§1Who it is for

  • Large food companies (Category I)
  • SMEs making innovative/organic products (Category II)
  • Firms branding Indian food abroad
  • Millet-based product makers (PLISMBP)

Useful if

Established food brands with export plans; SME organic/innovative product makers if a window reopens.

Do not spend time on it if

Micro food units — use PMFME instead.

§2Eligibility

  1. Any company registered in India may apply on its own or with subsidiaries where it holds more than 50% (FAQ).
  2. Category I: large entities selected on 2019-20 sales (domestic + exports), export sales and committed investment, equal weight; minimum sales and investment per Appendix-A of guidelines.
  3. Category II: SMEs making innovative / organic products.
  4. Must achieve minimum year-on-year sales growth of 10% to claim incentive (Category I, II and millet products).
  5. Contract manufacturers count if 100% of their output for the product goes to the applicant.

§3Benefits

  • Sales-linked incentive on four segments: RTC/RTE foods (incl. millets), processed fruits & vegetables, marine products, mozzarella cheese (rates in Appendix-C — see the guideline).
  • Branding & marketing abroad: 50% of expenditure, max 3% of sales of food products or ₹50 crore per year, whichever is less.

§4Norms — pattern of assistance

  1. Minimum branding spend ₹5 crore over five years (admissible grant then ₹2.5 crore).
  2. If committed investment is not met, 10% of incentive due for Year 1 and Year 2 is affected (FAQ).
  3. Eligibility under PLI does not affect other schemes.

§5Documents

Not published

The guideline does not list the documents. Ask the portal or bank before you apply — we do not make up lists.

§6How to apply

  1. 1

    No open window found. Claims via IFCI PLI-MoFPI portal for approved firms.

§7Pros and cons

Merits

  • Includes an SME track and a branding-abroad grant usable even if sales-growth test fails (FAQ Q).
  • PIB (Apr 2026): ₹9,207 crore invested vs ₹7,722 crore committed; millet product sales up from ₹345.73 crore to ₹1,845.25 crore.

Demerits

  • 10% yearly sales growth needed every year to claim (FAQ).
  • Scheme ends FY2026-27; no new round seen.
  • PLI pays only on incremental sales over a base year, so a new or small firm with no base-year sales or below the thresholds gets nothing (scheme design, PIB 2026).

→Related schemes

Need help with PLI Food Processing?

Eligibility check, DPR and application file — ask us on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp usServices

Our interestHelp is our paid service. You can also apply for the scheme yourself.

Sources

  1. PIB Cabinet, 11 Nov 2020: PLI for 10 key sectors (outlay table)
  2. PIB, 7 Apr 2026: PLI Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)
  3. MoFPI / IFCI: FAQs on PLIS-FPI Guidelines
  4. PLI MoFPI portal (IFCI)

Checked on 18 October 2026. For information only — confirm with the department or bank. Spotted a mistake? Report it.