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Wednesday, February 18, 2026
TopicDrug Controller General of India

Topic: Drug Controller General of India

Modi govt likely to bring in stricter pan-Indian system to recall substandard drugs from market

Provision included in draft bill to be approved by Union cabinet. Existing drugs law mentions product recall, but doesn't specify timelines or system for auditing and accountability.

Pfizer says couldn’t attend Modi govt meetings on its vaccine due to ‘extremely’ short notices

The US pharma firm is in the process of compiling responses to queries raised by Drugs Controller General of India on its vaccine data, says a Pfizer spokesperson.

Respect govt decision to bar Covishield export, expect nod in March-April, says Serum CEO

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, says the govt restrictions ‘will be eased out very soon once the most vulnerable population starts getting vaccinated’.

No pressure on drug regulator to approve Covid vaccines, says NITI Aayog member VK Paul

Speaking at a FICCI event, Paul says the govt will wait till all parameters are met. Bharat Biotech MD Krishna Ella slams the media for covering the vaccine issue like a ‘Bollywood movie’.

Govt begins internal review of Pfizer and Serum Covid vaccines, focus on safety & quality

The recommendations on granting of authorisation will be made on three parameters — safety, quality and efficacy. The Drug Controller General of India will take the final decision.

Cardiac, prostate drugs found to have new side-effects, govt panel wants them listed on packs

The decision is based on recommendations of Signal Review Panel-Pharmacovigilance Programme of India, which is responsible for detection, assessment & prevention of adverse effects from drugs.

Modi govt panel rejects proposal to make chewable Favipiravir tablets for Covid patients

Committee didn’t find MacLeods Pharma’s proposal adequate, but is considering US firm Mylan’s proposal to test Favipiravir with three other drugs.

Pharma giant Mylan wants hepatitis C drug’s clinical trial for Covid waived, regulator says no

Low-cost hepatitis C drugs sofosbuvir, used in combination with daclatasvir, has shown promise in reducing chance of death among hospitalised Covid patients.

After complaint, Modi govt asks states to keep vigil to stop ‘black-marketing’ of remdesivir

The order comes after the govt received a complaint from LocalCircles, saying the drug, whose MRP is Rs 5,400, is being sold at a price of between Rs 15,000 and Rs 60,000. 

India could ‘withdraw’ curbs on drug exports as pharma firms fear loss of business

In a meeting with govt officials, drug-makers flagged concerns that their clients may start buying products from other countries if restrictions on Indian products continued.

On Camera

Imagine if Epstein files named Rahul Gandhi or MK Stalin. What would BJP and TV media do?

The questions are not going to go away. But future generations will know who refused to ask the tough questions and who didn’t.

Venezuela crude returns to India’s oil basket. But only as ‘supplementary’ supply

Indian refiners are testing Venezuelan barrels again as Russian supply sinks, but analysts say volumes will remain limited due to refinery constraints & supply capacity.

US military commander, envoy Sergio Gor visit Indian Army Western Command, Bengaluru next

At the Western Army Command, the American delegation was briefed on the capabilities of the formation, past operations and the path ahead.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.