**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the government's measures to ensure the adequate and timely availability of fertilizers and medicines across the country. It details the processes for fertilizer allocation and distribution, as well as the price regulation and availability monitoring of medicines. Key deadlines and dates are implicitly mentioned through references to the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 and the implementation of the CAPPM Scheme since 2018.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Fertilizer Availability and Distribution**
* **Seasonal Assessment:** The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in consultation with State Governments, assesses state-wise and month-wise fertilizer requirements before each cropping season.
* **Allocation and Monitoring:** The Department of Fertilizers allocates adequate quantities of fertilizers to states based on projected requirements and continuously monitors availability through monthly supply plans.
* **Integrated Monitoring:** The movement of subsidized fertilizers is monitored via the online Integrated Fertilizers Monitoring System (iFMS).
* **Coordination with Stakeholders:** State Governments are advised to coordinate with manufacturers and importers to streamline supplies.
* **Weekly Review:** Joint weekly video conferences between DA&FW and the Department of Fertilizers with State Agriculture Officials are held for corrective actions.
* **District-Level Distribution:** The concerned State government is responsible for the distribution of fertilizers at the district level.
**Drug Price Regulation and Availability**
* **Price Control:** Drug prices are regulated under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013).
* **Ceiling Prices:** The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) fixes ceiling prices for formulations listed in Schedule-I of DPCO, 2013, based on the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
* **New Drug Pricing:** NPPA also fixes the retail price for new drugs, which manufacturers and marketers must adhere to.
* **MRP Increase Limit:** For non-scheduled formulations, manufacturers can increase the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) by no more than 10% within a 12-month period.
* **Ongoing Monitoring:** Prices of scheduled and non-scheduled formulations are continuously monitored, with action taken against companies overcharging or violating DPCO, 2013.
* **Consumer Awareness:** The Consumer Awareness Publicity & Price Monitoring (CAPPM) Scheme, implemented since 2018, utilizes Price Monitoring and Resource Units (PMRUs) for information dissemination on price changes.
* **Availability Monitoring:** NPPA monitors drug availability and takes remedial measures for non-availability issues reported through various channels.
**Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)**
* **Objective:** To provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices through Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs).
* **Price Reduction:** JAKs offer medicines at 50% to 80% lower prices than branded alternatives.
* **Product Basket:** The scheme includes 2,110 medicines and 315 medical devices/consumables across major therapeutic groups.
* **JAK Network:** As of 28.02.2026, 18,646 JAKs are operational nationwide, with 3,944 in Uttar Pradesh.
* **Quality Assurance:**
* **Manufacturing Standards:** Supply is restricted to WHO-GMP certified plants.
* **Batch Testing:** 100% of medicine batches are pre-tested before distribution to JAKs.
* **Laboratory Compliance:** Testing is conducted only in labs accredited with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
* **Supply Chain Management:**
* **Stocking Incentives:** JAK owners are incentivized since September 2024 for maintaining stock of commonly used and fast-selling medicines.
* **IT-Enabled Supply Chain:** An end-to-end IT system connects warehouses and distributors.
* **Demand Forecasting:** 400 fast-moving products are monitored, and demand is forecasted with steps taken to digitize this process.
* **Awareness Campaigns:** Targeted campaigns are conducted to promote the benefits of Janaushadhi medicines through various media and interactive communication channels.
**Impact Analysis**
**Manufacturers and Importers (Fertilizers)**
* **Impact:** Required to coordinate with State Governments for streamlining supplies and timely placement of indents.
* **Action Required:** Ensure timely placement of indents and coordinate with State Governments to meet projected fertilizer requirements.
**Manufacturers (Medicines)**
* **Impact:** Subject to price controls, ceiling prices, and limits on MRP increases for non-scheduled formulations. Must adhere to NPPA-notified prices for new drugs.
