NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – India has launched a comprehensive review to identify around 100 imported products that local manufacturers could produce at larger scales. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is leading this initiative through six specialized groups. The evaluation covers sectors such as health care, transportation, energy, electronics, chemicals, textiles, and industrial equipment. The government has yet to publish the final list or announce specific incentives for individual products.
This effort takes place amid India’s ongoing effort to address a broader merchandise trade deficit. Goods imports reached $774.98 billion in fiscal 2025-26, rising from $721.20 billion the previous year. Merchandise exports totaled $441.78 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $333.19 billion. Imports excluding petroleum, gems, and jewelry increased to $498.56 billion, according to official data from the Commerce Ministry. These figures highlight the sectors that still heavily rely on overseas supplies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed the central government and state authorities in December 2025 to pinpoint 100 products suitable for local manufacturing. Later, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal urged companies to analyze official import records and boost production in sectors with high import dependency. He emphasized the importance of capital goods and medical devices. Subsequently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade organized sector-specific groups with relevant ministries for this purpose.
Six specialized teams analyze key industries
Each team focuses on a distinct part of the economy. One reviews pharmaceuticals and medical devices, while another examines chemicals, textiles, and footwear. Separate groups are responsible for capital goods, automobiles, electric vehicles, energy infrastructure, and machinery. The review also includes civilian aerospace, defense-related products, and electronics. Officials are comparing import values, quantities, and source countries using detailed product-level trade data.
India already supports 14 sectors through production-linked incentive schemes. These include electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, batteries, telecommunications equipment, solar modules, textiles, and medical devices. The government also promotes semiconductor manufacturing and local electronic component production via dedicated programs. Pharmaceutical incentives focus on 41 bulk drugs with high import reliance. Solar energy manufacturing initiatives aim for a planned capacity of nearly 48 gigawatts of high-efficiency modules.
Trade data informs the assessment process
The Commerce Ministry maintains digital trade platforms containing country- and product-specific import information. Officials and businesses utilize these records to monitor shifts in major categories. From April to June 2026, India imported $216.18 billion worth of goods, compared to $180.31 billion during the same period in the previous year. This rise reflects the higher import bill from the last fiscal year. Authorities are analyzing this data to refine the product list and identify manufacturing gaps.
This ongoing review builds on existing government efforts to connect customs classifications with relevant industrial departments. This linkage helps officials pinpoint high-volume imports and assign follow-up actions to appropriate ministries. The central government has confirmed the six-sector review and its emphasis on boosting domestic production. However, it has not yet published the final list of products, detailed import figures for each item, or any new support schemes. Any product-specific initiatives would require separate official notifications from the relevant ministries.