PLI schemes attract ₹2.4 lakh crore investments, generate over 14 lakh jobs till March

The government’s flagship Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have attracted investments of more than ₹2.40 lakh crore, generated over 14.15 lakh jobs and enabled cumulative exports worth over ₹15.2 lakh crore till March 31, 2026, highlighting the growing impact of the programme on India’s manufacturing and export sectors.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said the PLI schemes, covering 14 manufacturing sectors with a total approved outlay of ₹1.91 lakh crore, have resulted in actual investments of ₹2,40,138 crore.

“The implementation of the PLI Schemes is reviewed periodically by the empowered group of secretaries (EGoS), chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, as well as by the respective administrative Ministries/Departments. Based on stakeholder feedback and implementation experience, modifications have been carried out in certain Schemes, wherever required, to address implementation challenges and facilitate effective implementation,” Prasada said in response to a question on the review of the scheme.

The modifications include rationalisation of scheme guidelines, relaxation of certain eligibility conditions, strengthening of project monitoring mechanisms, regular stakeholder consultations, and timely resolution of implementation issues in coordination with the concerned Ministries/Departments through the EGoS, per a statement by the Commerce Department.

The high-efficiency solar PV modules sector has emerged as the biggest investment destination under the scheme, attracting ₹64,873 crore, accounting for more than a quarter of the total investments. It was followed by pharmaceuticals with ₹45,158 crore, automobiles and auto components with ₹44,326 crore, specialty steel at ₹23,896 crore, and large-scale electronics manufacturing at ₹20,580 crore.

The schemes have generated 8.49 lakh direct jobs, while indirect employment of around 5.66 lakh has been reported under the large-scale electronics manufacturing, IT hardware and solar PV module sectors, taking the total employment generated to more than 14.15 lakh.

The food processing sector accounted for the highest direct employment at 3.29 lakh, followed by large-scale electronics manufacturing (1.69 lakh), pharmaceuticals (1.15 lakh), automobiles and auto components (67,820) and white goods (52,703).

The government said cumulative exports under the PLI schemes have risen from ₹4 lakh crore as of March 2024 to over ₹15.2 lakh crore by March 2026, reflecting India’s deeper integration into global value chains.

Highlighting sectoral outcomes, the government said mobile phone production has increased 2.4 times since the launch of the electronics PLI scheme, while imports have declined by 77 per cent. Nearly 99.2 per cent of mobile phones used in India are now manufactured domestically.

The pharmaceuticals scheme has recorded cumulative sales of ₹3.64 lakh crore and enabled domestic production of 1,931 pharmaceutical products, including 191 bulk drugs manufactured in India for the first time. The government added that implementation of the schemes is being reviewed periodically, with guidelines rationalised and eligibility norms relaxed in some sectors to improve uptake and address implementation challenges.