New Delhi, November 11: The Centre has invited fresh applications under its ₹2,700-crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for medical devices, extending the programme until 2035-36. The government has also relaxed eligibility conditions to attract investment, strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported medical equipment.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals announced the revised guidelines on Tuesday, November 10, introducing investor-friendly measures to simplify procedures and encourage participation.
Easier Investment Rules
Under the revised framework, manufacturers will no longer need to meet a minimum sales threshold to claim financial incentives. The government has also reduced baseline capital expenditure requirements, making the scheme more accessible to businesses.
The online application portal is expected to become operational within 10 days of the announcement.
Successful applicants will receive three years to establish manufacturing facilities across four identified segments.
These include medical consumables, disposables and implants, critical components, advanced medical devices with limited domestic production, and high-end equipment currently assembled in India.
Manufacturing Gains
Launched in 2020-21, the scheme has already supported domestic manufacturing of more than 60 advanced medical devices and components.
According to the government, cumulative production under the programme has exceeded ₹16,000 crore.
Products manufactured include CT scanners, 1.5T MRI machines, mammography equipment, cardiac implants, orthopaedic implants, dialysis components and X-ray detectors.
The revised programme, PLI-MD 2.0, places greater emphasis on critical components and deeper integration of domestic supply chains.
Focus On Advanced Equipment
The government aims to encourage indigenous production of sophisticated equipment, including 3T MRI scanners, PET-CT systems, ultrasound probes and high-throughput diagnostic analysers.
The initiative is also expected to create opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises through component manufacturing.
Officials believe the extended programme will attract fresh investment, generate employment and improve India’s competitiveness in global medical technology markets.
The broader objective is to support Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat while improving access to affordable medical equipment through stronger domestic manufacturing capabilities.
