NEW DELHI: The Department of Pharmaceuticals, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, is holding the ninth edition of India Pharma 2026 on April 13 and 14 in the national capital, in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA).
The event will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers JP Nadda and Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel.
An official said the conference aims to serve as a key platform for promoting sectoral growth, strengthening international collaboration, and showcasing India’s capabilities in pharmaceuticals, research and development, and resilient global supply chains.
The theme for this year’s edition, “Discover in India: Leapfrogging Life-Sciences Innovation,” underscores the country’s ambition to emerge as a global hub for pharmaceutical innovation. It also highlights the role of life sciences in improving healthcare access, driving economic growth, and strengthening global health systems.
“India continues to play a pivotal role in supplying affordable and high-quality medicines globally. The focus now is on transitioning from a volume-driven model to one led by value and innovation,” the official said.
The two-day event will see participation from a wide spectrum of policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and domain experts. Among the senior government officials attending are Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals; Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; and Vinod K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog.
Key domain experts expected to participate include Renu Swarup, former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, and Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, Chief Executive Officer, Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
Regulatory perspectives will be represented by Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India; A. Visala, Joint Drugs Controller (India), Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation; and Gregory Smith, Country Director (India), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, offering both domestic and global insights.
The industry will be represented by leading figures such as Dilip Shanghvi of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Pankaj Patel of Zydus Lifesciences. Other industry leaders include Arjun Juneja, Chief Operating Officer, Mankind Pharma; Achin Gupta, Managing Director and Global Chief Executive Officer, Cipla; Winselow Tucker, President and General Manager, Eli Lilly and Company (India); and Kartik Rajendran, Managing Director, Abbott India.
The event will feature six plenary sessions covering a range of themes, including policy support for innovation, regulatory frameworks, the use of artificial intelligence and next-generation technologies, India’s contract research and development manufacturing organisation (CRDMO) potential, and the development of a robust financing ecosystem for the pharmaceutical sector.
A dedicated start-up showcase will also be organised to highlight emerging innovations and entrepreneurial ventures in the life sciences space.
The conference is expected to provide a roadmap for accelerating India’s journey towards becoming a global pharmaceutical innovation powerhouse, the official added.
