Centre eyes greater supply chain resilience across energy, fertilisers, electronics, pharma: Piyush Goyal
New Delhi, August 11
Amid increasing demand for critical industrial inputs, Centre is working to strengthen supply-chain resilience across key sectors, including energy, fertilisers, electronics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and critical minerals, the government informed Parliament.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, said the government has identified critical sectors including - energy, fertilisers, electronics and semiconductors, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, as well as other strategic manufacturing segments, that require stronger supply-chain resilience and greater diversification.
Further noting down the country's growing energy needs, Goyal stressed, "The Government is strengthening energy security through domestic production, diversification of sources, refining infrastructure, ethanol blending and biofuels, strategic petroleum reserves, and renewable energy."
In the fertiliser sector, he added, domestic production met nearly 73% of the country's total requirement in 2025.
Stressing the strategic importance of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, rare-earth elements and copper, Goyal said they are essential for clean-energy technologies, electric vehicles, electronics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. He noted that the National Critical Mineral Mission aims to secure both domestic and overseas supplies while strengthening the entire value chain, from exploration and mining to processing, recycling and advanced manufacturing.
"Critical minerals are also prioritised in trade and investment engagements, including free trade agreement negotiations," he said.
Goyal further stated, as of March 31, 2026, 892 applications had been approved under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, resulting in actual investments of over Rs 2.40 lakh crore, production and sales exceeding Rs 22.66 lakh crore, and employment generation of over 14.15 lakh, including 8.4 lakh direct jobs. The government has so far disbursed Rs 35,354 crore in cumulative incentives under the scheme.
Sharing key sectoral outcomes under the PLI schemes, Goyal said mobile-phone production has increased nearly 2.4-fold, while imports have declined by around 77%, with domestic manufacturers now producing about 99.2% of mobile phones used in India.
At the same time, pharmaceutical sector recorded cumulative sales of over Rs 3.64 lakh crore and enabled domestic manufacturing of 1,931 products, including 191 bulk drugs produced in the country for the first time. Further, a bulk-drug capacity of around 55,000 MT was also established across 26 critical active pharmaceutical ingredients. In the medical devices segment, 22 applicants commenced operations and 55 unique medical devices were commissioned.
"The telecom scheme supported indigenous 4G technology and domestic manufacturing capability for 5G equipment," he further noted.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see focus on critical minerals like lithium and rare earths. But I hope the government also focuses on sustainable mining practices and doesn't harm our environment in the process. We need a balanced approach.
The PLI scheme numbers are impressive - Rs 22.66 lakh crore in production and 14.15 lakh jobs! But I want to see more focus on creating high-skilled jobs, not just assembly line work. We need to move up the value chain in electronics and semiconductors.
73% self-sufficiency in fertilisers is good, but why isn't it 100%? With the kind of agricultural economy we have, we should be targeting complete self-reliance in this critical sector. Also, need to ensure farmers benefit from lower prices.
The strategic petroleum reserves and ethanol blending are smart moves. But with global volatility, we should also push for more nuclear and renewable energy capacity. The energy transition needs to accelerate if we want real security. Also, ₹35,354 crore disbursed so far - I hope the smaller players are getting their due share under PLI.
Happy to see the pharma sector stepping up - 1,931 products and 191 new bulk drugs is impressive! But we still import a lot of API from China. The 55,000 MT capacity is a start, but we need to be fully self-sufficient in pharma. Can't rely on others for life-saving drugs.
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