Department of Pharmaceuticals

The Department of Pharmaceuticals operates under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India. It was set up on July 1, 2008, with the aim of giving dedicated attention to the growth of the country's pharmaceutical industry, which ranks among the largest worldwide.

Policy formulation, planning, development and regulation of the pharmaceutical sector — covering drugs, pharmaceuticals and allied industries — fall within its remit. It also supervises public sector undertakings in this space and frames policies intended to reinforce India's standing as the "pharmacy of the world."

Regulatory frameworks handled by the department include drug pricing, production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and bulk drug parks, all directed at lowering import dependency and expanding domestic manufacturing capacity. Its headquarters is at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.

Pharma startups, drug manufacturers, biotech companies and MedTech ventures looking for clarity on pharmaceutical policy, regulatory frameworks, production-linked incentives and government procurement opportunities in India's pharmaceutical sector are among those it serves.