Lok Sabha Question No. 5692 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Pharmaceutical Export Recovery Post-Sigachi Industrial Accident
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Vamsi Krishna Gaddam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

## DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5692 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 th  MARCH, 2026

## Pharmaceutical Export Recovery Post-Sigachi Industrial Accident

## 5692. Shri Vamsi Krishna Gaddam:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) the quantified impact of the Sigachi Industries explosion in Telangana killing 36 workers on 1st July, 2025 on India's pharmaceutical exports which was valued at $30 billion in FY 202425 and the diplomatic communications sent to major importing countries;
- (b) the specific measures taken to reassure regulatory authorities in key pharmaceutical export destinations after this industrial accident, considering Telangana's pharmaceutical exports stood at $4.66 billion in FY 2021-22;
- (c)  the  bilateral  trade  discussions  held  with  countries  importing  Indian  pharmaceuticals  to prevent  any  suspension  of  drug  approvals  or  increased  scrutiny  of  Indian  manufacturing facilities post-accident;
- (d) the coordination mechanism established between Indian missions and pharmaceutical export promotion council to address concerns raised by international buyers regarding manufacturing safety standards in Telangana; and
- (e) the timeline for implementing enhanced safety protocols in pharmaceutical export units to prevent diplomatic complications and maintain world's largest generic drug supplier?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS  AND FERTILIZERS

(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) to (e). While the Sigachi Industries explosion in Telangana has caused a localised disruption, India's overall export of  pharmaceutical  products remain  resilient. India's exports of pharmaceuticals increased from USD 27.75 billion in the Calendar Year 2024 to USD 30.45 billion  in  the  Calendar Year  2025,  reflecting  a  growth  of  approximately  9.7%,  indicating  a steady expansion in India's pharmaceutical export performance.

The Government, through the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation and State licensing authorities, continues to enforce good manufacturing practices to ensure quality and safety of Indian pharmaceutical products.

The Government engages in regular bilateral trade discussions through various forums including Joint Working Groups, Fast Track Mechanisms, Joint Commission Meetings and Joint Trade Committees, to  ensure  sustained  market  access,  broad  economic  security  and  supply chain resilience. These dialogues serve to address trade-related queries and prevent unilateral actions or non-tariff barriers, and ensure that isolated industrial incidents do not adversely affect overall trade flows.

The Government including the export promotion agencies and Indian Missions abroad coordinate  whenever  concerns  regarding  safety  or  compliance  are  raised  and  facilitate  the necessary exchange of information and compliance documents from exporters to address such queries/concerns effectively.

All factories are legally required to comply  with  safety  provisions  under  the Occupational  Safety,  Health  and  Working  Conditions  Code,  2020.  In  order  to  reinforce compliance, safety awareness programmes, training of safety officers and special inspection, drives are undertaken to ensure adherence to prescribed safety protocols on a continuous basis.

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