**Executive Summary**
The 9th edition of India Pharma 2026, held in New Delhi on April 13–14, 2026, marks a strategic shift for India’s pharmaceutical sector from generic manufacturing to biopharmaceutical innovation. The event highlights the launch of the ₹10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti Initiative and emphasizes self-reliance through research, policy support, and industry-academia collaboration. Key objectives include capturing the growing global biosimilars market and streamlining regulatory processes to establish India as a global innovation leader.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Government Initiatives and Funding**
* **Biopharma Shakti Initiative:** Launched with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore to advance capabilities in biopharmaceutical innovation.
* **PRIP Scheme:** Focuses on promoting research in pharmaceuticals and medical technology to accelerate the development of innovative therapies.
* **Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes:** Continued support for domestic manufacturing to enhance resilient supply chains and self-reliance.
* **Bulk Drug Parks:** Development of dedicated zones to strengthen the domestic manufacturing base for active pharmaceutical ingredients.
**Strategic Sectoral Transition**
* **Innovation Shift:** Moving from being the "pharmacy of the world" (focused on generics) to an "innovator for the world" targeting biologics, biosimilars, and specialty medicines.
* **Market Opportunity:** With the global biosimilars market projected to reach $75 billion by 2030, India aims to increase its share in innovation-driven segments, which currently account for 87% of global market value.
* **Affordable Healthcare:** Reiteration of the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana to ensure continued access to quality medicines at affordable prices.
**Technological and Infrastructure Development**
* **Artificial Intelligence:** Integration of AI into drug discovery and development processes to accelerate timelines.
* **Clinical Research:** Building robust infrastructure for clinical trials and advanced research to support new drug development.
* **Startup Ecosystem:** Strengthening the environment for startups through enhanced funding mechanisms and better infrastructure.
**Collaboration and Human Capital**
* **Industry-Academia Linkage:** Strengthening partnerships between the private sector and premier institutions like NIPERs and IITs to support advanced research.
* **Regulatory Streamlining:** Efforts by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to simplify approval processes and improve the ease of doing research.
* **Global Partnerships:** Encouraging deeper collaboration between Indian and global players to drive innovation-led growth.
**Impact Analysis**
**Pharmaceutical Industry**
**Impact**
Companies are being pushed to transition from generic manufacturing to high-value segments like biologics and specialty medicines. They gain access to significant government funding and manufacturing incentives.
**Action Required**
Industry players must increase investment in R&D, adopt next-generation technologies like AI, and align their manufacturing capabilities with global standards (such as USFDA compliance).
**Academic and Research Institutions (NIPERs, IITs)**
**Impact**
These institutions are positioned as critical pillars for strengthening human capital and driving advanced research.
**Action Required**
Institutions must deepen collaboration with industry partners to facilitate drug discovery and develop skilled talent tailored to the evolving needs of the biopharma sector.
**Startups**
**Impact**
The government is prioritizing the startup ecosystem through dedicated funding and improved infrastructure for clinical trials.
**Action Required**
Startups should leverage enhanced funding mechanisms and government schemes to accelerate their innovation timelines and research activities.
**Regulatory Bodies**
**Impact**
There is a government mandate to transform the regulatory environment to support innovation.
**Action Required**
Regulators must continue to streamline approval processes and implement measures that improve the "ease of doing research" for pharmaceutical stakeholders.
Key Entities Referenced
Biopharma Shakti Initiative: A recently launched initiative with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore aimed at advancing capabilities in biopharmaceutical innovation.
India Pharma 2026: The 9th edition of the flagship conference and exhibition organized to shape the policy roadmap for India's pharmaceutical and healthcare ecosystem.
PRIP scheme: The Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma scheme, designed to deepen industry-academia collaboration and accelerate the development of innovative therapies.
Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP): The primary department under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers responsible for the policy push and growth of the pharmaceutical sector.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes: Government schemes implemented to strengthen domestic manufacturing, enhance self-reliance, and build resilient supply chains in the pharma sector.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers :
Department of Pharmaceuticals
9th India Pharma Highlights Policy Push and
Innovation Driving Sectoral Growth
India Poised to Lead Global Pharma Landscape with Focus
on Biosimilars and Specialty Medicines: J.P. Nadda, Union
Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals &
Fertilizers
Pharma Sector should intensify its focus on innovation-
driven segments says Smt. Anupriya Patel Union Minister of
State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers;
Calls for strengthening of industry-academia collaboration.
