India, June 24 -- India's pharmaceutical supply chain remains heavily dependent (65 per cent) on Chinese imports for critical active pharmaceutical ingredient (APIs) and key starting materials, NITI Aayog said on Tuesday.

The Aayog, in its eighth edition of 'Trade Watch Quarterly', further said that rising environmental compliance requirements have significantly increased manufacturing and R&D costs in India. "Supply Chain and Sustainability Challenges: India's pharmaceutical supply chain remains heavily dependent on Chinese imports (65 per cent) for critical active pharmaceutical ingredient (APIs), Key Starting Materials (KSMs), and intermediates, particularly fermentation-based products," it said.

The report pointed out that weak inno...