India has established itself as the world’s largest vaccine maker by volume and supplies doses to over 100 countries, according to a statement by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh made these remarks at a high-level event in New Delhi hosted jointly by the Department of Biotechnology and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The announcement reflects India’s expanded role in global health security beyond its traditional strength in affordable vaccine manufacturing.
India’s Current Vaccine Capacity and Reach
India accounts for nearly 60 per cent of global vaccine production and supplies vaccines to more than 100 countries. The country meets more than 65 per cent of the World Health Organization’s routine immunization needs. India’s broader bioeconomy reached USD 195.3 billion in 2025, growing at 18 per cent year-on-year, with the biopharma sector representing nearly 30 per cent of this value. The biotech startup ecosystem expanded to 11,855 startups, with 1,780 new startups launched in 2025 alone.
The country has moved beyond basic vaccine manufacturing into advanced technologies and complex biological products. Recent achievements include GEMCOVAC-19, India’s first messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine that received Emergency Use Authorisation. An inactivated Chikungunya vaccine candidate is currently undergoing Phase II and III trials. Additionally, vaccine candidates for Monkeypox and pan-sarbecoviruses based on Multivalent Self-assembled Nanocage technology are in advanced pre-clinical development.
The Department of Biotechnology and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) partnership with CEPI, renewed in September 2025 for five years, supports vaccine development for emerging infectious diseases. The BRIC-THSTI Bioassay Laboratory, recognized as one of CEPI’s 17 centralized network laboratories, has tested over one lakh samples for vaccine development and supported eight vaccine candidates at different development stages.
What This Means for You
India’s expanded vaccine capabilities suggest greater availability of new vaccines for emerging diseases in the coming years. The country’s strengthened research infrastructure and international partnerships mean that future vaccine development for diseases like Chikungunya and Monkeypox may happen faster. For developing nations, India’s dominance in vaccine supply offers continued access to affordable immunization options. The focus on next-generation vaccines and pandemic preparedness indicates India is building systems to respond more rapidly to future health emergencies.