UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Implementation of PMBJP

Q1. The Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the agency implementing the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, functions as an autonomous society under how many Departments of the Government of India?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q2. In the context of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, the abbreviation 'PMBI' precisely stands for which one of the following?

  • A. Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India
  • B. Public Medicine and Biosimilars Institute of India
  • C. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Board of India
  • D. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Branding Initiative of India

Q3. The scheme was originally launched as the Jan Aushadhi Campaign in November 2008 and was relaunched and renamed as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana in November 2016. How many years separated these two events?

  • A. 6 years
  • B. 8 years
  • C. 10 years
  • D. 12 years

Q4. With reference to the evolution and administrative structure of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), consider the following statements: 1. The scheme was originally launched in 2008 as the Jan Aushadhi Campaign. 2. It was relaunched and renamed as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana in November 2016. 3. The scheme is implemented directly by the Department of Pharmaceuticals through its own field offices. 4. The parent ministry of the scheme is the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The scheme was originally launched in 2008 as the Jan Aushadhi Campaign.
  2. It was relaunched and renamed as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana in November 2016.
  3. The scheme is implemented directly by the Department of Pharmaceuticals through its own field offices.
  4. The parent ministry of the scheme is the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q5. Within the framework of the PMBJP, the term 'Jan Aushadhi Kendra' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A dedicated retail outlet that sells quality generic medicines and consumables at affordable prices
  • B. A government hospital pharmacy that dispenses free medicines to below-poverty-line patients
  • C. A NABL-accredited laboratory that tests every batch of generic medicine before sale
  • D. A public-sector unit that manufactures the generic medicines stocked under the scheme

Q6. With reference to the coverage and targets of Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) under PMBJP, consider the following statements: 1. As on 31 December 2025, 17,990 JAKs were operational. 2. The target is to open 25,000 JAKs by March 2027. 3. As on 30 June 2025, 16,912 JAKs had been opened. 4. As on 28 February 2025, more than 20,000 JAKs were operational. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. As on 31 December 2025, 17,990 JAKs were operational.
  2. The target is to open 25,000 JAKs by March 2027.
  3. As on 30 June 2025, 16,912 JAKs had been opened.
  4. As on 28 February 2025, more than 20,000 JAKs were operational.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. The procurement of the product basket and the quality assurance of generic medicines supplied to Jan Aushadhi Kendras is operationalised by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI)
  • B. National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
  • C. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
  • D. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Q8. Comparing Jan Aushadhi generic medicines with their branded market equivalents, consider the following statements: 1. Medicines available under PMBJP are generally priced 50–80% lower than comparable branded medicines. 2. Medicines under PMBJP are procured exclusively from manufacturers compliant with WHO Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP). 3. The PMBJP product basket consists solely of medicines and contains no surgical or consumable items. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Medicines available under PMBJP are generally priced 50–80% lower than comparable branded medicines.
  2. Medicines under PMBJP are procured exclusively from manufacturers compliant with WHO Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP).
  3. The PMBJP product basket consists solely of medicines and contains no surgical or consumable items.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. With reference to the sales milestones of the PMBJP, consider the following statements: 1. PMBJP crossed ₹1,000 crore in annual sales for the first time in FY 2023-24. 2. In FY 2024-25, the ₹1,000 crore sales mark was crossed by 20 October 2024, about two months earlier than in the previous year. 3. In September 2024, monthly sales of ₹200 crore were achieved. 4. PMBI crossed ₹100 crore in monthly sales for the first time in May 2023. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. PMBJP crossed ₹1,000 crore in annual sales for the first time in FY 2023-24.
  2. In FY 2024-25, the ₹1,000 crore sales mark was crossed by 20 October 2024, about two months earlier than in the previous year.
  3. In September 2024, monthly sales of ₹200 crore were achieved.
  4. PMBI crossed ₹100 crore in monthly sales for the first time in May 2023.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q10. Under the stocking incentive introduced in September 2024, Jan Aushadhi Kendras are encouraged to keep a curated basket of 200 high-demand medicines. Which one of the following forms the first component of 100 items in this basket?

  • A. The 100 top-selling medicines under the scheme
  • B. The 100 cheapest medicines in the product basket
  • C. The 100 most recently added medicines in the product basket
  • D. The 100 medicines listed in the National List of Essential Medicines

Q11. PMBJP is frequently justified as a means to reduce 'Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE)' on health. In this context, OOPE most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Direct payments made by households at the point of receiving health services, net of any reimbursement
  • B. The total budgetary allocation made by the central government for public health programmes
  • C. Premiums paid by households to private and government health insurance schemes
  • D. The share of a state's own tax revenue spent on the health sector

Q12. Comparing the normal incentive with the special-category incentive available for opening Jan Aushadhi Kendras, consider the following statements: 1. PMBJKs are eligible for incentives of up to ₹5 lakh. 2. Women entrepreneurs, Divyang, SC and ST applicants and those opening kendras in aspirational districts or North-Eastern, Himalayan and Island areas receive an additional incentive of ₹2 lakh over the normal incentive. 3. A person holding a B.Pharma or D.Pharma qualification is not required for opening a Jan Aushadhi Kendra. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. PMBJKs are eligible for incentives of up to ₹5 lakh.
  2. Women entrepreneurs, Divyang, SC and ST applicants and those opening kendras in aspirational districts or North-Eastern, Himalayan and Island areas receive an additional incentive of ₹2 lakh over the normal incentive.
  3. A person holding a B.Pharma or D.Pharma qualification is not required for opening a Jan Aushadhi Kendra.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3