UPSC Articles
Shortcomings of Indian Chemical Industry: TIFAC
Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III – Industries
In News:
- Recently, a report by the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) was released.
- TIFAC is an autonomous organisation and think-tank of the Department of Science and Technology.
- It has highlighted the shortcomings of the Indian chemical industry which prove to be barriers in competing with China.
Key takeaways
- India lacks enough technology, plants and infrastructure to manufacture key chemicals in a cost-effective and less polluting manner.
- Manufacturing of several key Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) are nearly stopped.
- India depends on China for 67% of chemical intermediates and API and almost entirely for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).
- Manufacturers are unable to meet the price at which chemicals are produced by China.
Important value additions
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
- These are significant ingredients in the manufacturing of drugs and are also called bulk drugs.
- The Hubei province of China is the hub of the API manufacturing industry.
