On January 2, 2026, Union Minister Jagat Prakash (J.P) Narayanlal Nadda, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F) released the 10th edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP 2026), the official compendium of drug standards of India, at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
- The event was attended by Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India(DCGI),Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO); Harsh Mangla, Joint Secretary, MoHFW; Dr. V. Kalaiselvan, Secretary‑cum‑Scientific Director, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), along with other senior industry experts.
Exam Hints:
- What? Release of Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026
- Released by: Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, MoHFW
- Where? New Delhi (Delhi)
- Edition: 10th
- New Additions: 121 monographs (Drugs), 20 monographs (blood components)
- Alignment: Drugs and Cosmetics (Second Amendment) Rules, 2020,
Key Features of Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026(IP 2026):
Expanded Drugs: IP 2026 added 121 new monographs, totaling to 3,340, strengthening drug quality standards. It expands coverage of Anti-Tubercular medicines, Anti-Diabetic medicines, Anti-Cancer drugs, and Iron and micronutrient supplements used in national programs.
- Monograph is a standard that specifies identity, purity and strength, tests and analytical methods, limits for impurities, and storage and labelling requirements.
Blood Component Standards: 20 monographs for blood components have been introduced for transfusion medicine in line with the Drugs and Cosmetics (Second Amendment) Rules, 2020, to ensure safe blood transfusions and adherence to national regulatory standards.
Alignment: IP 2026 is aligned with international best practices and contemporary scientific advancements, ensuring the global relevance of Indian drug standards.
About Indian Pharmacopoeia(IP):
Overview: It is the official compendium of drug standards in India and is legally enforceable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. It is published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the MoHFW. It was published in 1955 for the first time.
- IP, member of the Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG), helps in drug licensing, manufacturing, inspection, and distribution. It collaborates with the United States of America (USA), European, and Japanese Pharmacopoeias (JP).
Primary Reference: It is the primary reference for quality, safety, and efficacy of drugs and pharmaceuticals in India, regulatory inspections, drug licensing, and manufacturing standards, and laboratories and hospitals for quality control testing.
- The Indian Pharmacopoeia(IP) has gained recognition in 19 Global South countries.
Milestone: Under the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), India’s global ranking in contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO) pharmacovigilance database improved from 123rd during 2009-2014 to 8th in 2025.
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
Union Minister – Jagat Prakash (J.P.) Narayanlal Nadda (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Ministers of State (MoS) – Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao (Constituency – Buldhana, Maharashtra); Anupriya Patel (Constituency – Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
