Definitions under Pharmacy Act 1948 MCQs With Answer
The Pharmacy Act, 1948 defines key terms and responsibilities essential for safe pharmaceutical practice. This introduction clarifies core definitions B.Pharm students must master: who qualifies as a pharmacist, what constitutes a pharmacy, the legal meaning of drug, manufacture, sale and dispensing, and the roles of State Pharmacy Councils and the Pharmacy Council of India. Understanding these statutory definitions helps you apply law to professional duties like record-keeping, supervision, labeling and patient counselling. These MCQs focus on precise legal language, practical implications and common exam scenarios to strengthen your grasp of Indian pharmacy law. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the most accurate definition of a “pharmacist” under the Pharmacy Act, 1948?
- A person selling drugs in a shop
- An individual registered with the State Pharmacy Council to practise pharmacy
- A medical practitioner prescribing medicines
- A manufacturing chemist in an industry
Correct Answer: An individual registered with the State Pharmacy Council to practise pharmacy
Q2. The Pharmacy Act, 1948 was primarily enacted to regulate which of the following?
- The manufacture of medical devices only
- The profession and practice of pharmacy in India
- Import and export tariffs on drugs
- The practice of medicine by physicians
Correct Answer: The profession and practice of pharmacy in India
Q3. Which body is responsible for maintaining the register of pharmacists in a state as per the Act?
- Pharmacy Council of India
- State Health Department
- State Pharmacy Council
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Council
Q4. Which qualification is generally acceptable for registration as a pharmacist under the Act?
- Any graduate degree in science
- A diploma or degree in pharmacy from a recognised institution
- A medical degree (MBBS)
- A nursing diploma
Correct Answer: A diploma or degree in pharmacy from a recognised institution
Q5. How does the Pharmacy Act define a “pharmacy” in practical terms?
- A place where only surgical procedures are performed
- Premises where drugs are compounded, dispensed or sold and a registered pharmacist is in charge
- Any retail shop selling household goods
- A government hospital ward
Correct Answer: Premises where drugs are compounded, dispensed or sold and a registered pharmacist is in charge
Q6. Who is legally permitted to sell drugs by retail according to the Act?
- Anyone above 18 years
- A person registered as a pharmacist or operating under the supervision of a registered pharmacist
- Only medical doctors
- Only pharmaceutical manufacturers
Correct Answer: A person registered as a pharmacist or operating under the supervision of a registered pharmacist
Q7. The legal meaning of “manufacture” under the Act most closely includes which activity?
- Only clinical trials of drugs
- Processing, packaging, labeling or preparing drugs for sale
- Only research use in laboratories
- Only retail sale operations
Correct Answer: Processing, packaging, labeling or preparing drugs for sale
Q8. Who issues the Certificate of Registration to a pharmacist?
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
- State Pharmacy Council
- Medical Council of India
- Local municipal corporation
Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Council
Q9. Which of the following is a core duty of a pharmacist in charge under the Act?
- Performing complex surgical procedures
- Maintaining registers and supervising dispensing of medicines
- Issuing medical degrees
- Procuring drugs without record-keeping
Correct Answer: Maintaining registers and supervising dispensing of medicines
Q10. The term “sale” in the context of the Pharmacy Act includes which of the following?
- Only free distribution of samples
- Sale, distribution or supply of drugs by any means
- Only wholesale transactions between manufacturers
- Only online advertisements of drugs
Correct Answer: Sale, distribution or supply of drugs by any means
Q11. Which organisation was established under the Pharmacy Act to set standards for pharmacy education and practice at the national level?
- Indian Medical Association
- Pharmacy Council of India
- National Accreditation Board for Hospitals
- Central Drugs Laboratory
Correct Answer: Pharmacy Council of India
Q12. The register of pharmacists normally contains which of the following details?
- Only the pharmacist’s photograph
- Name, qualification, address and registration number of the pharmacist
- Confidential patient dispensing records
Correct Answer: Name, qualification, address and registration number of the pharmacist
Q13. Under the Act, the “practice of pharmacy” includes which activities?
- Dispensing medicines, compounding, and providing pharmaceutical care
- Performing radiology tests
- Conducting general surgery
- Only clerical billing work
Correct Answer: Dispensing medicines, compounding, and providing pharmaceutical care
Q14. Which of the following best describes a “registered pharmacist”?
- An individual who has applied for registration but not yet approved
- A pharmacist whose name is entered on the State register maintained under the Act
- A person employed in a pharmaceutical company irrespective of qualification
- A medical student intern
Correct Answer: A pharmacist whose name is entered on the State register maintained under the Act
Q15. The Pharmacy Act applies to which geographical area?
