Govt invites proposals for medical device manufacturing; offers up to Rs 10 crore subsidy
New Delhi, June 29
In a boost to India's medical device manufacturing industry, the Government has invited applications from eligible entities under the Scheme for Strengthening of Medical Device Industry, as per a statement by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.
According to the release, applications are invited under two key sub-schemes to promote domestic manufacturing, reduce import dependence, support innovation and boost value chains in India's medical devices sector. Furthermore, the selected candidates will be eligible for a significant financial benefit of up to Rs 10 crore.
The two sub-schemes are namely-- Marginal Investment Scheme for Reducing Import Dependence and Medical Device Clinical Studies Support Scheme (MDCSS).
As per the release, under the Marginal Investment Scheme, selected applicants will be eligible for a one-time capital subsidy of up to Rs 10 crore on a reimbursement basis for manufacturing key components, raw materials, finished devices or accessories aimed at reducing import dependence.
"Selected applicants would be incentivised through a one-time capital subsidy of up to Rs 10 crore on a reimbursement basis for manufacturing key components/ raw material/ finished devices/ accessories to reduce import dependence under the Marginal Investment Scheme," the release said.
Apart from this, under the MDCSS, the government will provide financial assistance of up to Rs 5 crore to the applicants for conducting clinical investigations, clinical performance evaluations, post-market follow-up studies and animal studies, also on a reimbursement basis.
"The department will provide financial support of up to ₹5 crore under the MDCSS Scheme for conducting clinical investigation/clinical performance evaluation/Post Market Follow-up Study/animal studies to the eligible applicants on a reimbursement basis," the release said.
Eligible applicants are required to submit proposals online through the official portal http://smdi.lsssdc.in on or before July 23, 2026 (6:00 PM). Detailed guidelines, eligibility criteria and application procedures are available on the Department of Pharmaceuticals website at https://pharma-dept.gov.in/schemes.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Rs 10 crore for clinical studies? That's quite good, especially for companies trying to test new devices. India needs to move beyond just assembling imported parts and actually develop our own tech. But the reimbursement model might be tough for startups with limited cash flow. Hope they streamline the process.
Impressive move by the Indian government. I work in med-tech in the US and have seen how China and Taiwan dominated supply chains during COVID. This kind of proactive policy could position India as a serious alternative manufacturing hub. Just ensure the application portal is user-friendly – July 2026 deadline gives enough time for quality proposals.
Good thought but let's be honest 😑 – such schemes sound nice on paper but often get stuck in red tape. Reimbursement-based subsidy? So manufacturers first spend their own money then wait for government to pay? That's risky for smaller players. Also, why is the deadline so far away – 2026? Should be faster if we're serious about reducing imports now.
Great to see India investing in medical device innovation. The clinical studies support is particularly smart – many great devices fail because companies can't afford proper trials. If this scheme works well, it could reduce our dependence on imported devices by 30-40% in 5 years. Hope they partner with institutions like AIIMS for ethical oversight.
As someone working in healthcare procurement, I know how many essential devices like CT scan tubes or MRI coils are imported. This scheme targeting components is spot on. But Rs 10 crore is small for some high-end manufacturing. Still, k
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