Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

Year End Review: Department of Chemicals and

Petrochemicals

The Department of Chemical and Petrochemical gave special

emphasis to reduce reliance on imports, enhance infrastructure,
and improve the business environment

Posted On: 27 DEC 2023 2:09PM by PIB Delhi

The Chemical and Petrochemical Industry holds a pivotal position in our economy serving as a backbone
for numerous sectors. The Department of Chemical and Petrochemical has commendably taken steps to
reduce our reliance on imports, enhance infrastructure, and improve the business environment, a strong
focus on chemical sustainability into this narrative of growth. The main activities of the department this
year were as follows:

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals implements the New Scheme of Petrochemicals with
sub-schemes on (i) Scheme for setting up of Centres of Excellence; (ii) The Petrochemicals Research &
Innovation Commendation Scheme; and (iii) Scheme for setting up of Plastic Parks.

Under the Scheme of setting up Plastic Parks, the Department promotes setting up of need-based Plastic
Parks with requisite state-of-the-art infrastructure and enabling common facilities. The objective is to
consolidate and synergize the capacities of downstream plastic processing industry to help increase
investment, production and export in the sector as well as generate employment. 10 Plastic Parks have
been approved so far in different States and the same are at different levels of implementation.
With regard to Centres of Excellence (CoEs), the objective is to provide grant-in-aid to educational and research institutions to
improve existing technology and promote development of new applications of polymers and plastics. The emphasis of the
Scheme is on modernization and upgradation of existing manufacturing processes as well as improving the quality of products.
13 CoEs have been approved so far.

Under the Petrochemicals Research & Innovation Commendation (PRIC) Scheme, the Government felicitates meritorious
innovations and inventions in the field of petrochemicals, products, processes and other related areas. The Scheme seeks to
improve research and development in the petrochemical sector, leading to more efficient energy consumption, plastic waste
management, and development of new products.

(i) Creation of New Harmonised System (HS) Codes

For the chemicals sector, majority of imports is coming under ‘OTHERS’ Category which makes it
difficult to analyse the trade trend for individual commodities. To address this issue, DCPC has initiated
the exercise to identify the high import value chemicals under Chapters 29 & 38 and proposing dedicated
Harmonized System (HS) Codes for 28 pesticides products. The creation of new HS Codes helps in
developing trade intelligence in imports.

Based on the proposal of the Department, 14 new HS codes have been created for technical grade
pesticides along with their formulations. In total, 28 new HS Codes have been created.

(ii) Quality Control Orders (Qcos):

DCPC has initiated to make BIS Standards as mandatory for certain Chemicals, so that both domestic
manufacturers and overseas suppliers meet the BIS parameters to protect human, animal or plant health,
safety of the environment, prevention of unfair trade practices and national security, under Section 16 of
BIS Act, 2016. Department has notified 61 QCOs out of which 30 have been implemented. During the
2023, 12 QCOs have been implemented.

(iii) B20 International conference on ‘Chemicals and Petrochemicals: Sustainable transitions through
Green Technologies and digitalization’:
Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
organized the B20 International Conference on ‘Chemicals and Petrochemicals: Sustainable transitions
through Green Technologies and digitalization’ on 24.05.2023 at New Delhi. The event marked
participation of leading industry leader of chemical and petrochemical sector and about 520 delegates
from G20 countries.

(iv) Summit on Global Chemicals and petrochemicals Manufacturing Hub in India:

DCPC organised a two-day summit on Global Chemicals and petrochemicals Manufacturing Hub in
India” during 27-28 July, 2023 in New Delhi. The summit witnessed the participation of a total of 517
delegates from the industry including 56 delegates from abroad.

(v) Additional Qualifiers:

D/o Revenue issued Circular No. 15/2023-Customs making Mandatory additional qualifiers (IUPAC and
CAS No.) in import/export declarations in respect of Chemicals and petrochemicals. The same has been
implemented w.e.f. 01.10.2023.

(v) Foreign Direct Investment:

100% FDI is allowed under the automatic route for the chemicals sector and investor does not require any
special clearances except for a few hazardous chemicals.

Chemicals is in sixth position in terms of total FDI in India amounts to ~3% of total FDI equity inflows in
India, with highest recorded growth i.e. 91% over the FY 2021-22 among all the sectors.

Year FDI (in Rs. Cr.)

