UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Health Minister Shri J. P. Nadda Releases 10th Edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia

Q1. With reference to the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), consider the following statements:

  1. The IPC became fully operational on 1st January 2009 as an autonomous body fully financed by the Central Government under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  2. Standards for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathic drugs are notified by a separate body under the Ministry of AYUSH and not by the IPC at Ghaziabad.
  3. The IPC is chaired ex-officio by the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. With reference to the statutory backing of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Indian Pharmacopoeia is published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to fulfil the requirements of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
  2. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission is a statutory body created directly by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
  3. Standards of identity, purity and strength prescribed in the Indian Pharmacopoeia are authoritative and legally enforceable in India.
  4. Monographs for blood and blood components were first introduced in the Indian Pharmacopoeia framework under the Drugs and Cosmetics (Second Amendment) Rules, 2020.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3
  • D. 2 and 4

Q3. How many new monographs have been added in the 10th edition (IP 2026) of the Indian Pharmacopoeia released in January 2026?

  • A. 89
  • B. 121
  • C. 170
  • D. 220

Q4. In the context of global drug standards, the 'Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG)', which the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission joined in October 2023, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A World Trade Organization (WTO) committee that negotiates tariff concessions on pharmaceutical exports among member states
  • B. A forum of national pharmacopoeial authorities that works to harmonise monographs and general chapters for pharmaceutical excipients and methods
  • C. A World Health Organization (WHO) statutory body that issues binding prequalification certificates for generic medicines
  • D. An International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) working group that drafts good manufacturing practice (GMP) guidelines for active pharmaceutical ingredients

Q5. As per the release of the 10th edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP 2026), in how many countries of the Global South is the Indian Pharmacopoeia officially recognised?

  • A. 9
  • B. 14
  • C. 19
  • D. 24

Q6. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), Ghaziabad, which serves as the National Coordination Centre for the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), functions as an autonomous institution under which one of the following Union Ministries/Departments?

  • A. Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
  • B. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • C. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Department of Health Research, Ministry of Science and Technology