INDIA'S Journey to THIRD GDP Nation on VISION : Story Extract - 5 : The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes (Launched 2020)

The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes (Launched 2020)


Domestic manufacturing is encouraged by the PLI program, which is an industrial policy that emphasizes performance and reduces imports. With an initial investment of around 1.97 lakh crore (US$28 billion), the program is one of the cornerstones of India's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" vision, which involves 14 key sectors, including electronics, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles. Its objective is to motivate companies to increase production in India by providing subsidies for incremental sales of products produced within the domestic unit.

The initiatives have achieved significant initial gains, with an investment of approximately 1.61 lakh crore (US 18.72 billion), resulting in production and sales of roughly 14lakh crore ($US 162.84 billion) and the creation of more than 11.5 lakh jobs (direct and indirect). The mobile phone industry has experienced significant success, with the electronics sector becoming a net importer and exporters.

Notwithstanding the achievements, there have been numerous challenges and criticisms of the PLI schemes. A Reuters report from March 2025 revealed that the $23 billion PLI scheme was on track to fail, with only $1.7 billion of the money disbursed, owing to complications caused by complicated regulations and delays in approval. MSMEs face a significant challenge in participating due to the high incremental revenue thresholds and upfront capital expenditure requirements, which hinder their eligibility. A leading EV producer, the head of Ather Energy, stated that this approach has not resulted in successful local car manufacturers manufacturing electric vehicles and has also excluded some of the industry's major players. A total of 14 out of 58 projects in the specialty steel sector were pulled out because of delays to project execution and changes to business plans.

The PLI scheme's overall success and its specific criticisms are contrasted by a nuanced reality. According to the reported success, this is said to be mainly in areas where well-capitalized firms meet high entry barriers and navigate complex regulations, creating a selective bias that favors large, established players over smaller businesses. The current design of the PLI scheme is a clear example of balancing monetary and social benefits, as it fails to create broader manufacturing ecosystem for MSMEs. The government's ability to address these structural and implementation issues will determine whether the scheme can make a significant contribution to India'S GDP in the long run.

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