The Central government has given approval to four waitlisted firms under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for domestic manufacturing of bulk drugs.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals had launched the PLI Scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical bulk drugs -- Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).

It envisages setting up greenfield plants in four different target segments with a total outlay of Rs 6,940 crore for the period 2020-21 to 2029-30.

All the 215 applications received for the 36 products spread across the four target segments were considered and appraised and selected participants duly informed.

Now four waitlisted applicants who are otherwise eligible have been approved against slots vacated by withdrawal by companies which had earlier been granted approvals.

The companies which have been given approval are -- Solara Active Pharma Science, Rajasthan Antibiotics, Dhatri Lab and Vital Laboratories. The products for which approval has been given are -- 1,1 Cyclohexane Diacetic Acid, Meropenem, Ritonavir and Levofloxacin.

With this, a total of 46 applications with committed investment of Rs 5,355.44 crore and expected employment generation of about 11,210 have been approved by the government so far under the PLI Scheme for bulk drugs.

Setting up of these plants will make the country self-reliant to a large extent in respect of these bulk drugs.