The government has announced that it will undertake a third party assessment of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for white goods, which aims to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in the sector. The assessment will be to see whether the stated objective of the scheme – that intends to make India a manufacturing powerhouse – has been achieved, according to DPIIT Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The PLI scheme for white goods covers air conditioners and LED lights, and has an outlay of Rs 6,238 crore. It is to be implemented over a seven-year period, from 2021-22 to 2028-29. The scheme offers financial incentives to selected beneficiary firms based on their incremental production and investment.
Singh said that of the 64 selected beneficiaries of the PLI scheme, 15 have started production and are expected to receive the incentives in the last quarter of this financial year. The rest of the beneficiaries, who opted for a longer gestation period, are at different stages of implementation. He also said that some of the sectors in the PLI scheme, such as electronics, mobile manufacturing, pharma and food processing, are doing well, while others, such as textiles, need some correction.
The government has also approved a programme for development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore, and has announced incentives for every part of the supply chain. Singh said that the government is encouraging the private sector to come forward and take advantage of the opportunities in the semiconductor sector in India.