The Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers (MoC&F) has announced modifications to the operational guidelines of the sub-scheme “Capacity Building and Skill Development for Medical Devices”, a component of the “Strengthening of Medical Device Industry” scheme.
The original guidelines were issued by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) on 8th November 2024. Following the Scheme Steering Committee (SSC) meeting on 9th April 2025, several key clauses in Chapter-IV of the sub-scheme have been amended.
🔧 Detailed Clause-Wise Amendments
| Clause No. | Existing Clause in the Guidelines | Amended Clause in the Guidelines |
| 4.3.1 (first paragraph) | Financial assistance will be provided to Center Government Universities/Institutes for running multi-disciplinary post-graduate courses in medical device with objective of building infrastructure for education and research in medical devices and developing skilled workforce adaptable to changing requirements of Medical Device sector | Financial assistance will be provided to Central Government Universities/Institutes for running multi-disciplinary post-graduate courses in medical device with objective of building infrastructure for education and research in medical devices and developing skilled workforce adaptable to changing requirements of Medical Device sector |
| 4.3.1 (second paragraph) (funding clause) | Department of Pharmaceuticals will provide up to 75% of the cost of the course or Rs 21 Cr., whichever is lower, on reimbursement basis. | Department of Pharmaceuticals will provide up to 75% of the cost of the course or Rs 21 Cr., whichever is lower, on reimbursement basis as and when expenditure is incurred. |
| 4.3.2 (reimbursement mode) | Financial support based on the number of students (Rs. 25,000/student/month for diploma and Rs 10,000/student/month for certificate/skill development training programs) will be provided to the trainee institute for the number of students enrolled. | Financial support based on the number of students (Rs. 25,000/student/month for diploma and Rs 10,000/student/month for certificate/skill development training programs) will be provided on quarterly reimbursement basis to the trainee institute for the number of students enrolled. |
| 4.6 (final settlement accounts) | The grant paid by the DoP shall be refunded by the institution as and when the programme is discontinued midway or the detailed conditions as laid down and approved by the DoP are not followed. | The grant paid by the DoP shall be refunded by the institution as and when the programme is discontinued midway or the detailed conditions as laid down and approved by the DoP are not followed. However, expenditure incurred and claimed towards non-recurring expenses shall not be required to be refunded. |
| 4.10 (support withdrawal condition) | If the total number of students admitted in a particular academic session is less than 50% of its intake. | If, against the annual student intake approved by DoP in its final approval letter, admissions are less than 30% of the approved annual intake in the first academic year, or less than 50% of the approved annual intake in the second or third year. |
Key Takeaways
- Institutions can now receive quarterly reimbursements, enhancing cash flow.
- The threshold for minimum student intake has been more clearly defined across multiple academic years.
- Clarity added on refunds, especially protecting investments in non-recurring infrastructure.
✅ Additional Notes:
- All other clauses in Chapter-IV of the original guidelines dated 08.11.2024 remain unchanged.
- These updates have been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority.
📌 Conclusion
The revised provisions aim to streamline funding disbursement, clarify compliance obligations, and ensure more efficient execution of medical device education and training programs across India.
