Govt weighs ₹9,000 cr scheme for battery parts

The Centre may roll out a ₹9,000 crore scheme to support the manufacturing of components for batteries that power electric cars and back up clean energy systems, two people aware of the discussions said.

- Rituraj Baruah & Manas Pimpalkhare

The Union heavy industries ministry, which discussed the plan with industry executives at a meeting in the first week of November, will take up the matter with other ministries next, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity.

"These are initial talks underway now. A stakeholder consultation was held recently. The consideration is for incentives of about ₹9,000 crore. Inter-ministerial consultations are likely to be held going ahead," one of the two people mentioned above said.

Manufacturing of electrodes—battery components that carry electricity—is capital-intensive, the person said, adding local manufacturing requires research and development.