The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised ceiling prices of scheduled formulations for 2026 based on an annual Wholesale Price Index (WPI) increase of 0.64956% for calendar year 2025 over 2024, effective from 1 April 2026. This post provides an interactive DPCO 2026 drug price index so you can search ceiling prices by drug name, dosage form, unit and official S.O. notification details in one place.
Quick overview of NPPA and DPCO 2013
NPPA is India’s drug price regulator under the Department of Pharmaceuticals and is responsible for fixing and monitoring ceiling prices of scheduled formulations under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO 2013).Scheduled formulations are the medicines included in Schedule I of DPCO (National List of Essential Medicines – NLEM) and are subject to notified ceiling prices that manufacturers cannot exceed, except for WPI‑linked annual adjustments.
WPI-based price revision for 2026 (0.64956%)
For the 2026 price cycle, NPPA has applied a WPI change of +0.64956% for calendar year 2025 over 2024, allowing manufacturers to revise Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of scheduled formulations by about 0.64% without prior government approval under Para 16(2) of DPCO 2013. Revised ceiling prices notified by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers will be applicable from 01 April 2026, and manufacturers selling above the new ceiling must bring MRPs down accordingly.
Interactive DPCO 2026 Drug Price Index (search, filter, sort)
Below is an interactive DPCO 2026 drug price index built from NPPA’s ceiling price list, with embedded data fields for drug name, dosage form, strength, unit, 2026 ceiling price, S.O. number and date.You can search by molecule or brand‑agnostic drug name, filter by dosage form, and sort by price to quickly identify ceiling price trends across your product portfolio.
DPCO 2026 Drug Price Index
Interactive tool to view ceiling prices with WPI impact (+0.64956%)
| # | Drug Name | Dosage Form | Strength | Unit | Price 2026 (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading data… | |||||
How to read the DPCO 2026 table
The interactive table shows each scheduled formulation as per NPPA DPCO 2026 Drug Price list (updated): Drug Name, Dosage Form, Strength, Unit, Price 2026, S.O. number and S.O. date. The “Price 2026” column reflects ceiling prices effective from 1 April 2026 after applying WPI 0.64956%, while the S.O. number and date link each row back to the underlying NPPA notification for audit and compliance purposes.
- Drug name: Molecule‑level description (e.g. “Amlodipine”, “Paracetamol”, “Meropenem”) as used in NPPA schedules.
- Dosage Form: Tablet, capsule, injection, oral liquid, inhalation, gel, lotion, vaccine, etc., matching DPCO nomenclature.
- Strength: Exact strength / combination (mg, IU, mcg, %, units), including FDCs like “Amoxicillin A + Clavulanic acid B”.
- Unit: Pricing unit such as “1 Tablet”, “1 Capsule”, “1 ML”, “1 Vial”, “Per Metered Dose”, “Each Dose”, etc.
- Price 2026: NPPA‑notified ceiling price per unit (exclusive of GST), post‑WPI revision.
- S.O. No. & Date: Reference back to specific NPPA price fixation or revision orders like S.O. 1489(E), S.O. 2027(E), S.O. 5018(E) etc.
What this update means for pharma manufacturers and marketers
Manufacturers of scheduled formulations can revise MRPs up to the revised ceiling price by applying the WPI factor, but cannot exceed the notified ceiling price for any pack size. MRPs that were already below the previous ceiling can be increased only to the extent permitted by Para 16(2) of DPCO 2013 using the 0.64956% WPI factor, and any overcharging beyond the ceiling attracts recovery of overcharged amount with interest under DPCO and the Essential Commodities Act.
Compliance checklist for regulatory, QA and finance teams
How to use this interactive index on your shop floor or in HO?
Regulatory, QA and marketing teams can use the search box to quickly verify whether a proposed MRP for any NLEM product stays within the DPCO 2026 ceiling price band. Field teams and distributors can use the tool to cross‑check MRPs, dosage forms and official S.O. references while filling tender documents, rate contracts or institutional quotations.
NPPA DPCO 2026 – key practical takeaways:
- WPI 0.64956% for 2025 gives a modest 0.64% upward headroom on MRPs of scheduled formulations for 2026.
- Ceiling price revisions are effective from 01 April 2026; MRPs and pack printing must be aligned before this date for new batches.
- Overcharging beyond the revised ceiling attracts recovery with interest and potential penal action under the Essential Commodities Act.
- nteractive tools like this index help avoid manual errors in Excel sheets and ensure faster, audit‑ready decision‑making for pricing and tenders.
Make your NPPA–DPCO pricing actually work for your business
Use our tools to validate third‑party prices, protect margins, and stay compliant with strict control drugs.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) on NPPA DPCO 2026 price update
From when are the revised 2026 ceiling prices applicable?
The revised ceiling prices based on WPI 0.64956% for calendar year 2025 will apply to all scheduled formulations from 01 April 2026, as per NPPA’s WPI memorandum and subsequent DPCO 2013 price notifications.
How much MRP increase is allowed on scheduled formulations?
NPPA has permitted approximately 0.64% increase in Maximum Retail Price for scheduled formulations, in line with the WPI change of 0.64956% for 2025 over 2024, without prior government approval under Para 16(2) of DPCO 2013.
Are non-scheduled formulations also covered under this WPI notification?
The WPI memorandum directly applies to scheduled formulations under DPCO; however, companies often take WPI as a benchmark for non‑scheduled products subject to market dynamics, competition and internal pricing policies.
Reference:
- Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Revises Drug Prices for 2026 under DPCO 2013 – Corpseed Compliance Updates, 25 March 2026.
Available at: https://www.corpseed.com/law-update/ministry-of-chemicals-and-fertilizers-revises-drug-prices-for-2026 - Drugs under price control – NPPA updated price lists – Office of the Drugs Controller, Government of Kerala (DC Kerala).
Main index page: https://dc.kerala.gov.in/en/drugs-under-price-control/ - NPPA Updated Price List as on 01/04/2025 – NPPA consolidated ceiling price list PDF hosted by DC Kerala.
Direct PDF link:
https://dc.kerala.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NPPA-UPDATED-PRICE-LIST-AS-ON-01-04-2025_compressed-1_compressed.pdf - NPPA-OM regarding Movement in Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the preceding calendar year 2025 over the year 2024
Source: https://nppa.gov.in/uploads/tender/8f30eaf83e2dce789951f4ab8c2cff0d.pdf
