Question

The drug price control order (DPCO) is an order issued by the Government under the____ which enables it to fix the prices of some essential bulk and their formulations

• A. Essential Commodities Amendment
• B. Ethical Commodities Act
• C. Essential Commodities Act
• D. Essential Commodities Accessories

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The question asks about the legislative basis of the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) in India. Let's analyze the options and reason out the correct answer step by step:

1. The DPCO is an order that lets the government control the prices of essential drugs. It is crucial for maintaining affordability and accessibility of essential medicines to the public.
2. To determine which act empowers the government to issue such an order, we examine the options:

Essential Commodities Amendment 

• : This refers to amendments made to an existing act. It's not a standalone act that establishes control over drugs, thus less likely to be the basis of DPCO.

Ethical Commodities Act

• : This option doesn't exist in the context of Indian legal framework. It appears to be a distractor.

Essential Commodities Act

• : This act empowers the government to regulate and control the production, supply, and distribution of certain commodities considered essential to the community. These commodities include drugs, food items, etc. Thus, it's logical that the DPCO is issued under this act.

Essential Commodities Accessories

• : This does not relate to any known legislature or act pertinent to drug pricing. This option can be disregarded.

1. Based on the explanation above, the correct answer is Essential Commodities Act. This act provides the legal framework for controlling the prices of essential commodities, including pharmaceutical drugs.
2. Therefore, the correct choice is supported by existing legislative processes and practices in India regarding drug pricing control.