Pharmacy Act, 1948 – provisions and implications MCQs With Answer

Pharmacy Act, 1948 – provisions and implications MCQs With Answer

This short quiz set is designed for M.Pharm students to strengthen understanding of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 — its provisions, regulatory bodies, educational implications and professional responsibilities. The questions cover establishment and functions of the Pharmacy Council of India and State Pharmacy Councils, registration and temporary enrollment of pharmacists, standards of education and training, professional conduct, disciplinary powers, and practical implications for practice and pharmacy management. These MCQs emphasize application and interpretation of the Act in real-world academic and professional scenarios, helping postgraduate students prepare for examinations and regulatory compliance in India.

Q1. What is the primary purpose of the Pharmacy Act, 1948?

• To regulate the manufacture and sale of all drugs in India
• To control prices of medicines across India
• To regulate the profession and practice of pharmacy and to prescribe standards of pharmacy education
• To license pharmaceutical manufacturing plants only

Correct Answer: To regulate the profession and practice of pharmacy and to prescribe standards of pharmacy education

Q2. Which statutory body was established under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 at the national level?

• Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
• Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)
• National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
• Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)

Correct Answer: Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)

Q3. Who is primarily responsible for maintaining the register of pharmacists?

• Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)
• State Pharmacy Council
• Central Government, Ministry of Health
• District Drug Inspector

Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Council

Q4. Which of the following qualifications is recognized for registration as a pharmacist under the Act?

• Certificate in first aid with two years’ experience
• Degree or diploma in pharmacy from an institution recognized by the Pharmacy Council of India
• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences without pharmacy specialisation
• Medical degree (MBBS) automatically registers as pharmacist

Correct Answer: Degree or diploma in pharmacy from an institution recognized by the Pharmacy Council of India

Q5. What is the purpose of temporary registration granted under the Pharmacy Act?

• To allow foreign pharmacists to practice permanently in India
• To permit students undergoing practical training or internship to practice under supervision
• To license pharmacy shops in rural areas without a pharmacist
• To exempt retired pharmacists from renewal fees

Correct Answer: To permit students undergoing practical training or internship to practice under supervision

Q6. Which body has the power to remove a pharmacist’s name from the register for professional misconduct?

• Pharmacy Council of India only
• State Pharmacy Council after inquiry
• District Court directly without inquiry
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare directly

Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Council after inquiry

Q7. One of the key functions of the Pharmacy Council of India is:

• To set medicine pricing across India
• To prescribe minimum standards of education and training for pharmacists
• To license hospitals to dispense medicines
• To regulate veterinary drug practice only

Correct Answer: To prescribe minimum standards of education and training for pharmacists

Q8. According to the Act, who is legally entitled to use the title “Pharmacist”?

• Anyone employed in a pharmacy shop
• Only those enrolled in the register of pharmacists maintained by a State Pharmacy Council
• Anyone with a healthcare degree
• Only pharmacists employed in government hospitals

Correct Answer: Only those enrolled in the register of pharmacists maintained by a State Pharmacy Council

Q9. Which authority typically conducts inquiries into allegations of professional misconduct against a registered pharmacist?

• Local police station
• State Pharmacy Council’s disciplinary committee
• Pharmacy College where the pharmacist studied
• Pharmaceutical industry association

Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Council’s disciplinary committee

Q10. If a person practices as a pharmacist using forged registration documents, the likely outcomes include:

• No action unless a complaint is filed by a patient
• Removal from the register, legal penalties and possible prosecution
• Only a warning letter from the Pharmacy Council of India
• Automatic conversion to temporary registration

Correct Answer: Removal from the register, legal penalties and possible prosecution

Q11. Which body is primarily responsible for recognizing and approving institutions for pharmacy education?

• Medical Council of India (MCI)
• Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)
• State Drug Testing Laboratory
• National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH)

Correct Answer: Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)

Q12. Under the Pharmacy Act, what is the legal implication if someone falsely claims to be a registered pharmacist?

• There is no specific consequence under the Act
• The person may face disciplinary action, removal from register and penal consequences under relevant laws
• The person is given a grace period to obtain registration
• The claim is treated as a civil matter only

Correct Answer: The person may face disciplinary action, removal from register and penal consequences under relevant laws

Q13. One major implication of the Pharmacy Act for patient safety is:

• It guarantees free medicines to certain patient groups
• It ensures only qualified and registered persons dispense medicines, improving drug use safety
• It regulates hospital bed occupancy limits
• It mandates manufacturers to provide patient counseling directly

Correct Answer: It ensures only qualified and registered persons dispense medicines, improving drug use safety

Q14. Does the Pharmacy Act, 1948 directly regulate the content and sale of herbal medicines and traditional formulations?

• Yes, it directly controls all herbal formulations
• No, herbal and AYUSH products are primarily regulated under separate statutes and rules
• Yes, but only when sold in urban areas
• No, herbal products are completely unregulated in India

Correct Answer: No, herbal and AYUSH products are primarily regulated under separate statutes and rules

Q15. Who frames the standards of professional conduct, etiquette and ethics for pharmacists as envisaged in the Act?

• State Pharmacy Council only
• Pharmacy Council of India, subject to State adoption and enforcement
• Local municipal authority
• Central Bureau of Health Intelligence

Correct Answer: Pharmacy Council of India, subject to State adoption and enforcement

Q16. A pharmacist registered in State A wants to practice in State B. According to the Act, the pharmacist must:

• Automatically practice without any formalities
• Register with the State Pharmacy Council of State B or obtain consent as required by relevant rules
• Obtain explicit permission from the Pharmacy Council of India only
• File a police clearance certificate only

Correct Answer: Register with the State Pharmacy Council of State B or obtain consent as required by relevant rules

Q17. The composition of the Pharmacy Council of India generally includes representatives from which groups?

• Only members of Parliament and the judiciary
• Central and State Government nominees, representatives of universities, pharmacy professionals and educationalists
• Only pharmaceutical industry executives
• Only students and interns from pharmacy colleges

Correct Answer: Central and State Government nominees, representatives of universities, pharmacy professionals and educationalists

Q18. How does the Pharmacy Act influence pharmacy education curriculum and practical training?

• It directly prescribes textbooks but not practical training
• It provides a framework for minimum standards, course duration and mandatory practical training requirements to be followed by institutions
• It mandates every pharmacist to study medicine (MBBS) as well
• It does not address education or training at all

Correct Answer: It provides a framework for minimum standards, course duration and mandatory practical training requirements to be followed by institutions

Q19. What specific register-related information is typically recorded by a State Pharmacy Council?

• Only the name of the pharmacist
• Name, qualification, registration number, date of registration and address of the pharmacist
• Only the current employer’s name
• Only the pharmacist’s photograph and signature

Correct Answer: Name, qualification, registration number, date of registration and address of the pharmacist

Q20. Who is legally qualified to be in charge of a retail pharmacy premises as per the Act’s implications?

• Any employee appointed by the owner regardless of qualification
• A registered pharmacist enrolled with the State Pharmacy Council
• A doctor on part-time basis
• A salesperson with one year experience

Correct Answer: A registered pharmacist enrolled with the State Pharmacy Council

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