- Why in news
- On 7 March 2026, the 8th Janaushadhi Diwas was observed at the end of Janaushadhi Saptah 2026, and PIB published a explainer on PMBJP, which now has over 18,000 Kendras.
- What it is
- PMBJP is a scheme of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It sells quality generic medicines at much lower prices through Jan Aushadhi Kendras. The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) is the implementing agency.
- Implementing agency
- PMBI under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, runs the scheme.
- Quality assurance
- Medicines come only from WHO-GMP compliant manufacturers, and each batch is tested in NABL-accredited labs.
- Target
- 25,000 Kendras by March 2027 through a franchise-based model.
- Price advantage
- JAK medicines are about 50% to 80% cheaper than equivalent branded alternatives.
- Generic prescribing rule
- Paragraph 1.5 of the 2002 Indian Medical Council Regulations requires physicians to prescribe drugs by generic names, legibly and preferably in capital letters.
Don’t confuse with Normal vs special incentive: Normal incentive is up to Rs 5 lakh (20% of monthly purchases, cap Rs 20,000 a month); the special incentive is a separate one-time Rs 2 lakh for reimbursing furniture and IT equipment.
Don’t confuse with PMBJP vs Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: PMBJP sells cheap generic medicines through outlets; PM-JAY is a health insurance scheme for hospitalisation.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Cuts out-of-pocket medicine spending, a large part of household health costs.
- Creates entrepreneurship, including for women, SC/ST and Divyang.
- Lowers out-of-pocket spending on medicines, a large part of household health costs.
- Promotes generic medicines and rational prescribing.
Problems
- Keeping Kendras viable and stocked with fast-moving medicines.
- Building trust in generics among doctors and patients.
- Doctors often still prescribe branded drugs despite the rules.
- Public trust in generic quality and stock availability at outlets vary.
Way forward
- Widen the product basket and set up Kendras in government hospitals and PACS.
- Strengthen digital demand forecasting and supply chain.
- Enforce generic prescribing and strengthen quality testing of Jan Aushadhi drugs.
- Widen awareness campaigns and reach in under-served States and UTs.
Put in your answer
Savings: Sales of Rs 7,700 crore MRP by June 2025 gave estimated citizen savings of about Rs 38,000 crore.
Price gap: Prices are generally 50-80% lower than comparable branded medicines.
Price saving: Medicines are about 50% to 80% cheaper than branded equivalents.
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UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), which one of the following statements is correct?
Select the correct answer.
True or false?
1 of 8
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.Medicines under PMBJP are procured only from manufacturers compliant with WHO Good Manufacturing Practices.
True. Procurement is only from WHO-GMP compliant manufacturers.
2.The scheme is implemented by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
False. PMBI works under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.
3.Each batch of medicines is tested at laboratories accredited by NABL before distribution to Kendras.
True. Batches are tested in NABL-accredited labs.
4.Janaushadhi Suvidha sanitary napkins are oxo-biodegradable and are sold at Rs 1 per pad.
True. Priced at Rs 1 per pad, with an oxo-biodegradable additive.
5.Under PMBJP, dedicated outlets called Jan Aushadhi Kendras provide medicines about 50% to 80% cheaper than equivalent branded alternatives.
True. JAK medicines are about 50% to 80% cheaper than branded equivalents.
6.The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India is the implementing agency of PMBJP.
True. PMBI implements the scheme.
7.PMBJP is administered by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
False. It is run by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
8.The Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002 require physicians to prescribe drugs with generic names, preferably in capital letters.
True. Paragraph 1.5 of the Code of Medical Ethics requires generic names, legibly and preferably in capital letters.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.