In the existing climate of global commercialisation, the battle to be the next big emerging market economy is fiercely contested. One of the front runners in this race is India. This feature discusses the various changes that are currently reshaping the internal workings of the Indian pharmaceutical industry. Along with an impressive portfolio of benefits to attract foreign pharmaceutical investment, the recent changes in patent law compliance should allow Indian pharma to attain far greater global penetration. With strategic changes in R&D expenditure and the potential for mass increases in clinical trial investment from other countries, Indian pharma is likely to play a key role in the future of global drug development and commercialisation.