public.
The PLI Scheme for pharmaceuticals focuses on producing high-value products such as biopharmaceuticals, complex generics, patented/off-patent drugs, orphan drugs, and autoimmune drugs. The scheme has generated a total sales figure of Rs 3,08,408.60 crore, with Rs 1,98,509.49 crore from exports since its inception until September 2025. Notably, investments totaling Rs 40,294 crore have been made under the scheme by September 2025, surpassing the targeted investment of Rs 17,275 crore.
Additionally, the PLI scheme has aided in reducing import dependence for bulk drugs, with 30% of India’s bulk drug exports and 26.5% of overall formulation exports in FY 2025 attributed to production under the scheme. The PRIP Scheme approved 111 research projects, while other accomplishments in 2025 included the success of India Medtech Expo 2025, showcasing the country’s comprehensive MedTech ecosystem and reinforcing its global MedTech innovation hub status. The National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) have continued to enhance medical education, with NIPERs ranking among the top 30 pharmacy institutes in India and 40 faculty members listed in the prestigious Stanford Top 2% Scientists List.
