🔬 Science & Technology / Health & Medicine

Department of Pharmaceuticals sets up committee under NITI Aayog Member Dr. M. Srinivas to review pharma marketing practices (UCPMP)

📅 23 October 2026 📍 India Important

On 23 October 2026, the Department of Pharmaceuticals constituted a committee chaired by NITI Aayog Member Dr. M. Srinivas, with Preeti Sudan and Dr. Naresh Trehan as members, to review the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) framework and suggest ways to curb unethical practices within two months.

Summary

The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, constituted a committee on 23 October 2026 to examine the regulatory framework for pharmaceutical marketing practices and recommend stronger oversight, monitoring and enforcement against unethical practices. The committee is chaired by Dr. M. Srinivas, Member, NITI Aayog, with former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan and Medanta CMD Dr. Naresh Trehan as members, and must report within two months of its first meeting. The Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) began in 2015 as a voluntary self-regulatory code and was replaced by UCPMP 2024, which is currently in operation.

Key facts

Constituted by: Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Date: 23 October 2026
Chair: Dr. M. Srinivas, Member, NITI Aayog
Members: Preeti Sudan (former Union Health Secretary), Dr. Naresh Trehan (CMD, Medanta)
Deadline: Report within 2 months of first meeting
Purpose: Curb unethical pharma marketing; strengthen oversight and enforcement
UCPMP history: 2015 voluntary code; superseded by UCPMP 2024 (in force)

Practice MCQs 3 questions

Who chairs the committee constituted by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in October 2026 to review pharmaceutical marketing practices?

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Correct answer: C — Dr. M. Srinivas

Dr. M. Srinivas, Member, NITI Aayog, was named Chairperson; Preeti Sudan and Dr. Naresh Trehan are members.

Q2 Advanced

Consider the following statements about the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP): 1. UCPMP was introduced in 2015 as a voluntary, industry-led self-regulatory mechanism. 2. UCPMP 2024 superseded the 2015 version and is currently in operation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2

Both are correct: UCPMP began in 2015 as a voluntary self-regulatory code, and UCPMP 2024 superseded it and is currently in operation.

The committee on pharmaceutical marketing practices set up in October 2026 has to submit its recommendations within what period?

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Correct answer: D — Two months from its first meeting

The committee must submit its recommendations within two months from the date of its first meeting.