Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers, J. P. Nadda, on Friday released the 10th edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP 2026), marking a major step in strengthening India’s pharmaceutical quality and regulatory framework.
The new edition was released at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The Indian Pharmacopoeia is the country’s official book of drug standards and plays a central role in ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines manufactured and sold in India.
Addressing the gathering, Nadda said the Indian Pharmacopoeia has gained international recognition and is now accepted in 19 countries of the Global South, reflecting India’s growing stature in global health diplomacy and pharmaceutical regulation. He noted that IP 2026 incorporates 121 new monographs, taking the total number to 3,340, with expanded coverage of anti-tubercular, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer medicines, as well as iron supplements used under national health programmes.
The Union Minister also highlighted India’s significant progress in pharmacovigilance. He said India has moved from 123rd position during 2009–2014 to 8th globally in 2025 in contributions to the World Health Organization’s pharmacovigilance database, under the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI). He described this achievement as a reflection of India’s strong commitment to patient safety and regulatory vigilance.
A key feature of IP 2026 is the first-time inclusion of 20 blood component monographs related to transfusion medicine, in line with the Drugs and Cosmetics (Second Amendment) Rules, 2020. The Minister said this development strengthens regulatory oversight in critical areas of healthcare.
In his concluding remarks, Nadda said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government has consistently focused on improving healthcare systems and regulatory institutions. He expressed confidence that Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026 will further enhance pharmaceutical quality standards and reinforce India’s position in the global pharmaceutical sector.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, speaking on the occasion, said the release of IP 2026 is an important milestone in building a robust, science-based regulatory ecosystem. She underlined that regular updating and harmonisation of pharmacopoeial standards are essential to ensure the availability of safe and effective medicines and to align India with global best practices.
The Indian Pharmacopoeia is published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Its standards are legally enforceable and form the basis for licensing, inspection and distribution of medicines in the country. India is also actively working with international pharmacopoeias through the Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group to harmonise standards in line with International Council for Harmonisation norms.