* **Action Required:** Comply with DPCO, 2013 provisions regarding pricing, MRP increases, and selling new drugs at notified prices.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for assessing fertilizer needs, coordinating with manufacturers/importers, distributing fertilizers at the district level, and coordinating with NPPA on drug availability.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with DA&FW and Department of Fertilizers for fertilizer planning and distribution. Coordinate with NPPA and drug manufacturers to ensure medicine availability and address non-availability issues.
**Consumers/Citizens**
* **Impact:** Benefit from measures to ensure adequate and timely availability of fertilizers and affordable medicines. The PMBJP scheme provides significant cost savings on essential medications.
* **Action Required:** Participate in awareness campaigns to understand the benefits and quality of Janaushadhi products. Report issues of non-availability or overcharging through available grievance mechanisms.
**National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for fixing ceiling prices of drugs, monitoring prices, and taking remedial measures for non-availability. Oversees the CAPPM Scheme and PMBJI's implementation.
* **Action Required:** Continue to enforce price regulations, monitor market availability, coordinate with state authorities and manufacturers for timely drug supply, and implement quality assurance measures for PMBJP.
**Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI)**
* **Impact:** The implementing agency for PMBJP, responsible for quality assurance, supply chain management, demand forecasting, and awareness campaigns for Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
* **Action Required:** Continue to ensure quality of medicines through inspection and testing, manage the supply chain effectively, forecast demand for commonly used products, and conduct regular awareness campaigns.
Key Entities Referenced
Drugs (Prices Control) Order 2013 (DPCO, 2013): Regulation governing the prices of drugs in India.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana: Government scheme to make quality generic medicines available at affordable prices.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA): Regulator responsible for controlling drug prices and monitoring market availability.
Department of Pharmaceuticals: Government department responsible for pharmaceutical policies and initiatives.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW): Government department involved in assessing fertilizer requirements and coordinating supply.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers :
Department of Pharmaceuticals
Availability of Fertilizers and Medicines
Posted On: 13 MAR 2026 3:40PM by PIB Delhi
As per information furnished by Department of Fertilizers, following steps are taken by the Government
every season to ensure adequate and timely availability of fertilizers across the country:
(i). Before the commencement of each cropping season, Department of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare (DA&FW), in consultation with all the State Governments assesses the State-wise & month-wise
requirement of fertilizers.
(ii). On the basis of requirement projected by DA&FW, Department of Fertilizers allocates adequate
quantities of fertilizers to States by issuing monthly supply plan and continuously monitors the
availability.
(iii). The movement of all major subsidized fertilizers is monitored throughout the country by an
online web-based monitoring system called integrated Fertilizers Monitoring System (iFMS).
(iv). The State Governments are regularly advised to coordinate with manufacturers and importers for
streamlining the supplies through timely placement of indents.
(v). Regular Weekly Video Conference is conducted jointly by DA&FW and Department of
Fertilizers with State Agriculture Officials and corrective actions are taken to dispatch fertilizer as
indicated by the State Governments.
(vi). Distribution of fertilizers within the State at district level is done by the concerned State
government.
Presently, prices of drugs are regulated as per the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order 2013
(DPCO, 2013). As per extant provisions of DPCO, 2013, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority
(NPPA) controls prices of medicines by fixing ceiling prices of formulations specified in Schedule-I to
DPCO, 2013 which is based on the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) published by Ministry
of Health & Family Welfare. NPPA also fixes the retail price of new drugs as defined under para 2(1)(u)
of DPCO, 2013. The retail price of a new drug is applicable to the applicant manufacturer and marketer,
who are required to sell the new drug within the price notified by NPPA. In case of non-scheduled
formulations, manufacturers are required to not increase the maximum retail price (MRP) of such
formulations by more than 10% of MRP during preceding 12 months. Prices of both scheduled and non-
scheduled formulations are monitored as an ongoing process and action is taken against companies found
overcharging consumers or violating the provisions of the DPCO, 2013.
