Budget 2026: Sitharaman launches 'Biopharma Shakti' with a Rs 10,000-crore bet to heal India, power manufacturing

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced a major push to position India as a global biopharma manufacturing hub, citing a sharp shift in the country’s disease burden towards non-communicable ailments such as diabetes, cancer and autoimmune disorders.

Addressing Parliament during her Budget speech, Sitharaman said biologic medicines would be critical to improving longevity and quality of life, while also remaining affordable. To this end, she proposed the "Biopharma Shakti" initiative, with a total outlay of Rs 10,000 crore over the next five years, aimed at strengthening domestic production of biologics and biosimilars.

The initiative forms part of the government’s broader plan to scale up manufacturing in seven strategic and frontier sectors, one of the three key “kartavyas” outlined in the Budget to drive long-term growth and self-reliance.


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Under Biopharma Shakti, the government will build an end-to-end ecosystem for the biopharmaceutical sector. This includes the creation of a biopharma-focused research and talent network, with three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) and the upgradation of seven existing institutes to support advanced research, skill development and industry collaboration.

The programme will also establish a nationwide network of 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites, aimed at accelerating drug development, improving regulatory standards and enhancing India’s credibility as a preferred destination for global clinical research.

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Sitharaman said the measures would not only address India’s evolving healthcare needs but also help the country move up the global value chain in high-end pharmaceutical manufacturing, reinforcing India’s ambition to emerge as a trusted global biopharma powerhouse.