Centre Opens Fresh Applications Under Medical Devices PLI Scheme

The Centre has invited new applications under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost domestic manufacturing of medical devices. The revised initiative, PLI-MD 2.0, has been extended until the financial year 2035-36, with a budget allocation of approximately ₹2,700 crore.

According to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the online application portal is likely to open within the next ten days. Several changes have been made to the scheme based on lessons from its initial phase, with a focus on simplifying the application process and making incentive claims easier.

Under the updated guidelines, companies will have three years to set up manufacturing units across four identified categories, covering medical consumables, disposables and implants, critical components, advanced medical equipment with limited domestic production, and high-end devices that are currently only assembled in India.

The government has also relaxed investment norms, lowered the minimum investment requirement and scrapped the minimum sales condition for receiving incentives. Businesses can now apply for multiple categories under the scheme, while the application window will remain open for a longer period.

The revised programme is aimed at attracting greater investment, strengthening India’s medical device manufacturing ecosystem and reducing dependence on imported equipment.