India Chem 2026 has been formally launched, with Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel setting a vision of a USD 1 trillion chemical sector by 2040. The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, in partnership with FICCI, launched the 14th edition of the biennial event in New Delhi on October 5, 2026, according to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release.
The event itself will run from October 22 to 24, 2026 in Mumbai under the theme “Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Hub”. At the launch, Patel said the chemicals and petrochemicals sector has the potential to become an important growth engine of the economy and called for aligning national initiatives so that India becomes a global hub for battery, specialty and semiconductor chemicals by 2040.
What Did the Minister Announce at the India Chem 2026 Launch?
Three themes stood out in the PIB release. First, the guidelines for the BHAVYA Rasayan Scheme have been released. The scheme creates dedicated chemical parks with plug-and-play infrastructure intended to reduce production costs for manufacturers. Second, the government is pursuing the declaration of chemicals as a priority sector under the new Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, which has an outlay of ₹1 lakh crore. Third, the stated target is to build the Indian chemical sector into a USD 1 trillion industry by 2040.
What Will Happen at India Chem 2026 in Mumbai?
The PIB release lists an international exhibition and conference, sector-specific conclaves covering agrochemicals, petrochemicals and specialty chemicals, and region-specific forums for India-US, India-EU, India-Russia and India-Japan engagement. Earlier event information published by Indian Chemical News in February 2026 also mentioned a Global CEOs roundtable and a ministerial plenary, and put the sector’s current value at $220 billion.
Why Does the USD 1 Trillion Chemical Target Matter for Indian Industry?
Chemicals feed paints and coatings, plastics, rubber, textiles and printing inks, so changes in domestic capacity and costs reach every one of those downstream industries. Chemical parks with shared, ready infrastructure aim to lower the cost of setting up and running plants, which is a long-standing concern for Indian manufacturers competing with imports. Priority status under the RDI Scheme could, if granted, open access to research funding for chemical companies, although the release does not say when a decision will come.
Market Reaction and Industry Response
We did not find stock market reactions or separate statements from trade bodies on the launch at the time of writing. FICCI, as the event’s partner, is expected to share details of participating companies and sessions closer to the event dates.
What Happens Next?
The next milestone is the event itself on October 22 to 24 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. Industry watchers will look for further detail on how BHAVYA Rasayan parks will be allocated, whether chemicals receive priority status under the RDI Scheme, and which international delegations commit to the country forums.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is India Chem 2026?
India Chem 2026 is scheduled for October 22 to 24, 2026 in Mumbai. The 14th edition was launched in New Delhi on October 5, 2026.
What is the BHAVYA Rasayan Scheme?
It is a scheme to create dedicated chemical parks with plug-and-play infrastructure to reduce production costs. Guidelines for the scheme were released at the India Chem 2026 launch.
What is India’s chemical industry target for 2040?
The government’s stated vision is a USD 1 trillion Indian chemical sector by 2040, with India positioned as a global hub for battery, specialty and semiconductor chemicals.
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