Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for Indian pharmaceutical companies to strengthen their global presence and aim for a place among the world’s top five pharmaceutical companies. The call comes as India continues to rank strongly in pharmaceutical production, exports and generic medicines, while policymakers increasingly emphasise moving the sector from volume to value, innovation and global scale.
According to the Government of India, India is currently the world’s third-largest pharmaceutical producer by volume and ranks 11th by value. The industry has more than 3,000 pharmaceutical companies and 10,500 manufacturing units.
PM Modi’s Call for Indian Pharma Global Top 5
The focus on getting Indian pharmaceutical companies into the global top five reflects a broader ambition for India’s pharma industry.
India has already built a strong position in:
- Generic medicines
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Vaccines
- Pharmaceutical exports
- Contract manufacturing
- Global supply of affordable medicines
The next challenge is to create companies with greater global scale, higher-value products, stronger innovation capabilities and larger international revenues.
The Economic Survey 2025–26 also highlighted this transition, noting that India’s pharmaceutical sector is moving from a volume-driven model toward a value-driven approach, with greater emphasis on complex generics, biosimilars and innovation.
India’s Pharmaceutical Industry: Global Position
India has established itself as one of the world’s most important pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs.
| Parameter | India’s Global Position |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical production by volume | 3rd |
| Pharmaceutical industry by value | 11th |
| Pharmaceutical exports by value | 11th |
| Global generic medicine supply | Around 20% |
| Pharmaceutical companies | 3,000+ |
| Manufacturing units | 10,500 |
| Generic brands | Around 60,000 |
| Therapeutic categories | 60 |
The Government of India states that India supplies around 20% of global generic medicines and manufactures approximately 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories.
Why Does India Want Pharma Companies in the Global Top 5?
India’s pharmaceutical strength has historically been built around affordable generic medicines and large-scale manufacturing.
However, global pharmaceutical leadership is increasingly influenced by:
- Research and development
- Innovative medicines
- Biosimilars and biologics
- Specialty pharmaceuticals
- Intellectual property
- Global brands
- Large-scale international operations
- Advanced manufacturing
- Regulatory capabilities
Therefore, moving into the global top five would require Indian companies to increase their presence across the higher-value segments of the pharmaceutical industry.
The Economic Survey has specifically identified complex generics, biosimilars and innovation as areas that can help India move higher up the pharmaceutical value chain.
India’s Pharmaceutical Market Growth
India’s domestic pharmaceutical market is already substantial and is expected to expand further.
| Indicator | Current/Projected Position |
| Domestic pharma market | Approximately $60 billion |
| Projected market by 2030 | Approximately $130 billion |
| FY2024–25 sector turnover | ₹4.72 lakh crore |
| Export CAGR, FY2015–FY2025 | 7% |
The Government of India reports that the domestic pharmaceutical market is valued at around $60 billion and is projected to reach approximately $130 billion by 2030. The sector recorded an annual turnover of ₹4.72 lakh crore in FY2024–25.
Indian Pharmaceutical Exports
India’s pharmaceutical export network has expanded significantly over the years.
In FY2024–25, pharmaceutical exports reached approximately $30.5 billion, compared with about $1.9 billion in 2000–01.
India exported pharmaceutical products to 191 countries during FY2024–25. Around 50% of these exports were directed to highly regulated markets such as the United States and Europe.
India Pharma Export Growth
| Export Indicator | Details |
| Pharma exports, FY2024–25 | $30.5 billion |
| Pharma exports, 2000–01 | $1.9 billion |
| Export destinations, FY2024–25 | 191 countries |
| Share going to highly regulated markets | Around 50% |
| Export CAGR, FY2015–FY2025 | 7% |
| Global export ranking by value | 11th |
The growth in exports demonstrates India’s increasing integration into global pharmaceutical supply chains.
India’s Strength in Generic Medicines
One of India’s biggest competitive advantages is its large generic-medicine manufacturing base.
India accounts for approximately 20% of the global supply of generic medicines and produces around 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories.
This strong generic manufacturing ecosystem has helped Indian pharmaceutical companies establish significant international markets, particularly in the United States, Europe and other regulated markets.
However, moving into the global top five would require companies to complement their generic strengths with higher-value products and innovation-led growth.
From Volume to Value: India’s Next Pharma Challenge
India’s position as the third-largest pharmaceutical producer by volume is a major strength. However, its lower ranking by value highlights the gap between manufacturing scale and economic value captured.
The Economic Survey 2025–26 has highlighted a shift from a volume-driven pharmaceutical industry to a value-driven model.
This includes greater focus on:
- Complex generics
- Biosimilars
- Innovative medicines
- Research and development
- Advanced manufacturing
- Global regulatory compliance
- Higher-value pharmaceutical exports
This transition could help Indian companies increase their global competitiveness and move higher in the pharmaceutical value chain.
Sun Pharma’s Global Expansion
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries provides a major example of an Indian pharmaceutical company’s global expansion strategy.
In April 2026, Sun Pharma entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Organon & Co. in a transaction valued at an enterprise value of $11.75 billion. The proposed transaction is expected to generate combined revenues of around $12.4 billion and could place the combined business among the world’s top 25 drugmakers, according to ETPharma.
In July 2026, Organon shareholders approved the proposed takeover, representing another major step toward completion of the transaction.
Why Is the Sun Pharma–Organon Deal Important?
