Foundation laid for ₹600-crore antibiotic intermediate plant in Kathua, J&K
Union Minister Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone of Orchid Pharma's pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Gadadhar village in Kathua, J&K, on 14 March 2026 to make the antibiotic intermediate Amino Cephalosporanic Acid.
Summary
Union Minister Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone of a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Gadadhar village in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir, on 14 March 2026. The plant, with investment of about ₹600–700 crore, is being set up by Orchid Pharma under the Production Linked Incentive scheme with facilitation from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) of the Department of Biotechnology. It will make Amino Cephalosporanic Acid (ACA), a key intermediate for cephalosporin antibiotics that India currently imports almost entirely from China. The facility is expected to provide direct jobs to nearly 400 people.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 14 March 2026, Gadadhar village, Kathua
- Company
- Orchid Pharma
- Investment
- About ₹600–700 crore, under PLI scheme
- Facilitator
- BIRAC (Department of Biotechnology)
- Product
- Amino Cephalosporanic Acid (ACA) for cephalosporin antibiotics
- Jobs
- Nearly 400 direct
Practice MCQs 1 questions
The pharmaceutical facility whose foundation was laid in Kathua, J&K, on 14 March 2026 will manufacture which key antibiotic intermediate?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Amino Cephalosporanic Acid
Orchid Pharma's Kathua plant will make Amino Cephalosporanic Acid (ACA), a key intermediate for cephalosporin antibiotics that India mostly imports from China.