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CDSCO

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, India's national drug regulator.

CDSCO is the central authority under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act. It approves new drugs, sets standards, licenses certain categories of manufacture and import, and issues the notifications that add or remove molecules from schedules such as Schedule H1.

For a retail pharmacy, CDSCO matters mainly as the source of truth for classifications. When a schedule list changes, it changes by notification, and summaries published elsewhere lag behind — which is why a medicine can be Schedule H1 while an older article still lists only the original 46 molecules.

Day-to-day enforcement, however, sits with the state drug control authority, not with CDSCO. Licences, inspections and record-keeping expectations are all state-level, and they differ between states.

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Related terms

Schedule H1Prescription-only medicines that additionally require a dedicated register entry under Rule 65. Drug licence (Form 20 / Form 21)The retail licence required to sell medicines in India, issued by the state authority. Rule 65The rule in the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules 1945 setting out sale conditions and record-keeping. NPPAThe National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, which fixes ceiling prices for scheduled medicines.

All terms

Batch numberBreakage and damageCDSCOCGST, SGST and IGSTCold chainCredit noteDPCO (Drugs Prices Control Order)Drug licence (Form 20 / Form 21)Expiry returnFEFO (First Expiry First Out)Generic vs branded medicineGSTR-1GSTR-3BHSN codeInput tax credit (ITC)Loose sale (cut strip)MRP (Maximum Retail Price)Narcotic registerNear-expiry stockNPPAPack factor (units per pack)Pharmacist registrationPTR (Price to Retailer)PTS (Price to Stockist)Purchase invoiceRed-border warning labelReorder levelRetail vs wholesale drug licenceReturn to vendor (RTV)Rule 65Rx symbolSalt compositionSchedule HSchedule H1Schedule XScheme goods (free goods)Shortbook (short book)Stock rotationStockist

This glossary is a practical reference for Indian retail pharmacy, not legal, tax or clinical advice. Requirements under the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules are enforced by state drug control authorities and vary; GST treatment should be confirmed with your CA. Verify anything you intend to rely on against the current notified position. As of August 2026.