Dedicated pharma research and education facility to strengthen Biopharma ecosystem and maximize potential of Una Bulk Drug Park
Hamirpur/New Delhi, September 4, 2026: In a significant step towards strengthening Himachal Pradesh’s position as a leading pharmaceutical hub, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers have positively acknowledged the proposal of former Union Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur to establish a National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research NIPER in Himachal Pradesh, or an extension centre of NIPER Mohali in the state.
The proposal is expected to be examined in the context of the Biopharma SHAKTI initiative announced in the Union Budget 2026-27. A dedicated education and research facility in Himachal Pradesh would help bridge the gap between industry and academia while promoting advanced research, innovation and specialised skill development in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors.
Himachal Pradesh already has a strong pharmaceutical industrial ecosystem, with more than 650 formulation units operating in the state and generating an annual business of approximately Rs 40,000 crore. Establishing a dedicated pharmaceutical education and research institution would further strengthen the synergy between industry, academia and research institutions.
The proposed facility would also help maximise the socio-economic and industrial potential of the upcoming Bulk Drug Park at Una. Being developed under the Government of India’s Bulk Drugs Park Scheme, the project is expected to attract investments of nearly Rs 15,000 crore and generate employment opportunities for around 20,000 people. This will further strengthen Himachal Pradesh’s crucial role in India’s healthcare and pharmaceutical supply chain.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda has assured Anurag Singh Thakur that the Department of Pharmaceuticals will duly examine the proposal in consultation with relevant stakeholders while finalising the implementation modalities of the Biopharma SHAKTI Mission.
Anurag Singh Thakur expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jagat Prakash Nadda for their positive response to the proposal. He said that a dedicated NIPER facility in Himachal Pradesh would significantly strengthen the state’s pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical capabilities, provide specialised training and skill development opportunities to the youth, and promote greater research and innovation in the region.
He further said that the establishment of a NIPER facility would strengthen local technical and regulatory capabilities and contribute to India’s long-term self-reliance in the biopharmaceutical sector. The initiative, he added, would also be an important step towards realising the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
