Public Health Programmes (Health).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: General Science; Mains GS3: S&T developments
One Health for UPSC: meaning, zoonoses and spillover, drivers, Quadripartite of FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH, India's National One Health Mission, gaps,…
Antimicrobial resistance for UPSC: how resistance develops, deaths and burden, causes in India, Red Line, colistin ban, AWaRe, NAP-AMR 2.0 and way…
On 17 October 2026 the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) capped trade margins on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs at 30%, using its special public-interest power under Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. The Government expects the retail price of these medicines to fall by up to 70%, and the new prices apply from 9 November 2026. The list includes costly immunotherapy drugs such as pembrolizumab and durvalumab.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NPPA, DPCO 2013 Para 19, trade margin, scheduled vs non-scheduled drugs. · Mains GS-II: affordable medicines and health equity.
18 Oct 2026
A PIB backgrounder on 13 October 2026 says India's yearly emerging TB cases fell 21% from 2015 to 2024, against a 12% global fall. Treatment coverage is 92% versus 78% worldwide. The same day a JOSH youth campaign began in 11 States and 55 districts to push screening, treatment and stigma reduction.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NTEP, BPaLM, Nikshay Poshan, JOSH, WHO report figures. · Mains GS-II: health programmes; SDG 3; community mobilisation.
13 Oct 2026
On 12 October 2026 the Union Health Secretary asked all States and UTs to make Clinical Establishments display the rates for their services prominently. The Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules, 2012 require rates to be shown at a conspicuous place in the local language and in English.
UPSC angle: Prelims: the Act and Rules; Medical and Ayush Visas. · Mains GS-II: patient rights and regulation of private health care.
12 Oct 2026
The government has approved a cap on trade margins for non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines at 30% of MRP. It expects prices to fall by up to 70% and patients to save about ₹2,500 crore a year. NPPA found average mark-ups of about 170% on such drugs. A 2019 cap on 42 cancer drugs saved ₹984 crore a year.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NPPA, DPCO. · Mains GS-II: health; GS-III: pharma regulation.
8 Oct 2026
At the UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in New York on 25 September 2026, India's Health Secretary said the WHO Pandemic Agreement will be credible only with a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system. India also asked that digital public infrastructure be treated as a global public good.
UPSC angle: Mains: Is the WHO Pandemic Agreement equitable for developing countries?
26 Sep 2026
FSSAI has proposed a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, so that only products made from milk can be sold as "Paneer". Analogue products licensed under the "Analogue in Dairy Context" category would have to stop using the word. Comments are open for 60 days.
UPSC angle: Prelims: FSSAI's parent Act and ministry.
24 Sep 2026