The transaction illustrates how an Indian pharmaceutical company can use international acquisitions to:
- Expand its global product portfolio
- Enter or strengthen international markets
- Increase revenue scale
- Build capabilities in women’s health
- Expand into biosimilars
- Strengthen its position among global pharmaceutical companies
The deal is therefore an important example of the type of global expansion and scale-building that could support India’s broader ambition in pharmaceuticals.
What Will It Take for Indian Pharma Companies to Reach the Global Top 5?
Reaching the global top five will require more than increasing manufacturing capacity.
1. Greater Investment in R&D
Indian companies will need to invest more in innovative drug discovery, clinical development and advanced pharmaceutical technologies.
2. Expansion into High-Value Products
Complex generics, biosimilars, biologics and specialty medicines can provide opportunities to move beyond traditional generic manufacturing.
3. Stronger Global Brands
Building internationally recognised pharmaceutical brands can help Indian companies compete on a larger global scale.
4. Strategic Acquisitions
Large international acquisitions can provide access to products, technologies, markets and established commercial networks.
5. Stronger Intellectual Property
Innovation and intellectual-property capabilities will be important for increasing the value generated by Indian pharmaceutical companies.
6. Global Regulatory Excellence
Companies operating across the United States, Europe and other regulated markets need strong regulatory and quality systems.
7. Scale and Competitiveness
Larger companies with diversified portfolios and global operations may be better positioned to compete with the world’s biggest pharmaceutical corporations.
Why Is This Important for India’s Pharma Industry?
India’s pharmaceutical industry already has a strong global footprint, but the next stage is about capturing greater value from that global presence.
The goal of reaching the global top five could encourage:
- More pharmaceutical R&D
- Higher-value manufacturing
- Greater international investment
- Expansion of Indian pharma companies
- More global acquisitions
- Growth of biosimilars and biologics
- Stronger pharmaceutical exports
- Increased global competitiveness
The Government’s current policy direction also reflects this broader shift toward innovation, advanced manufacturing and value addition.
Why Should Pharmacy Students and Professionals Pay Attention?
The changing Indian pharmaceutical landscape can create opportunities across several career areas.
Pharmacy students and professionals may see growing demand in:
- Pharmaceutical R&D
- Clinical research
- Regulatory affairs
- Pharmacovigilance
- Quality assurance
- Quality control
- Biotechnology and biosimilars
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Medical affairs
- Drug development
- International regulatory compliance
As Indian companies expand globally, professionals with international regulatory, research, quality and specialised pharmaceutical skills may become increasingly valuable.
India Pharma Global Top 5 – Key Takeaways
- 🇮🇳 India ranks 3rd globally in pharmaceutical production by volume.
- India ranks 11th by pharmaceutical industry value, according to current Government data.
- India exported pharmaceutical products to 191 countries in FY2024–25.
- Pharma exports reached approximately $30.5 billion in FY2024–25.
- India has more than 3,000 pharmaceutical companies and 10,500 manufacturing units.
- India supplies around 20% of global generic medicines.
- India’s domestic pharmaceutical market is projected to reach approximately $130 billion by 2030.
- The strategic ambition is to help Indian pharmaceutical companies achieve much greater global scale and value.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is PM Modi’s message to Indian pharmaceutical companies?
The message is to increase India’s global pharmaceutical leadership by building companies with greater international scale, competitiveness and value, with the ambition of having Indian firms among the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.
2. What is India’s current global rank in pharmaceutical production?
India ranks third globally by pharmaceutical production volume. Current Government data places India 11th by pharmaceutical industry value.
3. How much are India’s pharmaceutical exports?
India’s pharmaceutical exports reached approximately $30.5 billion in FY2024–25.
4. How many countries does India export pharmaceutical products to?
India exported pharmaceutical products to 191 countries in FY2024–25.
5. What percentage of global generic medicines does India supply?
India accounts for approximately 20% of global generic medicine supply.
6. What is the expected size of India’s pharmaceutical market by 2030?
India’s domestic pharmaceutical market is projected to reach approximately $130 billion by 2030.
7. Why is Sun Pharma’s Organon acquisition important?
Sun Pharma’s proposed $11.75 billion enterprise-value acquisition of Organon is a major example of an Indian pharmaceutical company pursuing international scale. The combined business is expected to generate around $12.4 billion in revenue and could rank among the world’s top 25 drugmakers.
8. What areas can help India move higher in the global pharma value chain?
Key areas include complex generics, biosimilars, biologics, innovation, R&D, advanced manufacturing, intellectual property and global regulatory capabilities.
Important Official and External Sources
For readers who want to verify the latest industry data, the following sources are useful:
- Press Information Bureau – India’s Pharmaceutical Industry
- Economic Survey 2025–26 – Pharma Sector Highlights
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India
- ETPharma – Sun Pharma Organon Acquisition
Conclusion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for Indian pharmaceutical companies to achieve greater global prominence comes at a time when India’s pharma sector is already a major global manufacturing and export hub.
India ranks third globally by pharmaceutical production volume, exports medicines to 191 countries, and recorded pharmaceutical exports of approximately $30.5 billion in FY2024–25. The domestic market is also projected to reach $130 billion by 2030.
The next phase of growth will depend on India’s ability to move beyond scale in generic manufacturing and capture greater value through innovation, complex generics, biosimilars, biologics, R&D, global acquisitions and stronger international brands.
For Indian pharmaceutical companies, the ambition is no longer only to manufacture medicines for the world—it is increasingly about building globally influential pharmaceutical companies from India.
Recommended Products
