Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Government has re-opened the application window for production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for white goods. The announcement came on September 14, citing market growth and growing industry confidence following the success of earlier rounds of the PLI scheme.
“The application window for the PLI Scheme for white goods (ACs and LED lights) is being reopened based on the appetite of the industry to invest more under the scheme, which is an outcome of the growing market and confidence generated due to manufacturing of key components of ACs and LED lights in India under the PLI for White Goods Scheme,” the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a press release.
Post-GST reduction and cut in prices, sales expected to go up for ACs, LED lights, prompting the move to boost production
The application window for the scheme will remain open between September 15, 2025 and October 14, 2025 (both dates inclusive).
The release further said that, in order to avoid any discrimination, both new applicants as well as existing beneficiaries of the scheme who want to invest more would be eligible to apply, subject to the guidelines.
So far, the Ministry said, 83 applicants with committed investment of ₹10,406 crore have been selected as beneficiaries under this PLI scheme.
“The investments will lead to manufacturing of components of air conditioners and LED lights across the complete value chain including components which are not manufactured in India at present in sufficient quantity,” it said.
The Union Cabinet had given its approval for the PLI Scheme for White Goods for the manufacture of components and sub-assemblies of ACs and LED lights in April 2021. The scheme was to be implemented over a seven-year period, from FY 2021-22 to FY 2028-29, with an outlay of ₹6,238 crore.
The initiative is a key plank of the Government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat strategy to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence in critical segments, while also creating jobs.
Applications must be filed online at the designated portal by October 14, DPIIT said.
The reopening of the PLI scheme comes at a time when the white goods sector is set to benefit from recent goods and services tax (GST) rationalisation.
Following the September 2022 reforms, GST rates on several household appliances and electronic items, including air conditioners and lighting products, were pared down to boost affordability and consumption.
While high-ticket consumer durables such as air conditioners earlier attracted the peak GST slab of 28 per cent, rationalisation has brought relief to the segment, with lower effective incidence expected to stimulate demand.