The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) is a scheme or initiative of the Government of India, not an Act or institution, that serves as a comprehensive roadmap for infrastructure investment across the country. It was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech in August 2019. The NIP was created to address India's infrastructure deficit, drive economic growth, and help achieve the target of a $5 trillion economy by 2025. The problem it solved was the lack of a coordinated, long-term, and transparent pipeline of viable infrastructure projects for both domestic and foreign investors.
The mechanism of the NIP is based on a projected investment of ₹111 lakh crore over the five-year period from FY 2020-2025. This massive capital outlay is planned to be shared among the Centre (39%), States (40%), and the private sector (21%). A High-Level Task Force, headed by the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of Finance, submitted its final report in May 2020, detailing the blueprint for implementation. The NIP covers both social and economic infrastructure projects, including greenfield (new) and brownfield (existing) projects, with energy, roads, railways, and urban projects accounting for the bulk of the investment.
The NIP is closely connected to the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), which was launched in 2021 to complement the NIP by generating funds through the monetisation of existing public assets for reinvestment into new projects. It is also integrated with the PM Gati Shakti Master Plan, a digital platform for integrated planning and coordinated execution of infrastructure projects. The NIP is a dynamic pipeline, with projects over ₹100 crore being added, amended, or deleted by Central Ministries and State Governments. While the initial NIP cycle concludes in March 2025, the concept remains, with a refreshed NIP expected to feature new aspirations and projects.