PLI Scheme Linked to Rs 5,210 Crore in Bulk Drug Investment
India's Production Linked Incentive scheme has driven Rs 5,210 crore in bulk drug investment by 2026, Rediff MoneyWiz reported on 25 September 2026. The figure reflects cumulative capital commitments attributed to the scheme across the country's bulk drug and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing sector.
No further breakdown of the investment by company, location or project stage was available from the single outlet that reported the figure. Projects India tracks the broader pipeline of Drugs and Pharmaceuticals projects in India, which now stands at 1,791 live projects.
Key Project Details
| Project | Promoter | Location | Value (Rs crore) | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk Drugs & Drug Intermediates Mfg Unit | Virupaksha Organics Limited | Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh | 1,225 | Planning |
| API Bulk Drug & Intermediates Mfg Unit – Expansion | Chromo Laboratories India Private Limited | Sangareddy, Telangana | 195 | Under Approvals |
| Pharmaceutical Project | Centaur Pharmaceuticals Private Limited | South Goa, Goa | 42 | Construction Started |
| Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Project | Juvenus Drugs | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 20 | Under Approvals |
| API & Intermediates Mfg Project | Dwirayu Pharma Private Limited | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | 7.5 | Under Approvals |
| Bulk Drugs Mfg Unit | VB Genetics Private Limited | Ankleshwar, Gujarat | 7 | Construction Started |
Where Pharmaceutical Projects Are Concentrated
Projects India's tracking data shows Gujarat leads all states with 606 Drugs and Pharmaceuticals projects, followed by Telangana with 244, Andhra Pradesh with 231, Karnataka with 214, Maharashtra with 166 and Himachal Pradesh with 59. Gujarat's dominance reflects its long-established chemical and API manufacturing corridors, particularly around Ahmedabad, Ankleshwar and Vadodara.
The concentration in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is also notable, driven by dedicated pharma clusters such as the Hyderabad Pharma City and bulk drug parks being developed under central government schemes. Karnataka and Maharashtra round out the top states, with projects ranging from small-scale formulation units to large API complexes.
Pipeline Stage Breakdown
Of the 1,791 projects tracked by Projects India in this sub-sector, 637 are currently Under Approvals — the largest cohort by stage. A further 361 have moved to Construction Started, while 323 are recorded as Completed. Projects at the Approvals Received stage number 137, matching the 137 currently on Hold. At the earliest Planning stage, 98 projects are recorded, including the Rs 1,225 crore Virupaksha Organics facility in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
The 637 projects under approvals represent a substantial near-term opportunity for civil contractors, equipment suppliers and utility providers who can engage with promoters before procurement decisions are finalised. The 361 projects already in construction represent active demand for materials, equipment and services right now.
Twenty-one new projects were added to Projects India's Drugs and Pharmaceuticals tracker in the last 90 days, indicating continued momentum in project announcements across the sub-sector. Full details of tracked projects are available on the all tracked projects page.
What this means for suppliers and contractors
The Rs 5,210 crore investment figure attributed to the PLI scheme signals that government-backed incentives are translating into on-ground capital commitments in bulk drug and API manufacturing. For suppliers and contractors, the stage breakdown is the more actionable data point.
With 637 projects under approvals nationally, there is a meaningful window for civil engineering firms, process equipment manufacturers, utilities contractors and EPC players to engage promoters before equipment orders and construction contracts are placed. Gujarat, with 606 tracked projects, remains the most active state for new mandates, while Andhra Pradesh's 231 projects — including the large-scale Virupaksha Organics project at Kurnool — signal growing opportunity in the southern corridor.
Projects on hold (137) also warrant monitoring: some of these may re-enter active procurement as PLI disbursements progress or as promoters secure financing. Suppliers targeting the Industrial Projects sector broadly will find bulk drug and pharmaceutical manufacturing among the more active sub-sectors in the current investment cycle.
There are currently no open India tenders in Industrial Projects recorded by Projects India. Suppliers are advised to track project-level developments directly to identify emerging procurement opportunities ahead of formal tender issuance.
Frequently asked questions
How much has India invested in bulk drugs under the PLI scheme?
Rediff MoneyWiz reported on 25 September 2026 that India's PLI scheme has driven Rs 5,210 crore in bulk drug investment by 2026. No further breakdown by company or location was available from the single outlet that carried the figure.
Which states have the most pharmaceutical manufacturing projects in India?
Projects India tracks Gujarat as the leading state with 606 Drugs and Pharmaceuticals projects, followed by Telangana at 244, Andhra Pradesh at 231, Karnataka at 214, Maharashtra at 166 and Himachal Pradesh at 59.
How many bulk drug and pharma projects are currently under construction in India?
Projects India records 361 Drugs and Pharmaceuticals projects at the Construction Started stage out of 1,791 tracked nationally. A further 637 are Under Approvals, representing near-term construction pipeline for contractors and equipment suppliers.
What is the largest bulk drug project currently in planning in India?
Based on Projects India's tracked data, the Bulk Drugs & Drug Intermediates Mfg Unit by Virupaksha Organics Limited at Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, valued at Rs 1,225 crore, is recorded at the Planning stage.
