Centre’s Drug Panel Moves To Tighten Watch On Narcotic Medicines, Seeks States’ Help Against Fake Medication

Last Updated:October 02, 2026, 00:56 IST

Some medicines, such as strong painkillers and sedatives, contain narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances. While they are sold legally, they can leak into the illegal market

By March 2027, CDSCO has to ‘address regulatory gaps relating to illegal diversion of pharmaceutical preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances’. Representational image/Reuters

The Centre’s drug advisory panel has recommended a tighter system to track medicines containing narcotic and mind-altering substances, with every state and union territory sending data on them every month, News18 has learnt.

A parallel push is underway to close loopholes and keep fake medicines out of the market. Both decisions were taken by the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC)the forum where the Centre and states discuss drug regulation, at its 70th meeting on 18 September. News18 explains the two proposals aimed at fixing the gaps in India’s pharmaceuticals market.

Narcotic medicines: Deadline for the drug regulator

Some medicines, such as strong painkillers and sedatives, contain narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances. While they are sold legally, they can leak into the illegal market. This is what the minutes call “diversion”.

According to the minutes of the meeting, seen by News18, the task comes from the “Vision Document on Drug Control 2026 to 2029“, a roadmap for the country’s drug control efforts over the next few years. It was launched at the 10th apex-level meeting of the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD), the Home Ministry’s mechanism for coordinating action against narcotics. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) – India’s top drug regulator – has been given a target. By March 2027, it has to “address regulatory gaps relating to illegal diversion of pharmaceutical preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances”.

To get there, the expert panel stressed the need for “a reliable national database on manufacture, sale, stocking, inspections and enforcement action of such products”.

It asked CDSCO to first collect all existing directions, state-level controls and standard procedures into one action plan. In simple terms, states and union territories would send CDSCO a monthly report on how many licences they have issued, how much of these medicines is handled, how many inspections were done and what action was taken. CDSCO is to finalise the format after consulting State regulators.

The committee wants all of this on “a common digital platform for regular submission and analysis of such data”. It also suggested checking whether an online portal already built by the Central Bureau of Narcotics could be adapted “for end-to-end track and trace of such drugs” so that these medicines can be followed from factory to shop.

However, everything recommended by the DCC panel will only come into effect if the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) – chief of CDSCO – approves the proposal.

Fake medicines: States asked to share what they are doing

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held an open house on February 25 on how to curb spurious, or fake, medicines in India and sent its recommendations to the DCC. The committee found that some were already being acted upon, while others cannot move without state inputs and joint work by several agencies. In its words, in the minute document, they require “inputs from the states as well as coordinated action involving drug regulators, police, laboratories, prosecutors and forensic institutions”.

So, the panel wants, as per the proposal, the recommendations sent out to every state and union territory. They are to be “circulated to all States and Union Territories for their specific comments, details of the measures already being implemented and suggestions on the proposed national mechanism”. CDSCO will then prepare a combined proposal. A small group of a few states will draft a joint reply to the commission and a plan for the work still pending.

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What new reporting requirements have been proposed for narcotic and psychotropic medicines in India?

The Drugs Consultative Committee recommended that every state and union territory submit monthly data on narcotic and mind-altering medicines to the CDSCO by March 2027 under the Vision Document on Drug Control 2026 to 2029. This information will be compiled on a common digital platform to track manufacturing, sales, stocking, inspections, and enforcement actions from factory to shop floor.

How is the Centre addressing the issue of fake and spurious medicines in the pharmaceutical market?

Following recommendations from the National Human Rights Commission, the DCC has asked all states and union territories to share details of measures they are implementing against fake drugs. The CDSCO will compile these state inputs into a combined proposal to drive coordinated action among drug regulators, police, laboratories, and forensic institutions.

What role does the CDSCO play in tracking and regulating pharmaceutical preparations containing narcotics?

The CDSCO has been tasked with addressing regulatory gaps related to the illegal diversion of pharmaceutical preparations containing narcotics and psychotropic substances by March 2027. It plans to establish a reliable national database and potentially adapt an online portal built by the Central Bureau of Narcotics for end-to-end track and trace, pending final approval from the Drug Controller General of India.

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Himani ChandnaSenior Associate Editor

Himani Chandna, Senior Associate Editor at CNN-News18, tracks healthcare, pharma and medical research, bringing clarity to complex science and policy.

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