UPSC Invites Pharmacy, Medical Graduates for 186 CDSCO Drug Inspector Posts
New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has invited online applications for the recruitment of 186 Drug Inspector posts in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The recruitment has been announced through Advertisement No. 07/2026, with the online application process commencing on June 27, 2026.
Eligible candidates can submit their applications through the UPSC Online Recruitment Application (ORA) portal until 6:00 pm on July 17, 2026. The recruitment is for Group 'A' Gazetted posts, and selected candidates may be posted anywhere in India depending on the organisational requirements of the CDSCO.
According to the notification, UPSC has announced 186 vacancies, including 55 posts for the Unreserved (UR) category, 41 for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), 39 for Other Backward Classes (OBC), 35 for Scheduled Castes (SC), and 16 for Scheduled Tribes (ST). Applicants must possess a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a degree in Medicine with specialization in Clinical Pharmacology or Microbiology from a recognised university. The maximum age limit is 30 years for UR and EWS candidates, 33 years for OBC candidates, and 35 years for SC and ST candidates, while Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) will be eligible for age relaxation as per Government of India norms.
Candidates are required to complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) on the UPSC ORA portal before submitting their applications. During the application process, they must upload a passport-sized photograph, signature, educational qualification certificates, valid photo identity proof, and other relevant documents. Candidates claiming reservation or PwBD benefits must also upload the prescribed category or disability certificates wherever applicable.
The application fee has been fixed at Rs 25 for General, OBC and EWS male candidates, while SC, ST, women and PwBD candidates are exempted from payment of the application fee.The selection process will involve shortlisting of applications, followed by a Recruitment Test, wherever conducted by UPSC, personal interview, document verification, and medical examination. Candidates selected for appointment will be placed under Pay Level-8 of the Seventh Central Pay Commission, with an estimated monthly in-hand salary ranging between Rs 70,000 and Rs 85,000, depending on the place of posting and applicable allowances. In addition to basic pay, employees will be entitled to benefits such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance, National Pension System (NPS), medical facilities, Leave Travel Concession (LTC) and other Central Government benefits.
The notification further states that selected candidates will undergo a probation period of two years, which will include mandatory induction training of at least two weeks. While the headquarters will be at CDSCO, New Delhi, postings can be made anywhere in the country. Drug Inspectors will be responsible for inspecting pharmaceutical manufacturing units, monitoring the quality of medicines, collecting drug samples, ensuring compliance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and initiating regulatory action in cases of violations.
The Times of India reports that the recruitment drive aims to fill 186 Drug Inspector vacancies in CDSCO through UPSC's ORA portal. The report highlights the eligibility criteria, category-wise vacancies, application process, fee structure, selection procedure, pay scale, service benefits, probation requirements and the regulatory responsibilities that will be assigned to selected Drug Inspectors.
The recruitment offers an opportunity for qualified pharmacy and medical graduates to join the national drug regulatory system and contribute to ensuring the quality, safety and regulatory compliance of medicines manufactured and marketed across the country.
