India’s API Industry: Powering Global Pharmaceutical Self-Reliance
India’s Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) industry has evolved into one of the most strategic sectors within the global healthcare ecosystem. Often referred to as the “pharmacy of the world,” India plays a crucial role in supplying affordable and quality medicines to both developed and emerging markets. The backbone of this capability lies in its API manufacturing strength — a segment that continues to witness structural growth driven by innovation, policy reforms, and increasing global demand for reliable supply chains.
APIs are the active components in medicines that produce the desired therapeutic effect. Without APIs, finished pharmaceutical formulations would not exist. India’s API manufacturing began gaining momentum in the 1980s and 1990s, when domestic firms focused on process innovation and cost efficiency. Over time, the country became a global hub for bulk drug production, supplying essential ingredients for antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, pain management formulations,…