- Only metropolitan cities in India
- Whole of India
- Only rural health centres
- Only Union Territories
Correct Answer: Whole of India
Q16. Which item is generally NOT included in the statutory definition of “drug” under related drug laws and the spirit of the Pharmacy Act?
- Pharmaceutical preparations
- Biological products
- Medical devices
- Everyday ordinary foods meant as dietitians’ products
Correct Answer: Everyday ordinary foods meant as dietitians’ products
Q17. Registration with the State Pharmacy Council is required for which activity?
- Practising as a registered pharmacist and supervising pharmacy operations
- Only working as a salesperson in a medical store
- Only doing pharmaceutical research in a company
- Only importing medical equipment
Correct Answer: Practising as a registered pharmacist and supervising pharmacy operations
Q18. If a person practises pharmacy without registration, the Act provides that such behaviour is:
- Encouraged and rewarded
- Permitted for first-time offenders
- Punishable under the Act
- Not mentioned anywhere
Correct Answer: Punishable under the Act
Q19. The Pharmacy Act requires which of the following for safe dispensing and sale of prescription medicines?
- Presence of a registered pharmacist at pharmacy premises
- Only a cash counter without professional supervision
- Sale by non-qualified staff is preferred
- No record-keeping requirements
Correct Answer: Presence of a registered pharmacist at pharmacy premises
Q20. Which document is commonly used to legally validate the supply of scheduled medicines to a patient?
- Prescription signed by a registered medical practitioner
- Receipt of cash only
- Any handwritten note without signature
- An advertisement leaflet
Correct Answer: Prescription signed by a registered medical practitioner
Q21. Under the Act, who ordinarily has the authority to recognize qualifications for registration as pharmacist?
- Local municipal authority
- State Pharmacy Council or Pharmacy Council of India as per rules
- Private employers
- Pharmaceutical companies
Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Council or Pharmacy Council of India as per rules
Q22. The duties of a registered pharmacist in a retail pharmacy generally include all EXCEPT:
- Ensuring correct dispensing and labeling
- Providing patient counselling on medicine use
- Issuing licences to other pharmacists
- Maintaining statutory records
Correct Answer: Issuing licences to other pharmacists
Q23. Which of the following is a function of the Pharmacy Council of India related to definitions and standards?
- Setting national standards for pharmacy education and practice
- Running day-to-day retail pharmacies
- Manufacturing medicines for sale
- Issuing medical licenses to doctors
Correct Answer: Setting national standards for pharmacy education and practice
Q24. A register entry for a pharmacist typically contains which legal identifier?
- Registration number
- Taxpayer identification only
- Only the pharmacist’s social media handle
- Insurance policy number
Correct Answer: Registration number
Q25. Which practice is explicitly supported by the definitions in the Pharmacy Act to improve patient safety?
- Unsupervised sale of controlled medicines
- Dispensing only after professional verification by a pharmacist
- Allowing anyone to compound and sell prescription drugs
- Removing records of dispensed medicines
Correct Answer: Dispensing only after professional verification by a pharmacist
Q26. The legal concept of “dispensing” under pharmacy practice generally includes:
- Interpreting prescriptions, selecting and labeling drugs and providing instructions to patients
- Only counting tablets without any checks
- Solely manufacturing bulk drug substances
- Only selling over-the-counter cosmetics
Correct Answer: Interpreting prescriptions, selecting and labeling drugs and providing instructions to patients
Q27. Which of the following is a responsibility of State Pharmacy Councils under the Act?
- Maintaining the state register of pharmacists and handling disciplinary matters
- Manufacturing vaccines
- Issuing medical degrees to doctors
- Operating hospitals directly
Correct Answer: Maintaining the state register of pharmacists and handling disciplinary matters
Q28. According to the definitions, labeling of medicines legally requires inclusion of which information?
- Name of the drug, strength, manufacturer’s details and usage instructions where applicable
- Only a decorative logo
- Irrelevant promotional slogans
- Only the expiry date without drug name
Correct Answer: Name of the drug, strength, manufacturer’s details and usage instructions where applicable
Q29. In the context of the Act, “temporary registration” or similar provisions are intended to:
- Allow qualified persons to practise while awaiting final registration under specified conditions
- Grant lifelong licences without verification
- Permit anyone to practise without qualification
- Remove all regulatory oversight permanently
Correct Answer: Allow qualified persons to practise while awaiting final registration under specified conditions
Q30. Why is precise knowledge of statutory definitions under the Pharmacy Act important for B.Pharm graduates?
- It helps in complying with legal obligations, ensuring patient safety and guiding professional conduct
- It is irrelevant to daily pharmacy practice
- It allows pharmacists to bypass regulations
- It only matters for marketing medicines
Correct Answer: It helps in complying with legal obligations, ensuring patient safety and guiding professional conduct
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com