The Commerce and Industry Ministry announced on 25 September 2026 that the government has released ₹36,754 crore in incentives to companies under the PLI programmes. At the same time, the DPIIT launched a digital portal for the e‑B‑4 Visa. Both moves are part of the government’s push to deepen manufacturing capabilities and attract foreign expertise.
Key Developments
- As of 30 June 2026, actual investment under PLI reached ₹2.58 lakh crore.
- Corresponding production/sales amounted to ₹23.79 lakh crore and exports to ₹15.53 lakh crore.
- Employment generated (direct + indirect) crossed **14.57 lakh** jobs.
- Pharmaceuticals recorded cumulative sales of **₹3.64 lakh crore**, with 1,931 products (including 191 bulk drugs) manufactured domestically for the first time.
- Medical‑device giants such as Siemens, Wipro GE, Philips enabled local production of CT/MRI systems, cath‑labs and ultrasonography equipment, achieving **₹6,475 crore** in domestic sales.
- Electronics firms like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, ASUS, HPE began Indian manufacturing of AI servers, SSDs, memory modules, power adapters, battery packs and display panels.
- Speciality‑steel leaders (JSW, Jindal Odisha, Tata Steel, AMNS) invested **₹19,000 crore** to produce value‑added steel for autos, defence, capital goods and renewable energy.
- The new digital platform, hosted on the NSWS, lets companies generate digitally signed sponsorship letters for foreign professionals, cutting paperwork and processing time.
Important Facts
- Total incentives disbursed under PLI: ₹36,754 crore.
- Number of sectors covered by PLI since 2020: 14, with an approved outlay of ₹1.91 lakh crore.
- e‑B‑4 Visa module is available to both PLI and non‑PLI businesses.
- Supplementary sponsorship letters can now be issued for visits to additional sites, simplifying multi‑site projects.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the import dependence reduction strategy is essential for GS‑3 (Economy) and GS‑1 (India’s development trajectory). The PLI scheme illustrates how fiscal incentives can steer industrial policy, a frequent UPSC essay topic. The role of ease‑of‑doing‑business reforms, such as the e‑B‑4 Visa and NSWS, showcases the government’s push for a business‑friendly environment, relevant for questions on governance and economic reforms.
Way Forward
To sustain momentum, the government may need to:
- Monitor the quality of jobs created to ensure they are skill‑intensive and well‑paid.
- Expand the PLI coverage to emerging sectors like renewable‑energy equipment and advanced composites.
- Strengthen the digital visa platform by integrating it with immigration and labour ministries for real‑time tracking.
- Encourage greater participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to broaden the industrial base.
These steps will help India move closer to self‑reliance, boost exports and create a robust manufacturing ecosystem.