New Delhi, Dec. 19 -- India has revised rules for opening retail outlets under a government scheme to sell high-quality generic drugs at affordable prices, mandating a minimum distance of 500 meters between stores in major urban areas, according to two officials and a document reviewed by Mint.

This decision replaces the guidelines issued in September, and seeks to balance the scheme's rapid expansion with the financial health of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras.

Officials familiar with the development said that the previous push to reach the ambitious target of 25,000 Kendras by March 2027 led to a "zero-distance" policy. However, this reportedly caused new shops to open too close to existing ones, hurting their earnings. ...