Content:
- A Dose of Atmanirbhar Bharat
- PM pays homage to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh
A Dose of Atmanirbhar Bharat
Context: Make in India initiative, through schemes like PLI and PMBJP, is boosting India’s pharmaceutical and medtech manufacturing, exports, and global health leadership under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Relevance : GS 29Governance,Health ) ,GS 3(Research and Development)
Indian Pharmaceutical Industry: Global Impact
- India is a global pharmaceutical leader—largest provider of generic medicines and major exporter of cost-effective, high-quality drugs.
- Supplies 60% of UNICEF’s vaccine requirements; meets 99% (DPT), 52% (BCG), and 45% (Measles) vaccine demand for WHO.
- Competitive pricing, skilled manpower, and robust supply chains are key to global dominance.
Medical Devices Sector: Emerging Pillar
- A multi-disciplinary, capital-intensive sector with a long gestation period.
- Key categories: electro-medical equipment, implants, disposables, surgical tools, in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) reagents.
- Dependency on imported high-end equipment remains a challenge; government aims to localize manufacturing.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Growth Trends
- ₹11,888 crore FDI inflow from April–December 2024 in pharma & meditech.
- 13 brownfield projects approved, worth ₹7,246.4 crore, showing investor confidence in domestic capacity.
- Government scrutinizes and approves FDI under pharma/meditech per official policy guidelines.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes: Game Changer
PLI for Pharmaceuticals (₹15,000 crore; FY22–FY28)
- Focused on 3 categories:
- Cat 1: Biopharma, complex generics, orphan drugs, gene therapy, etc.
- Cat 2: APIs, KSMs, Drug Intermediates—reduces import reliance.
- Cat 3: Anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, autoimmune drugs, IVD devices.
- 55 firms selected; supports India’s aim to move up the pharmaceutical value chain.
PLI for Bulk Drugs (KSMs/APIs) (₹6,940 crore; FY21–FY30)
- 48 projects approved; 34 commissioned by Dec 2024.
- Notable investments:
- Penicillin-G Project (AP): ₹1,910 Cr; to substitute ₹2,700 Cr imports/year.
- Clavulanic Acid (HP): ₹450 Cr; import savings ₹600 Cr/year.
- ₹4,253.92 crore invested—surpassing initial commitment of ₹3,938 Cr.PLI for Medical Devices (₹3,420 crore; FY21–FY28)
- Targets high-end tech: radiology, imaging, implants, cancer care equipment.
- Incentive: 5% of incremental sales for 5 years (FY23–FY27).
- Category A cap: ₹121 Cr/applicant
- Category B cap: ₹40 Cr/applicant
Bulk Drug Parks Scheme
- Approved in 2020: aims to set up world-class infrastructure to reduce cost and import dependency.
- States Approved: Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh.
- Financial aid: ₹1,000 crore/park (up to 70–90% of cost); total ₹3,000 crore outlay.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)
- Aims to make generic medicines affordable and accessible to all.
- Key efforts:
- Public awareness: affordability ≠ poor quality.
- Push for generic prescriptions in govt facilities.
- Expansion of outlets: 15,479 Jan Aushadhi Kendras as of April 2025.
Strengthening of Pharmaceuticals Industry (SPI) Scheme
- A Central Sector Scheme (CSS) with ₹500 crore outlay (FY22–FY26).
- Focus: upgrading pharma clusters, enhancing MSME competitiveness, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Strategic Vision: Atmanirbhar Bharat + Global Healthcare Leadership
- Emphasis on self-reliance, reducing import dependency, and innovation-led growth.
- Strong alignment with Make in India, PLI schemes, and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 – Health & Well-being).
- Target: emerge as the global hub for affordable, high-quality pharmaceuticals and medical technologies.
PM pays homage to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh
The Prime Minister’s homage to the Jallianwala Bagh martyrs on April 13, 2025, marks the remembrance of a defining event in colonial history that galvanized India’s freedom struggle.
Relevance : GS 1(Modern History)
- Historical Background:
- The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab, when General Dyer ordered open fire on a peaceful gathering, killing hundreds and injuring over a thousand.
- The protest was against the Rowlatt Act, 1919, which authorized the colonial government to imprison people without trial—a blatant curtailment of civil liberties.
- Why It Was a Turning Point:
- Shock and Outrage: The massacre led to nationwide anger and disillusionment with British rule, breaking the myth of British “benevolence.”
- Shift in Strategy: Mahatma Gandhi, who was initially supportive of constitutional methods, shifted to a more confrontational and mass-based approach, launching the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920.
- Wider Mobilization: It brought the Indian National Congress closer to the masses, transforming it from an elite organization into a mass movement.
- Global Condemnation: The brutality was criticized internationally, and in India, figures like Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest.
- Martyrdom and National Memory:
- The sacrifice of innocent Indians at Jallianwala Bagh became a symbol of colonial repression and martyrdom in India’s nationalistic narrative.
- It is remembered annually to instill patriotic consciousness and democratic values, especially among the youth.
- Backward Linkages to Colonial Policies:
- Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919): Introduced simultaneously, they were meant to give partial self-governance but fell short of nationalist expectations.
- Hunter Committee (1919): Set up to investigate the massacre but failed to hold General Dyer accountable, further aggravating public resentment.
- Rowlatt Act (1919): Direct cause of the gathering, it symbolized the oppressive intent of colonial laws—echoing earlier colonial high-handedness (e.g., Vernacular Press Act, 1878).
- Forward Linkages in the Freedom Struggle:
- Inspired future protests and revolutionary movements, including Bhagat Singh’s ideology and actions.
- Laid the emotional and moral foundation for Purna Swaraj Declaration (1929) and Quit India Movement (1942).
- Continues to shape India’s collective memory, education, and public commemorations of the freedom movement.
Conclusion: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre is not just an episode of colonial brutality but a watershed in India’s journey toward independence. The Prime Minister’s homage reaffirms its place in national memory and underscores the enduring impact of sacrifice and resistance in shaping modern India.
