**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, reporting that 17,990 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) have been opened across India as of December 31, 2025. It also reiterates the requirement for physicians to prescribe drugs with generic names and highlights awareness campaigns to promote generic medicines. The state-wise distribution of opened JAKs is included.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **JAK Establishment and Purpose:**
* As of 31.12.2025, 17,990 JAKs are operational nationwide.
* JAKs aim to provide medicines at 50%-80% lower rates compared to branded alternatives.
* **Physician Prescribing Guidelines:**
* The Code of Medical Ethics mandates physicians to prescribe drugs with generic names legibly, preferably in capital letters.
* A Medical Council of India circular dated 21.04.2017 directs all registered medical practitioners to comply with this requirement.
* **Awareness and Promotion:**
* The Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) informs doctors about the scheme and benefits of generic medicines.
* Media campaigns are conducted to educate citizens about requesting generic prescriptions.
* **State-wise JAK Distribution:**
* Annexure I lists the State/Union Territory-wise distribution of JAKs opened as of 31.12.2025.
* Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of JAKs (3805), while Lakshadweep has the fewest (1).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Citizens
* **Impact:** Increased access to affordable medicines through generic prescriptions at JAKs.
* **Action Required:** Request generic medicine prescriptions from their physicians/doctors.
**Stakeholder:** Physicians
* **Impact:** Obligation to prescribe drugs with generic names.
* **Action Required:** Prescribe drugs with generic names legibly, preferably in capital letters, as per the Code of Medical Ethics and MCI circular.
**Stakeholder:** Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI)
* **Impact:** Implementing agency for the scheme.
* **Action Required:** Continue to apprise doctors about the scheme and the benefits of generic medicines through campaigns.
**Stakeholder:** State Medical Councils (SMC)/MCI
* **Impact:** Responsible for monitoring compliance of doctors.
* **Action Required:** Take suitable disciplinary action against doctors found violating clause 1.5 of Ethics Regulation.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana: A scheme to open dedicated outlets called Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) across the country to provide generic medicines at cheaper rates.
Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs): Dedicated outlets opened under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana to provide generic medicines.
Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI): The scheme implementing agency responsible for apprising doctors about the scheme and the benefits of generic medicines.
Code of Medical Ethics in the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002: Regulations requiring physicians to prescribe drugs with generic names.
Medical Council of India: Issued a circular directing all registered medical practitioners to comply with regulations regarding prescribing generic drugs.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras
Posted On: 13 FEB 2026 5:19PM by PIB Delhi
Under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, a total of 17,990 JAKs have been opened across
the country as on 31.12.2025. The State-wise /Union Territory-wise number of JAKs opened across the
country is at Annexure I. Under the Scheme, dedicated outlets known as Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) are
opened across the country to provide medicines at rates that are about 50% to 80% cheaper than those of
equivalent branded alternatives.
Paragraph 1.5 of the Code of Medical Ethics in the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct,
Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 requires that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic
names legibly and preferably in capital letters and that the physician shall ensure that there is a rational
prescription and use of drugs. Moreover, the Medical Council of India has issued circular date 21.04.2017
(Annexure II) directing all registered medical practitioners to comply with the said requirement.
In addition to above, the scheme implementing agency i.e. Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of
India (PMBI) takes steps to apprise doctors about the scheme and the benefits of generic medicines. The
doctors are briefed about the quality and affordability of Janaushadhi medicines through these campaigns.
Further, extensive media campaigns are carried out to create awareness among the citizens so that they can
request for prescriptions of generic medicines during consultations with their physicians/doctors.
The State-wise /Union Territory-wise number of JAKs opened as on 31.12.2025
S. No. State / Union territory Number of JAKs opened
1 Andaman and Nicobar Islands 6
2 Andhra Pradesh 272
3 Arunachal Pradesh 35
4 Assam 176
5 Bihar 1058
6 Chandigarh 19
7 Chhattisgarh 345
8 Delhi 589S. No. State / Union territory Number of JAKs opened
9 Goa 18
10 Gujarat 848
11 Haryana 474
12 Himachal Pradesh 74
13 Jammu and Kashmir 351
14 Jharkhand 166
15 Karnataka 1585
16 Kerala 1714
17 Ladakh 3
18 Lakshadweep 1
19 Madhya Pradesh 614
20 Maharashtra 713
21 Manipur 68
22 Meghalaya 25
23 Mizoram 16
24 Nagaland 22
25 Odisha 803
26 Puducherry 33
27 Punjab 532
28 Rajasthan 632
29 Sikkim 15S. No. State / Union territory Number of JAKs opened
30 Tamil Nadu 1515
31 Telangana 212
32 The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 40
33 Tripura 33
34 Uttar Pradesh 3805
35 Uttarakhand 319
36 West Bengal 859
Total 17,990
Annexure II
Medical Council of India circular date 21.04.2017This information was given by Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel,
in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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