India Reopens PLI Scheme Applications for White Goods Amid Rising Market Demand

India has opened the fourth round of applications for the Production-Linked Incentive Scheme for White Goods – LED products and air conditioners (ACs).

The scheme is open to both new applicants and existing beneficiaries seeking to expand their investments, whether by moving into higher target segments or by applying through their group companies in different categories.

India’s PLI Scheme for White Goods (PLIWG) has been reopened for 30 days, i.e., from September 15, 2025, to October 14, 2025. The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced the fourth round of applications for the PLIWG, covering ACs and LED lights.

According to the official statement issued on September 14, 2025, the decision comes in response to increasing industry interest, buoyed by market growth and the success of previous rounds of the scheme. Applications can be submitted through the online PLIWG portal.

What are the incentives under the PLI scheme for white goods?

The PLI scheme provides incentives ranging from 4 percent to 6 percent on incremental sales to eligible manufacturers. It is valid from FY 2021-22 to FY 2028-29 and covers both high-value and low-value components of air conditioners and LED lights.

It must be noted that the opportunity is available to both new applicants and existing beneficiaries wishing to expand their investments, subject to scheme guidelines. Of the total allocated budget of INR 62.38 billion (US$707 million) for the scheme, India has released INR 2.87 billion (US$32.54 million) so far.

Background: Amendments to the scheme and previous rounds

After the initial rollout of the PLI Scheme in April 2021, additional application windows were opened under round 2 (March–April 2022) and round 3 (July–October 2024). 

To make the scheme more industry-friendly, India also introduced four amendments in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. These changes included adopting cost-plus pricing, widening the scope of eligible capital investments, and extending timelines.

Under round 4 (September-October 2025), the original guidelines (including all prior amendments) shall continue for the white goods PLI application process. For new applicants, the gestation period will be counted from April 2021 to March 2023, and they must meet the minimum cumulative investment threshold by FY 2025-26.

Companies that had applied earlier—with gestation periods ending in 2022 or 2023—will also have the option to upgrade to a higher investment category. However, in every case, incentives will be available only for the remaining duration of the scheme (till FY 2028-29).

Conditions for moving to higher investment categories

Existing applicants who wish to scale up by shifting to a higher investment category must meet the revised minimum investment and sales thresholds set for that category.

If a company fails to achieve these targets in any given year, it may return to its original investment category. However, once this option is exercised, the company must remain in its original category. Any incentives already received under the higher category will need to be refunded with interest, calculated at SBI’s 3-year marginal cost of lending rate (MCLR) (compounded annually).

For applicants from rounds 1, 2, and 3, the revised minimum cumulative investment target will apply from FY 2025-26. Companies that upgraded during round 3 will continue to remain in their new category.

Target segments and products covered under PLIWG

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PLIWG covers the manufacturing of key components and sub-assemblies used in white goods segments of ACs and LED lights. Both large-scale and medium-scale investments are eligible under the scheme. The scheme is open to companies engaged in manufacturing components and sub-assemblies, covering both greenfield projects (new manufacturing units) and brownfield projects (expansion of existing facilities).

Here is a comprehensive list of eligible products for the manufacturing of ACs and LEDs under PLIWG:

For ACs components, the product list is divided into two categories, i.e., high-value intermediaries of ACs and low-value intermediaries of ACs.

1. High-value intermediaries of ACs: Compressors, including oil-free and high-capacity, copper tube (plain and/or grooved); and aluminum stock for foils or fins for heat exchangers.

2. Low-value intermediaries of ACs: Control assemblies for IDU or ODU or remotes, display panels (LCD/LED), motors, cross flow fan (CFF), valves and brass components, heat exchangers, sheet metal components and plastic moulding components

Similarly, for LED, the product list is divided into two categories namely, LED core components and LED light components.

1. LED core components: LED chip packaging, integrated circuits (ICs), resistors, fuses, large-scale investments in LED components. 
2. LED light components: LED chips, LED drivers, LED engines, LED modules, Printed Circuit Boards (PCB), including metal-clad PCBs; mechanicals—housing, wire-wound inductors, drum cores, heat sinks, diffusers, ferrite cores, LED Light Management Systems (LMS), resistors, fuses, capacitors, LED transformers, laminates for PCB and metal-clad PCBs, metallized film capacitors

PLI white goods investment and sales thresholds

The eligibility criteria and incentive thresholds under the PLIWG cover both core and other components. They outline the annual PLI rates, minimum cumulative investments, and corresponding incremental sales targets that applicants must meet during the scheme period to qualify for incentives under the large and normal investment categories.

Source: PLI White Goods Manufacturers in India, DPIIT.

*Actual disbursement of PLI for a respective year will be subsequent to that year. For example, subject to fulfilling the conditions of cumulative threshold incremental investment up to FY 2021-22 over base year and threshold incremental sales of manufactured goods over the base year in FY 2022-23, PLI will be disbursed in FY 2023-24.

Business advisory for foreign investors: Leveraging India’s PLI Scheme for white goods

The reopening of the PLIWG in 2025 underscores India’s aim to boost local manufacturing and reduce import dependence. New applicants should note that the scheme’s gestation period—meant for setting up facilities, installing equipment, and starting production—ends in FY 2025–26. With incentives available only until FY 2028–29, timely planning and adherence to compliance are crucial for manufacturers and investors.

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India offers strategic advantages beyond PLI incentives, including 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in consumer durables through the automatic route, competitive labor costs, expanding infrastructure, and strong domestic demand. Coupled with trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), these factors position India as a hub for electronics and consumer durables manufacturing, with opportunities to build export-oriented operations.

Foreign firms should assess eligibility based on product portfolios, align capital expenditure to meet scheme thresholds, and select locations strategically. Key hubs include Noida (electronics), Pune (large-scale manufacturing), and southern states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for industrial parks and supply chains. However, navigating India’s tax, labor, and regulatory frameworks remains complex.

Engaging local professional services firms can help investors structure their entry, maximize available fiscal incentives, and ensure smooth operations while remaining compliant with scheme conditions.

Industry participation and investment commitments under PLIWG

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As of  2025, India has approved 83 applicants under the scheme with committed investments totaling INR 104.06 billion (US$1.18 billion). Major electronics and consumer durables players such as Daikin, Voltas, and Hindalco are investing in the manufacturing of air conditioner components, while firms including Dixon, R.K. Lighting, and Signify are focusing on LED light components.

In round three of applications, the central government received 38 proposals, of which 18 new companies—10 in the air conditioner segment and 8 in the LED light segment—received provisional approval, adding INR 22.99 billion (US$260.7 million) in investment. On January 20, 2025, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that six existing beneficiaries have opted to move into higher investment categories, committing an additional INR 12.17 billion (US$138 million).

These developments are expected to boost India’s domestic manufacturing base, reduce reliance on imports, and improve global competitiveness. Reopening of the PLI Scheme for White Goods presents a timely opportunity for foreign manufacturers and sourcing companies to establish or expand their presence in India’s fast-growing consumer durables market.

(US$1 = INR 88.18)

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