2020-21 6300

2021-22 7202

2022-23 14662

Source: DPIIT

1. Performance of HOCL
The sales turnover of HOCL for the period April – November 2023 has registered a growth of 23.79% over the same period last
year. The sales turnover for the period April – November 2023 is Rs.462.85 crore and the same for the period of April –
November, 2022 is Rs.373.91 crore.

i. Launching of New Website of the Department: Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals has
developed and launched a new Website https://chemicals.gov.in and issued instructions to keep the
website updated on a regular and continuous basis.

ii. Webinar
on Cyber Jagrookta Awareness and Interactive Session-cum-Training Programme by
I4C MHA: An interactive session-cum-training program was conducted by I4C, MHA in the
 Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals on 14.2.2023 to deal with the cybercrimes in a
coordinated and comprehensive manner. The officers of the Department and PSUs/ABs under its
administrative control participated in the programme with enthusiasm. One of the objectives of this
scheme was capacity building of Government Officials for Cyber Hygiene such as properly shutting
down the computer, changing passwords at regular intervals, being cautious against opening of
phishing websites along with other websites, precautions to be taken while handling social media
platforms and protections against data theft, etc, so as to prevent cybercrimes. A Webinar on Cyber
Security Hygiene was again organized in the Department by I4C MHA on 26.10.2023 also.

iii. Orientationprogram for Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals

by Karmayogi Bharat: An iGOT Orientation program of Department of Personnel and Training
was held for Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals by Karmayogi Bharat, to demonstrate
the iGOT Karmayogi portal, and assist in on-boarding Department's learners through the course of
the session.

All employees, at the level of ASO and above, of the Department attended the above
mentioned iGOT Orientation program. As per DOP&T's instructions on implementation of e-
HRMSv2, Deptt. Successfully on boarded on e-HRMSv2

iv. Setting
up of a Cyber Cell in the Department: A Cyber Cell has been set up in the Department of
Chemicals & Petrochemicals as a mechanism for 24x7 reporting of cyber incidents and respond to
cyber alerts, if any.

2. Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology IPFT

The Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology (IPFT), Gurugram is an autonomous institute under the
administrative control of the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals &
Fertilizers, Government of India (GoI). The Institute is engaged in the development of state-of-the-art user
and environment-friendly new generation pesticide formulation technologies, and has emerged as a
reputed institute in this sphere. The primary objectives of IPFT include developing new generation
pesticide formulation technologies, promoting efficient and new application technologies, disseminating
information regarding safe manufacturing practices, providing analytical and consultancy services, as well
as imparting specialized training for pesticide personnel.

Major Achievements

i. Grant-In-Aid Projects - the following projects were undertaken during 2023.

a. Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level, sponsored by the Department of

Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare,
Government of India
b. Development of safe and effective soluble concentrate formulation of Monocrotophos

ii. Research & Development

a. Combination formulation of insecticide and fungicide for seed treatment

The combination suspo-emulsion gel formulation has been optimized and developed for broad-
spectrum activity for seed treatment before sowing.

b. Development of Imidacloprid Nanosuspension Formulation with Oleoresin for enhanced

efficacy against whiteflies
 This formulation offers advantages such as reduced environmental impact and targeted pest control,
making it a promising method for more efficient and eco-friendly pest management in agriculture
and horticulture.

c. Development of soluble polymeric film for mosquito larvae control

The development of soluble polymeric films is in progress. These films are designed to be placed in
stagnant water bodies to prevent breeding of mosquito larvae. This approach is environment-
friendly, as it targets only the mosquito larvae without harming other organisms, and also offers
long-lasting larvicidal activity.

d. Development of bio-botanical pesticide formulation for controlling pests of seed spices

The work on formulation development for controlling pests of seed spices in collaboration with
ICAR-National Center for Seed Spice Research (NRCSS), Ajmer is in progress.

e. Evaluation of bio-efficacy, phyto-toxicity and effect of natural enemies of newer formulation

of Imidacloprid, Emamectin benzoate and Deltamethrin on okra crop.

iii. R&D support services to the agrochemical industry

a. Certificate of analysis and sample analysis reports

Pesticide formulation and R&D samples are received on a regular basis from various
industries for analysis and generation of CoA (Certificate of Analysis). Samples are also
received from various academic institutions, including from research students. During the
current financial year, more than 1000 such samples have been analysed.

b. Bio-efficacy field trials

Several industry-sponsored projects were undertaken at the IPFT Experimental Research Farm.
Some of the trials are ongoing while for others, reports have been completed and submitted to the
sponsoring companies.

iv. Awareness and extension activities

IPFT is making efforts for popularizing the use of locally available botanicals and biopesticides for
controlling different agricultural insects on Pan-India basis. Workshops are organized to impart training to
farmers for enhancing crop productivity through application of bio-botanical based products, which are
safe to use and provide pesticide residue-free food products. The bio-botanical zero-budgeting
formulations may be effectively applied for minimization of pesticide residue in crops.

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