GovernanceHealth
News 18 of 21

FSDA Cancels 16 Pharma Licences, Suspends Pfizer Depot in Bengaluru Fake Drug Bust Worth ₹5 Cr

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
21 Sept 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:₹5 crore16 licences cancelled8 licences suspended5,640 vials₹3.38 croreAugust 18
Bodies:FSDASIT
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Karnataka FSDA cancelled 16 retail/wholesale pharma licences and suspended 8, including Pfizer's depot, after a fake drug bust in Bengaluru.

2.Raids on August 18 seized counterfeit drugs worth ₹5 crore, including fake vials, injection-filling equipment, and non-functional QR codes.

3.A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the wider racket involving spurious life-saving drugs.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

Karnataka FSDA has cancelled 16 pharma licences and suspended 8 others, including Pfizer's depot, after seizing counterfeit drugs worth ₹5 crore from farmhouses. The racket involved refilling cheap drugs into vials of expensive MNC brands, posing a serious public health risk. This highlights gaps in drug regulatory enforcement and the need for stricter supply chain vigilance.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

RegulatorKarnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA)
Raids DateAugust 18, 2026
Seized Drugs Value₹5 crore
Licences Cancelled16 firms
Licences Suspended8 firms (including Pfizer)
Largest Haul Item5,640 vials of counterfeit Cefiavigent 2.5 injection (₹3.38 crore)
SIT FormedYes, to probe wider racket

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Regulator: Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA)
  • ›Raids Date: August 18, 2026
  • ›Target this Data: ₹5 crore worth counterfeit drugs seized; 16 licences cancelled; 8 suspended.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (regulatory framework for drug quality).

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which regulatory body is primarily responsible for enforcing the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 at the state level in Karnataka?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Bengaluru fake drug bust:

1. The FSDA seized counterfeit drugs worth approximately ₹5 crore from farmhouses in Bengaluru South.

2. Pfizer's depot was suspended for its alleged direct involvement in manufacturing counterfeit drugs.

3. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe the wider racket.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

What was the total value of the counterfeit Cefiavigent 2.5 injection vials seized in the FSDA raid?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary public health risk highlighted by the FSDA regarding the seized counterfeit drugs?

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