NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – India has launched a comprehensive review to identify approximately 100 imported products that local manufacturers could produce on a larger scale. Led by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, the initiative is organized into six specialized groups. The review encompasses sectors such as healthcare, transportation, energy, electronics, chemicals, textiles, and industrial machinery. The government has yet to publish the definitive list or announce specific incentives for individual products.
This effort is part of India’s response to a broader trade deficit. In fiscal year 2025-26, goods imports climbed to $774.98 billion from $721.20 billion in the previous year. Meanwhile, merchandise exports reached $441.78 billion, resulting in a trade shortfall of $333.19 billion. Data from the Commerce Ministry indicates that imports excluding petroleum, gems, and jewelry increased to $498.56 billion. These figures highlight the sectors that remain heavily reliant on imports from abroad.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2025 called on the central and state governments to identify 100 products suitable for local manufacturing. Subsequently, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal encouraged companies to analyze official import data and boost production in sectors with high import dependence. He emphasized the importance of capital goods and medical devices. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade then established sector-specific groups in collaboration with relevant ministries.
Six specialized teams analyze key industries
Each team focuses on a specific segment of the economy. One group reviews pharmaceuticals and medical devices, while another assesses chemicals, textiles, and footwear. Additional teams examine capital goods, automobiles, electric vehicles, energy infrastructure equipment, and machinery. The review also includes civilian aerospace, defense-related products, and electronics. Officials utilize detailed trade records at the product level to compare import values, volumes, and source countries.
India currently runs production-linked incentive schemes across 14 industries, including electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, batteries, telecom equipment, solar modules, textiles, and medical devices. The government also promotes semiconductor manufacturing and domestic electronic component production through dedicated programs. For pharmaceuticals, incentives target 41 bulk drugs due to their high import reliance. Solar manufacturing initiatives aim for nearly 48 gigawatts of high-efficiency module capacity.
Trade data informs the review process
The Commerce Ministry maintains digital trade platforms containing country- and product-specific import data. Officials and businesses leverage these datasets to monitor shifts across major categories. From April to June 2026, India imported goods worth $216.18 billion, compared to $180.31 billion during the same period the previous year. The rise reflects the increased import bill from the prior fiscal year. Authorities are analyzing this data to refine the product list and identify manufacturing gaps.
This ongoing review expands upon efforts to connect customs classifications with relevant industrial sectors. Such integration helps officials pinpoint high-volume imports and assign follow-up actions to the appropriate agencies. The central government has confirmed the six-sector review process with a focus on increasing domestic production. However, it has not yet released the final list of products, detailed import figures for each item, or any new support schemes. Any product-specific initiatives would require a separate formal notification from the appropriate ministry.