Further, Consumer Awareness Publicity & Price Monitoring (CAPPM) Scheme is being implemented by
NPPA (Department of Pharmaceuticals) since the year 2018 under which Price Monitoring and Resource
Units (PMRUs) are established in the States/ UTs which conduct Information, Education, and
Communication (IEC) activities for dissemination of information relating to price changes.Moreover, NPPA monitors availability of drugs in the country and takes remedial measures whenever
issue of non-availability of any medicine is brought to its notice. Complaints regarding non-availability of
a medicine in the market is received by NPPA through various sources including State Drugs Controllers
(SDCs), Pharma Jan Samadhan Portal, NPPA Helpline and public grievance portals like
PMOPG/CPGRAMS and Individuals. NPPA takes immediate measures in coordination with the State
Authorities and the manufacturer of the drugs concerned to ensure availability of the said drug in the said
region/ state. However, no complaints of shortages/non availability of medicines have been received from
Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh
Further, the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana was launched by the Government of India to
make quality generic medicines available at affordable prices for all citizens. Under this scheme, special
outlets called Jan Aushadhi Kendras are opened across the country. These Kendras provide medicines that
are about 50% to 80% cheaper than branded medicines, helping reduce healthcare expenses for patients.
The scheme offers a comprehensive product basket consisting of 2,110 medicines and 315 medical
devices and consumables, covering all major therapeutic groups. These include medicines for
cardiovascular diseases, cancer treatment, diabetes, infections, allergies, and gastrointestinal disorders,
along with nutraceutical products, ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare for the public.
Under the scheme, a total of 18,646 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) have been opened across the country as
on 28.02.2026, of which 3,944 JAKs in the State of Uttar Pradesh including 29 JAKs in Amroha district.
With a view to ensure quality of medicines available at JAKs so that health of patients is not
compromised, concrete mechanisms have been put in place to ensure continuous inspection, testing and
standardisation, including the following:
(i). Supply only from WHO Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certified plants: Only plants that
are certified as WHO-GMP compliant by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) after
direct inspection are eligible for supply.
(ii). Distribution only after 100% pre-testing of all medicine batches: Samples are drawn from 100%
of batches supplied at PMBI’s warehouses for testing anonymously, and medicines are dispatched for
supply to JAKs only after the quality test is passed.
(iii). Testing only at labs compliant with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP): Samples are tested only
at labs accredited and periodically inspected by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and
Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and, in addition, assessed by PMBI for GLP compliance.
Number of steps have been taken to ensure effective and regular supply of medicines including critical and
life saving medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs), including the following:
(i). Since September 2024, stocking by JAKs of 200 commonly used medicines, consisting of
the 100 top-selling medicines in the scheme product basket and 100 fast-selling medicines in the
market, has been incentivised, under which JAK owners are eligible for monthly incentive based
on the stocks that they maintain of these medicines.
(ii). An end-to-end information-technology-enabled supply chain system is in place to connect
a robust supply chain system consisting of 5 warehouses and a growing network of distributors
across the country.
(iii). In addition, with a view to ensure availability of commonly used products, 400 fast-
moving products are monitored regularly by the scheme implementing agency {Pharmaceuticals
and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI)} and demand for the same is forecasted on an
ongoing basis. Further, steps have been taken to digitise the forecasting method to augment the
procurement process.To promote acceptability of medicines supplied through JAKs, targeted awareness campaigns about the
benefits of Janaushadhi medicines are conducted on a regular basis:
(i). Awareness campaigns: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), which is
the implementing agency for PMBJP conducts awareness campaigns in coordination with bodies and
platforms such as the Central Bureau of Communication, PIB, MyGov and MY Bharat, in various modes
such as print, television, radio, social media platforms, outdoor hoardings, community engagement, etc.
(ii). Interactive messages/calls: Outreach and citizen engagement are also pursued through
WhatsApp chatbot and outbound calls to inform citizens regarding the quality of Janaushadhi products
and the large savings that accrue from purchase of the same from nearest JAK.
This information was given by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a
written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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