India: Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences

“अन्नं ब्रह्म, अन्नं जीवनस्य मूलम्” (Atharvaveda 17.109.1), translated as “Food is Brahma (the Supreme Being), and it is the root of life”, aptly encapsulates the unique position food occupies within the Indian socio-cultural framework. In India, food transcends mere sustenance; it is intrinsically linked with spirituality, tradition, and community life. This elevated status naturally renders food safety not just a regulatory concern, but a matter of public trust and societal well-being.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (“CDSCO”) has issued the final Guidance Document on Medical Device Software under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 (“MDR-2017”). The Guidance Document provides greater clarity on the regulation of medical device software in India.

India's life sciences and healthcare sector continues to evolve through significant regulatory and policy developments in June 2026. Key changes include pharmacovigilance mandates, prohibition of irrational drug combinations, expanded QR code authentication requirements, cosmetics compliance directions, ART and surrogacy clinic renewal frameworks, safe injection practice mandates, drug price control reforms, and new ambulance service guidelines that reshape pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical devices, an