UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 12 Years of Transformative Growth in Pharmaceuticals Sector Driving Affordable Healthcare and Atmanirbhar Bharat

Q1. Which one of the following is the nodal implementing agency of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)?

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

Q2. The Department of Pharmaceuticals, which administers the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), functions under which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • B. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers
  • C. Ministry of AYUSH
  • D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q3. Under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Promotion of Domestic Manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials, Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (the 'PLI Bulk Drugs' scheme) notified by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in 2020, financial incentives are linked to the domestic manufacture of how many identified critical products?

  • A. 25
  • B. 33
  • C. 41
  • D. 53

Q4. In the context of the Department of Pharmaceuticals' PLI Scheme for Bulk Drugs, the term 'Key Starting Material (KSM)' is most accurately defined as which one of the following?

  • A. A raw material, intermediate or an API that is used in the production of an API and is incorporated as a significant structural fragment into the structure of the API
  • B. An inert substance added to a formulation to give the active drug its required physical form, bulk or stability
  • C. A patented molecule whose patent is nearing expiry, manufactured domestically for export as a generic
  • D. A finished dosage form produced from imported active ingredients and packaged for retail sale through Jan Aushadhi Kendras

Q5. Under the Scheme for 'Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks' notified in 2020, what is the maximum Central financial assistance (in ₹ crore) admissible per Bulk Drug Park for creation of Common Infrastructure Facilities?

  • A. ₹500 crore
  • B. ₹1,000 crore
  • C. ₹1,500 crore
  • D. ₹3,000 crore

Q6. With reference to India's role as the 'Pharmacy of the World', which of the following are correctly identified as features of India's global pharmaceutical footprint?

  1. India is the largest provider of generic medicines in the world by share of global supply by volume.
  2. India accounts for about 60% of global vaccine production.
  3. India supplies nearly 40% of the generic medicine demand of the United States.
  4. India contributes about 90% of the WHO's demand for the BCG vaccine.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q7. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Promoting Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices in India is implemented by which of the following?

  • A. Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers
  • B. Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • C. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • D. Department of Heavy Industry under the Ministry of Heavy Industries

Q8. Consider the following States in which Bulk Drug Parks have been granted approval by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks: 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Gujarat 3. Himachal Pradesh 4. Madhya Pradesh Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. Andhra Pradesh
  2. Gujarat
  3. Himachal Pradesh
  4. Madhya Pradesh
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q9. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) as it stands in 2026 compared with its earlier phase, consider the following statements: 1. PMBJP is implemented by the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers. 2. The Government has set a target of operationalising 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras by 31 March 2025, up from fewer than 100 Kendras in 2014. 3. Jan Aushadhi Kendras opened in North-Eastern States, Himalayan areas and Island territories are eligible for an additional financial incentive over and above the normal assistance available to other Kendras. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. PMBJP is implemented by the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers.
  2. The Government has set a target of operationalising 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras by 31 March 2025, up from fewer than 100 Kendras in 2014.
  3. Jan Aushadhi Kendras opened in North-Eastern States, Himalayan areas and Island territories are eligible for an additional financial incentive over and above the normal assistance available to other Kendras.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Which one of the following statements best describes the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)?

  • A. An autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that grants marketing approval to new drugs and medical devices in India.
  • B. A regulator under the Department of Pharmaceuticals that fixes and revises ceiling prices of scheduled formulations under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
  • C. A statutory authority constituted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 that conducts risk-based inspections of pharmaceutical manufacturing units.
  • D. A central public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers that procures generic medicines for sale through Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

Q11. With reference to the regulatory architecture of the pharmaceuticals and medical devices sector in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whereas the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) functions under the Department of Pharmaceuticals. 2. While CDSCO regulates the approval, safety and quality of drugs and medical devices under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the NPPA fixes ceiling prices of scheduled formulations under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. 3. Both CDSCO and NPPA were constituted as statutory bodies under the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whereas the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) functions under the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
  2. While CDSCO regulates the approval, safety and quality of drugs and medical devices under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the NPPA fixes ceiling prices of scheduled formulations under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
  3. Both CDSCO and NPPA were constituted as statutory bodies under the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3
  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

  • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore