New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS): The central government Friday proposed six new pharmaceutical educational and research institutes in the country, including in Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's constituency Rae Bareli, at an estimated cost of Rs.633.15 crore.

The decision taken at a cabinet meeting, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, decided to set up these National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Educational and Research (NIPERs) at Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Hajipur, Guwahati and Rae Bareli. These institutes are categorised as institutes of national importance.

The aim was to set up full-fledged campuses at these places for imparting higher post-graduation level education as well as to undertake research and developmental projects.

"This will help in meeting the requirement of highly skilled manpower of the pharmaceutical industry and focus on research and development," a statement issued here said.

The government had earlier set up an NIPER at Mohali under NIPER Act, 1998.

"However, in view of the increased requirement of highly skilled manpower for the pharmaceutical industry, the government in principle decided to set up six new NIPERs at Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Hajipur, Guwahati and Rae Bareli," it added.

The Indian pharma industry is currently worth $12 billion and the industry spends 18 percent of its revenue on research and development.