India tightens rules for women-owned drugstore incentives
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In India, the central government will require women applying for financial assistance to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras, government-backed, low-cost medicine outlets, to be registered pharmacists and operate the stores themselves.
Currently, the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) offers a ₹2 lakh incentive to women entrepreneurs. Officials revised the rules to ensure women directly manage the pharmacies and prevent men from using their wives’ names to claim the benefit.
The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) issued a circular detailing these changes, effective October 1. Applications received before September 30 will still follow the original guidelines. The government extended the PMBJP scheme to September 2026 and is seeking approval for the revised proposal. Over 8,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are currently managed by women, and the government aims to establish 25,000 stores across the country by 2027.
Sales at these outlets reached ₹2,252.19 crore in the last fiscal year. The government also plans to expand the program internationally, beginning with Mauritius, to supply affordable medicines to developing countries.
