PLI scheme for white goods: Govt reopens application window for ACs, LED lights from Sept 15-Oct 14

The government will reopen the application window for the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for white goods, including air conditioners (ACs) and LED lights, for 30 days from September 15 to October 14, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a release today.

The decision to reopen applications comes in response to the industry’s strong appetite for additional investments under the scheme, driven by growing market demand and increased confidence in domestic manufacturing of key AC and LED components, the release noted.

“The application window for the PLI Scheme for White Goods (ACs and LED Lights) is being reopened based on the appetite of the industry to invest more under the Scheme, which is an outcome of the growing market and confidence generated due to manufacturing of key components of ACs and LED Lights in India under the PLIWG Scheme,” the ministry said.

The scheme will remain open on the same online portal (pliwg.dpiit.gov.in) and under the same terms and conditions as notified in April 2021, along with subsequent amendments. No applications will be accepted after October 14, as per the release.

“The application window is being opened on the same terms & conditions stipulated in PLIWG Scheme notified on 16.04.2021 and PLIWG Scheme Guidelines issued on 04.06.2021, as amended from time to time,” the release noted.

Both new applicants and existing beneficiaries looking to step up investments or switch to higher target segments will be eligible to apply, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and adhering to investment schedules outlined in the scheme guidelines.

“In order to avoid any discrimination, both new applicants as well as existing beneficiaries of PLIWG who propose to invest more by way of switching over to higher target segment or their group companies applying under different target segment would be eligible to apply subject to fulfilling the eligibility conditions as mentioned in the Para 5.6 of the Scheme Guidelines and adhering to investment schedule as mentioned in Appendix-1 or Appendix-1A of the Scheme Guidelines, as applicable,” the release highlighted.

As per the norms, applicants will only be eligible for incentives for the remainder of the scheme’s tenure. Under the proposed fourth round, new applicants and existing beneficiaries opting for GP-2 (i.e., up to March 2023) and seeking to move to a higher investment category would be eligible for PLI for a maximum of two years. Beneficiaries under GP-1 (i.e., up to March 2022) moving to a higher investment category would be eligible for PLI for one year only. Existing beneficiaries who opt for this change but are unable to achieve the threshold investment or sales in a given year will still be eligible to submit claims as per their original investment plan. However, this flexibility will be provided only once during the scheme period, it said.

So far, 83 applicants with committed investments worth ₹10,406 crore have been selected as beneficiaries. “The investments will lead to manufacturing of components of Air Conditioners and LED Lights across the complete value chain including components which are not manufactured in India presently with sufficient quantity.”

The PLI scheme for white goods was approved by the Union Cabinet in April 2021 as part of the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative for manufacture of components and sub-assemblies of ACs and LED lights. The scheme is to be implemented over seven years from FY22 to FY29, with a total outlay of ₹6,238 crore, to strengthen local manufacturing, reduce imports, and create jobs.