New Delhi– As India grapples with persistent challenges in its pharmaceutical sector, recent incidents of spurious and substandard drugs have sparked alarm across multiple states. According to government data, between April 2024 and March 2025, regulators identified 245 spurious drug samples out of over 116,000 tested, alongside 3,104 declared not of standard quality (NSQ). This has led to 961 prosecutions nationwide, underscoring a deepening crisis that threatens public health and erodes trust in one of the world’s largest drug exporters. With tragedies like adulterated cough syrup deaths in multiple states serving as grim reminders, authorities have intensified raids and seizures in 2025, revealing counterfeit operations from cancer medications to everyday remedies.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has been at the forefront, issuing monthly alerts on spurious drugs. For instance, in September 2025, central and state laboratories flagged over 100 NSQ samples, including common drugs like antibiotics and painkillers. While comprehensive state-wise breakdowns remain limited in public data, reported cases paint a picture of widespread vulnerabilities, often linked to illegal manufacturing, online sales, and unauthorized distribution.
Northern States Lead in Raids and Seizures
In Uttar Pradesh, authorities ramped up enforcement with raids in August 2025 on stores in Agra and Lucknow, seizing counterfeit drugs as part of a broader crackdown by the Food Safety & Drugs Department and Special Task Force. This follows a pattern in the region, where northern states saw coordinated operations in early November 2025, netting crores in fake medicines and codeine-based syrups. Himachal Pradesh, a pharma hub, has faced scrutiny too: In March 2025, reports highlighted spurious drug makers tarnishing the industry’s image, with FDA actions from states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat targeting non-compliant units. More recently, a Baddi-based pharma unit was raided in November 2025 for illegal manufacturing.
Jammu and Kashmir has also been in the spotlight. On November 7, 2025, the High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) urging action against spurious, substandard, and misbranded drugs, affirming existing regulatory mechanisms under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The court emphasized that authorities must pursue violators with evidence, amid ongoing complaints about fake medicines in the Union Territory.
Delhi and Haryana were hit by Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids in November 2025, though focused on a fake degree racket, which indirectly ties into broader illicit networks potentially enabling spurious drug distribution.
Western and Central India: Online Scams and Fake Syrups
Gujarat emerged as a hotspot for digital fraud, with Rajkot police busting a gang in October 2025 that duped over 4,000 people nationwide by selling spurious “sex stamina” pills online. The operation involved fake medicines claiming to enhance performance, highlighting the risks of unregulated e-commerce in pharmaceuticals.
In neighboring Rajasthan, a firm selling spurious drugs was exposed in November 2025, with links to a prior ban in Himachal Pradesh. Chhattisgarh reported a fresh case just days ago, where a medical store owner in Raipur was arrested for selling fake cough syrups, echoing national concerns over adulterated syrups that have caused child deaths in recent years. Goa, however, stands out positively: No spurious drugs were detected in 1,269 samples analyzed between 2024 and 2025, per state reports.
Southern States Battle Unauthorized Sales
Telangana’s Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has been proactive, conducting 65 seizures in March 2025 alone for various offenses, including spurious drugs. Earlier, in May 2025, a public advisory detailed raids on spurious anti-cancer drugs from 2023-2024, with ongoing actions like a September 2025 raid on a quack’s clinic stocking illegal drugs. In November 2025, narcotics worth ₹1 crore were destroyed in Hyderabad, though some cases overlap with spurious pharma products.
Kerala raised alarms in November 2025 over suspected transportation and sale of spurious drugs through unauthorized channels, prompting pharmacists to demand stricter regulations.
Eastern India: Major Busts in High-Value Counterfeits
West Bengal witnessed a significant seizure in January 2025, when Kolkata authorities confiscated counterfeit cancer, diabetes, and essential medications worth ₹6.6 crore, as part of a Union Health Ministry operation. This underscores the “hidden epidemic” of counterfeits surging across India, often involving life-saving drugs.
Experts attribute the rise to weak regulations, as seen in past international incidents like contaminated Indian-made syrups linked to child deaths in Gambia and Uzbekistan in 2022. Domestically, the problem runs deeper than cough syrups, with about 1 in 25 samples failing quality tests over the past decade, leading to over 4,700 prosecutions from 2014 to 2025.
In response, the CDSCO has mandated stricter compliance with revised Schedule M guidelines, requiring monthly reports from states on inspections and actions. Industry watchers call for enhanced surveillance, public awareness, and international collaboration to stem this public health threat. As cases mount, the focus remains on protecting vulnerable populations from the poison in the bottle.