Posted On: 13 APR 2026 3:54PM by PIB Delhi
The 9th edition of India Pharma 2026, the flagship event of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP),
Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India, commenced today in New Delhi. Organized in
collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the
Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), the two-day conference (April 13–14) brings together key
stakeholders from across the global pharmaceutical and healthcare ecosystem, with a strong focus on
innovation, self-reliance, and global leadership.Addressing the inaugural session virtually Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals &
Fertilizers, Shri J.P. Nadda, emphasized that the platform reflects both the strength and growing global
relevance of India’s pharmaceutical sector. He noted that while India has long been recognized as the
“pharmacy of the world” due to its leadership in affordable generic medicines, the global landscape is now
rapidly shifting towards biologics, biosimilars, and specialty medicines. “In this evolving environment,
India is well positioned not only to adapt but to emerge as a global leader,” he stated. Reaffirming the
Government’s commitment to fostering innovation and strengthening research capabilities, he highlighted
the recently launched Biopharma Shakti Initiative with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore, aimed at advancing
capabilities in biopharmaceutical innovation under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi.
He further underscored complementary initiatives such as the PRIP scheme for promoting research in
pharmaceuticals and medical technology, which seek to deepen industry-academia collaboration and
accelerate the development of innovative therapies. Strengthening domestic manufacturing remains a key
priority, supported by schemes like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and the development
of bulk drug parks to enhance self-reliance and resilient supply chains. He also reiterated the
Government’s commitment to affordable healthcare through initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri
Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana, which continues to expand access to quality medicines at affordable
prices across the country.
He added that India Pharma 2026 provides a vital platform to foster dialogue, partnerships, and a
forward-looking roadmap for the sector.Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel,
highlighted that India is undergoing a significant transition from being a global generics leader to an
emerging biopharma innovation hub. She noted that India currently contributes nearly 20% of global
generic medicines and meets around 70% of global vaccine demand, underscoring the country’s robust
manufacturing capabilities.
Emphasizing future opportunities, she stated that the global demand for biologics and biosimilars is
expanding rapidly, with the biosimilars market projected to reach $75 billion by 2030. She further pointed
out that innovative drugs account for nearly 87% of the global pharmaceutical market value, underlining
the need for India to intensify its focus on innovation-driven segments.
Smt. Patel also outlined the integration of artificial intelligence in drug discovery and development. She
emphasized the importance of strengthening human capital through premier institutions such as NIPERs
and IITs to support advanced research and innovation.Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, stressed the need to accelerate innovation
timelines, strengthen startup ecosystems, and build robust infrastructure for clinical trials and advanced
research. He highlighted the importance of enhanced funding mechanisms, closer industry-government
collaboration, and development of skilled talent.
Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, reiterated the
Government’s commitment to strengthening the regulatory ecosystem and enabling innovation. She noted
that several measures have been undertaken to streamline approval processes and improve the ease of
doing research, with the aim of transforming India from the “pharmacy of the world” to an “innovator for
the world.”Shri Arjun Juneja, Chair, FICCI Pharma Committee and COO, Mankind Pharma, highlighted India’s
strong pharmaceutical base, noting the presence of over 3,000 companies and more than 10,500
manufacturing facilities, including the highest number of USFDA-compliant plants outside the United
States. He emphasized the need for deeper collaboration between Indian and global players to drive
innovation-led growth.
Shri Achin Gupta, Co-Chair, FICCI Pharma Committee and MD & Global CEO, Cipla Ltd, delivered the
vote of thanks.
The two-day conference and exhibition will feature deliberations on policy frameworks for innovation,
artificial intelligence in drug discovery, next-generation technologies, and strategies to enhance India’s
global competitiveness in life sciences. The event is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future
roadmap of the pharmaceutical sector and reinforcing India’s position as a global healthcare leader.
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