Government imports APIs worth Rs 28,529 crores in FY2020-21

The Government of India has imported APIs worth Rs 28,529 crores in FY2020-21, as per the data maintained by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS). The data also revealed that the exports were worth Rs 32,856, notified Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare in Lok Sabha yesterday.

The size of the API and intermediate pharma market in India is estimated to be Rs 96,000 crores in FY 2019-20, he mentioned.

He also spoke about the three schemes implemented by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) for promoting domestic manufacturing of APIs to ensure their sustainable domestic supply and make India AtmaNirbhar (self-reliant).

Firstly, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/Drug Intermediates (DIs) and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in India provides for financial incentives to manufacturers selected under the scheme to manufacture 41 KSMs/DIs and APIs. The incentives will be provided on incremental sales to selected participants for a period of six years. The total financial outlay of the scheme is Rs 6,940 crores and the tenure of the scheme is from FY 2020-2021 to 2029-30.

Secondly, the scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks provides for grant-in-aid to three Bulk Drug Parks for creation of Common Infrastructure Facilities (CIF) with a maximum limit of Rs 1,000 crores per park or 70 per cent of the project cost of CIF, whichever is less. In case of North Eastern States and Hilly States (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh), financial assistance would be 90 per cent of the project cost. The total financial outlay of the scheme is Rs 3,000 crores and the tenure is from FY 2020-21 to 2024-25.

Thirdly, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Pharmaceuticals provides for financial incentives to manufacturers selected under the scheme for manufacturing of KSMs/DIs and APIs amongst other categories of formulations. The incentives will be provided on incremental sales to selected participants for a period of six years. The total financial outlay of the scheme is Rs 15,000 crores and the tenure is from FY 2020-2021 to 2028-29.