Development of pharmacy in India MCQs With Answer

Introduction

The development of pharmacy in India spans historic reforms, modern regulations, and evolving professional roles. From Prof. M. L. Schroff’s pioneering pharmacy education at BHU (1932) to the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, India built strong regulatory pillars. Key institutions like the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), CDSCO with the DCGI, and the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) drive standards, approvals, and pharmacopoeial quality. Essential milestones include Schedule M (GMP), Schedule H/X/Y, New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, DPCO via NPPA, and PvPI for patient safety. Initiatives such as Pharm D (2008), PPR 2015, and Jan Aushadhi advanced practice and access. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Who is widely regarded as the “Father of Pharmacy Education” in India?

• Prof. M. L. Schroff
• Acharya P. C. Ray
• Dr. B. C. Roy
• Jaisukhlal Hathi

Correct Answer: Prof. M. L. Schroff

Q2. In which year did systematic pharmacy education start in India at Banaras Hindu University (BHU)?

• 1930
• 1932
• 1940
• 1948

Correct Answer: 1932

Q3. Which law principally regulates pharmacy education and the profession of pharmacists in India?

• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
• Pharmacy Act, 1948
• NDPS Act, 1985
• Drug Prices Control Order, 2013

Correct Answer: Pharmacy Act, 1948

Q4. The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) was constituted in which year?

• 1940
• 1945
• 1949
• 1955

Correct Answer: 1949

Q5. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act (initially the Drugs Act) was enacted in which year?

• 1935
• 1940
• 1945
• 1950

Correct Answer: 1940

Q6. In which year was “Cosmetics” added, renaming the Drugs Act to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act?

• 1955
• 1960
• 1962
• 1964

Correct Answer: 1962

Q7. The inclusion of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani (ASU) drug provisions in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act occurred in:

• 1954
• 1964
• 1975
• 1985

Correct Answer: 1964

Q8. Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules primarily deals with:

• Labeling requirements for prescription drugs
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for pharmaceuticals
• Clinical trial requirements
• Pharmacy premises requirements

Correct Answer: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for pharmaceuticals

Q9. Schedule H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules lists:

• Over-the-counter drugs
• Prescription-only drugs to be sold on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner
• Controlled substances for export
• Veterinary-only medicines

Correct Answer: Prescription-only drugs to be sold on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner

Q10. Schedule X under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules covers:

• Ayurvedic proprietary medicines
• Drugs with special restrictions including certain narcotics and psychotropics
• Vaccine cold-chain requirements
• Bioavailability/bioequivalence study standards

Correct Answer: Drugs with special restrictions including certain narcotics and psychotropics

Q11. Schedule Y historically described requirements for:

• Hospital pharmacy services
• Clinical trials and approval of new drugs
• Drug price control
• Pharmacy curricula

Correct Answer: Clinical trials and approval of new drugs

Q12. Which rules currently govern clinical trials and new drug approvals in India (from 2019)?

• Medical Devices Rules, 2017
• New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019
• Pharmacy Practice Regulations, 2015
• Drug Prices Control Order, 2013

Correct Answer: New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019

Q13. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is chiefly responsible for:

• Accrediting pharmacy colleges
• Approving new drugs and clinical trials at the national level
• Setting drug ceiling prices
• Running government pharmacies

Correct Answer: Approving new drugs and clinical trials at the national level

Q14. The first edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) was published in:

• 1940
• 1950
• 1955
• 1960

Correct Answer: 1955

Q15. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is headquartered at:

• New Delhi
• Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
• Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Kolkata, West Bengal

Correct Answer: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Q16. The National Coordination Centre (NCC) for the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) is located at:

• AIIMS, New Delhi
• Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ghaziabad
• CDSCO Headquarters, New Delhi
• ICMR, New Delhi

Correct Answer: Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ghaziabad

Q17. Which body fixes ceiling prices of scheduled medicines under the DPCO?

• Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)
• National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)

Correct Answer: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)

Q18. The Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO) is issued under which parent legislation?

• Pharmacy Act, 1948
• Essential Commodities Act, 1955
• Companies Act, 2013
• NDPS Act, 1985

Correct Answer: Essential Commodities Act, 1955

Q19. The Hathi Committee (1975) primarily recommended:

• Introducing the Pharm D program
• Establishing a national pharmacovigilance system
• Self-reliance in drug production and stronger price control
• Drafting the Pharmacy Act

Correct Answer: Self-reliance in drug production and stronger price control

Q20. The Health Survey and Development Committee (Bhore Committee) submitted its report in:

• 1930
• 1940
• 1946
• 1950

Correct Answer: 1946

Q21. Recommendations of which committee led to the enactment of the Drugs Act, 1940?

• Mashelkar Committee (2003)
• Drugs Enquiry Committee (Chopra Committee), 1930–31
• Mudaliar Committee, 1962
• Hathi Committee, 1975

Correct Answer: Drugs Enquiry Committee (Chopra Committee), 1930–31

Q22. As per PCI Education Regulations, the minimum practical training required for the D.Pharm program is:

• 100 hours
• 250 hours
• 500 hours (minimum 3 months)
• 1000 hours (minimum 6 months)

Correct Answer: 500 hours (minimum 3 months)

Q23. In which year was the Pharm D program introduced in India by PCI?

• 1991
• 2004
• 2008
• 2012

Correct Answer: 2008

Q24. Which regulation formally defines pharmacists’ patient-care roles, counseling, and continuing professional development in India?

• Good Pharmacy Practice Guidelines, 2011
• New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019
• Pharmacy Practice Regulations, 2015
• Medical Devices Rules, 2017

Correct Answer: Pharmacy Practice Regulations, 2015

Q25. The key objective of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (Jan Aushadhi) is to:

• Promote export of pharmaceuticals
• Provide affordable quality generic medicines through dedicated outlets
• Fund private-sector pharmaceutical R&D
• Train pharmacists for hospital practice

Correct Answer: Provide affordable quality generic medicines through dedicated outlets

Q26. The primary function of State Pharmacy Councils is to:

• Approve clinical trials
• Maintain the state register of pharmacists and regulate professional conduct
• Set drug ceiling prices
• Issue import licenses for drugs

Correct Answer: Maintain the state register of pharmacists and regulate professional conduct

Q27. The Indian Pharmacopoeia is published by which organization?

• Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (MoHFW)
• Pharmacy Council of India
• CDSCO
• Bureau of Indian Standards

Correct Answer: Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (MoHFW)

Q28. The most recent National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) was released in:

• 2011
• 2015
• 2022
• 2024

Correct Answer: 2022

Q29. Schedule N of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules specifies:

• Requirements for premises, equipment, and storage for a pharmacy
• Standards for vaccines and biologicals
• Price control categories of medicines
• Clinical trial ethics requirements

Correct Answer: Requirements for premises, equipment, and storage for a pharmacy

Q30. As per PCI regulations, the standard duration of the B.Pharm program in India is:

• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4 years (8 semesters)
• 6 years (integrated)

Correct Answer: 4 years (8 semesters)

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