Aspirant Academy
ENHI

RAS question

India is called the 'Pharmacy of the World' primarily because of its dominance in which segment of the pharmaceutical industry?

Correct answer: (B) Generic medicines — low-cost copies of off-patent drugs.

India is called the Pharmacy of the World primarily because it is the largest global supplier of generic medicines, accounting for around 20 per cent of global supply.

  1. (A)

    Patented branded drugs

  2. (B)

    Generic medicines — low-cost copies of off-patent drugs

  3. (C)

    Vaccine research and novel drug discovery

  4. (D)

    Ayurvedic and herbal medicine exports

Explanation

India's pharmaceutical reputation rests less on patented drug discovery and more on scale, affordability and reliable quality in generic medicines. The Press Information Bureau says India's standing as the Pharmacy of the World is rooted in affordable pricing and assured quality, and that India is the largest global supplier of generic medicines, with around 20 per cent of global supply and about 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories. India exports pharmaceuticals to more than 200 countries, supplies about 60 per cent of global vaccine demand, and developed this generic strength under a patent regime that allowed process patents rather than product patents until TRIPS compliance in 2005. India's Pharmacy of the World status therefore comes from generic medicines, not branded patented drugs.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) Patented branded drugs are not India's dominant segment; India's strength is off-patent generic manufacturing, while patented branded drugs are controlled mainly by US, European and Japanese multinationals.
  • (C) India is strong in vaccine manufacturing and supplies about 60 per cent of global vaccine demand, but the Pharmacy of the World label is anchored in generic medicines rather than R&D-led novel drug discovery.
  • (D) Ayurvedic and herbal exports exist, but the Pharmacy of the World title refers to allopathic generic medicine exports, supported by India's large generic-drug supply.

Concept

India's pharmaceutical industry reflects how manufacturing scale, patent history and export reach shape a country's place in global value chains. Pharma recurs in RAS because it links industrial location, trade, public health and India's global economic role.

Source

Related questions