India's Chemicals & Petrochemicals Sector Growth (2014-2026)
The Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has reported significant achievements in the chemicals and petrochemicals sector over the past twelve years. The three operational Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Regions (PCPIRs) at Dahej (Gujarat), Visakhapatnam–Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), and Paradeep (Odisha) have attracted investments worth ₹3.4 lakh crore, generated employment for 3.7 lakh people, and facilitated the establishment of over 2,200 chemical manufacturing units.
Foreign Direct Investment in the sector has more than doubled, with inflows of ₹1,04,895 crore during 2014–2026 compared to ₹45,240 crore during 2004–2014, supported by India's FDI policy allowing 100% FDI under the automatic route for most chemical sectors.
Infrastructure and Capacity Development
The department has expanded infrastructure support through 10 approved Plastic Parks across the country, with four achieving 100% infrastructure completion including three completed during 2025–26. The Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET) has expanded to 51 centres, including 19 established since 2014, with three being Plastic Waste Management Centres. CIPET has trained nearly 6.72 lakh skilled professionals, including over 5.21 lakh during 2014-24, and completed 8.53 lakh Technology Support Service assignments during the same period.
Regulatory and Safety Measures
To protect consumers and promote quality manufacturing, the department has issued 37 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) currently in force. The department has initiated a nationwide training programme covering all 2,393 Major Accident Hazardous (MAH) Units on safe handling of hazardous chemicals, with 21 programs already organized covering 1,376 industrial units and training 2,441 personnel.
Research and Innovation
The 18 Centres of Excellence have filed 85 patents, published over 600 research papers, and developed 105 new technologies/products. The Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology (IPFT), Gurugram, has developed and transferred 64 pesticide formulation technologies to industry and has been sanctioned ₹28.69 crore by Department of Science and Technology for establishing a Biofoundry Facility for biopesticides.
Agricultural Outreach
Through the Chemical Promotion and Development Scheme (CPDS), the department has conducted more than 250 farmers' training programmes on safe and judicious use of pesticides, benefiting over one lakh farmers across the country. IPFT alone has conducted 45 farmer awareness programmes benefiting 16,436 farmers on safe pesticide use and biopesticide promotion.
New Initiatives
In the Union Budget 2026–27, the government announced a scheme to establish three Chemical Parks on a cluster-based plug-and-play model. The Union Cabinet has approved the BHAVYA Rasayan Scheme (Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana Rasayan) with a provision of over ₹3030 crore for setting up these three Chemical Parks to strengthen domestic manufacturing, reduce import dependence, and enhance global competitiveness.