🧪 UPSC Drug Inspector Syllabus & Exam Pattern
UPSC recruits Drug Inspectors centrally for postings under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. This is a separate recruitment from any state-level Drug Inspector post.
Last updated: 7 August 2026 · Recruitment specifics change between cycles — always verify on upsc.gov.in.
Targeting the Tamil Nadu state route instead? See our TNPSC Drug Inspector page — a separate recruitment with its own eligibility, pattern and syllabus.
Quick Facts
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), for CDSCO |
|---|---|
| Post | Drug Inspector (including Drug Inspector — Medical Devices, where notified) |
| Level | Central Government |
| Qualification | Degree in Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences/Medicine or related field, as specified in the specific UPSC notification |
| Exam Mode | Paper I (Pharmaceutical Sciences) + Paper II (General Studies & Allied Subjects), objective type, same day |
| Official Notification | upsc.gov.in — latest notification |
| Official Syllabus | upsc.gov.in — official notification PDF |
Who Can Apply
Eligibility (qualification, age limit, experience) is set out fresh in each specific UPSC Drug Inspector notification — recent cycles have included both a general Drug Inspector recruitment and a separate, smaller Drug Inspector (Medical Devices) recruitment, each with its own criteria. Always read the current notification in full rather than relying on a previous cycle's details.
How the Exam is Structured
UPSC Drug Inspector Syllabus — Paper by Paper
Tap a paper to expand.
Paper I — Pharmaceutical Sciences▾
Pharmacology & Allied Subjects: General Pharmacology and systemic pharmacology (PNS, ANS, CNS, CVS, urinary, respiratory, endocrine, GI), antineoplastics, chemotherapy, autacoids, immunopharmacology, toxicology, plus Human Anatomy, Physiology & Health Education (all major body systems, nutrition, first aid, population and AIDS control).
Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Allied Subjects: Inorganic Chemistry (impurities, limit tests, electrolytes, radiopharmaceuticals), Medicinal Chemistry (drug design and systemic drug classes), and Pharmaceutical Analysis (titrimetric & electroanalytical methods, chromatography, spectroscopy, bioassay).
Pharmacognosy & Allied Subjects: Crude drug classification, adulteration and evaluation, phytochemistry (alkaloids, glycosides, volatile oils, tannins), plant tissue culture, and Herbal Drug Technology.
Minor Subjects: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Management, and Biotechnology.
Paper II — General Studies & Allied Subjects▾
Section Topics General Studies Indian Constitution, Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Budget & Five-Year Plans, Banking & Finance, Science & Inventions General Knowledge Countries & Capitals, Important Days, Awards, Books & Authors, Government Schemes, Organizations Computer Knowledge Basics, Hardware/Software, MS Office, Internet, Networking, Cyber Security English Language Grammar, Vocabulary, Idioms, One-Word Substitution, Comprehension, Error Detection Quantitative Aptitude Number System, Percentage, Ratio-Proportion, Time-Speed-Distance, SI/CI, Data Interpretation, Algebra Current Affairs National/International Affairs, Health, Pharma, Sports, Science & Tech, Government Policies
PYQs, Exam Details & Preparation
Prepare for UPSC Drug Inspector
One Course, Mapped to This Syllabus
The 100-Day Course covers this exact syllabus with chapter-wise notes, PYQs, daily MCQs and weekly mock tests.
Explore the 100-Day Course →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UPSC Drug Inspector syllabus?
Paper I covers Pharmaceutical Sciences — Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy with their allied subjects. Paper II covers General Studies, General Knowledge, Computer Knowledge, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Current Affairs. See the full breakdown above.
Is UPSC Drug Inspector the same as TNPSC Drug Inspector?
No — they are different recruitments. UPSC recruits centrally for CDSCO postings under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, while TNPSC recruits for Tamil Nadu's state Drug Control Administration. See our dedicated TNPSC Drug Inspector page for that syllabus.
What is the UPSC Drug Inspector exam pattern?
The exam is conducted in two objective-type papers on the same day — Paper I (Pharmaceutical Sciences) and Paper II (General Studies and Allied Subjects).
Has UPSC notified more than one Drug Inspector recruitment?
Recent UPSC activity has included both a general Drugs Inspector recruitment under CDSCO and a separate, smaller Drugs Inspector (Medical Devices) recruitment. Always check upsc.gov.in for the specific, currently open notification rather than assuming there is only one.
Where can I read more about UPSC Drug Inspector eligibility, pay scale and interview?
See our detailed UPSC/CDSCO Drug Inspector guide, linked in the syllabus section above, which covers vacancies, pay scale, selection process and interview alongside the syllabus.
Verify Directly
UPSC: upsc.gov.in — official notifications for Drug Inspector recruitment.
CDSCO: cdsco.gov.in — Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.
This page is maintained by Pharma Insights Academy as a study aid. UPSC's own website remains the authority for recruitment-specific details.