Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget on Sunday, February 1, 2026. During her speech, she announced a new scheme named ‘Biopharma Shakti’ with an allocation of ₹10,000 crores. This significant amount will be utilized over the next five years to transform India into a global hub for bio-pharmaceutical manufacturing and research.
What is the Biopharma Shakti scheme?
The government aims to boost the domestic production of complex medicines known as biologics and biosimilars. The primary goal is to make treatments for serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, and auto-immune diseases more affordable for the common man. By producing these drugs within the country, the dependence on expensive imports will decrease significantly.
As part of this initiative, the government will establish three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER). Additionally, seven existing NIPER institutes will receive upgrades to support advanced research and training in this sector. This infrastructure boost intends to prepare a skilled workforce for the growing industry.
How will the new rules help patients?
The scheme focuses on regulatory reforms to speed up the availability of new medicines. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) will be strengthened to match global standards, ensuring faster scientific reviews and approvals for new drugs. This means patients will get access to advanced treatments without long waiting periods.
To support research, a network of 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites will be created across India. This extensive network will help in testing new medicines safely and efficiently. Experts believe that this investment in Research and Development (R&D) will directly result in cost reduction for essential medicines in the long run.
