The following steps are being taken by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Make in India initiative to strengthen domestic chemical manufacturing:

Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs): Government of India has notified the PCPIR Policy to attract investment and for the generation of employment in the Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs). PCPIRs promote the chemical and petrochemical sectors in an integrated and environmentally friendly manner on a large scale. PCPIRs are conceptualised in a cluster-based approach with common infrastructure and support services to provide a competitive environment conducive for setting up businesses.

Plastic Park Scheme: The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) implement the scheme for setting up of plastic parks under the umbrella scheme of New Scheme of Petrochemicals. The scheme promotes setting up of need-based Plastic Parks with requisite state-of-the-art infrastructure and enabling common facilities. The objective is to consolidate and synergise the capacities of downstream plastic processing industry to help increase investment, production and export in the sector as well as generate employment. Under the scheme, the Government of India provides grant, funding up to 50% of the project cost subject to a ceiling of Rs. 40 crore per project. In accordance with the scheme guidelines, nine plastic parks have been approved so far and the same are at different levels of implementation. 

Centres of Excellence (CoEs): With the objective of promoting research and development efforts in the chemical and petrochemical sector to develop new molecules and technologies, the New Scheme of Petrochemicals includes a sub-scheme on setting up of centres of excellence. The objective is to provide grant-in-aid to educational and research institutions to improve existing technology and promote development of new applications of polymers, chemicals and plastics. The emphasis of the scheme is on modernization and upgradation of existing manufacturing processes as well as improving the quality of products. Under the scheme, the Government of India provides financial support up to 50 per cent of the total project cost subject to an upper limit of Rs. 5 crore. So far, 18 CoEs have been set up under this scheme.

This information was given by Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.