India, known as the ‘pharmacy of the world,’ is expanding vaccine R&D beyond COVID-19 into mRNA technology, universal flu vaccines, and tropical disease prevention.
Institutes like Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute partner with global health agencies for joint research initiatives. Government incentives under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme support vaccine manufacturing hubs with tax breaks and R&D funding.
Challenges include high clinical trial costs, cold chain logistics, and global IP competition. However, India’s vaccine exports to Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia continue to grow, reinforcing its global health diplomacy role.
