Drug license (drug licence)

Licence to sell medicines under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Here is who needs it, the official fee, the documents and the steps to apply.

Fees last checked: 28 Oct 2026

The short answer

Licence to sell medicines under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Here is who needs it, the official fee, the documents and the steps to apply. Key facts: Official fee: ₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21); Issued by: Drugs Control Department, Government of NCT of Delhi; Time and validity: About 30 days, with inspection (Valid: Permanent; retention fee of ₹1,500 per form every 5 years).

Source: drugs.delhi.gov.in, checked 18 Oct 2026.

Official fee

₹1,500 per form

₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21

Issued by

Drugs Control Department, Government of NCT of Delhi

Time and validity

About 30 days, with inspection

Valid: Permanent; retention fee of ₹1,500 per form every 5 years

Official fee Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source

Get a checklist for your exact business

Pick your business and city to see every licence you need, the fee for each and the documents to keep ready.

Open the licence checklist

What is a retail drug licence?

Licence to sell medicines under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

Who needs it?

Pharmacies and medical stores. Needs a registered pharmacist and at least 10 sq m.

Official fee

₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)

Fees and rules change and can differ between offices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay.

Drug licence office and fee by state

The Drugs Controller of each state issues the licence. Fees are shown as listed in our data for that state. For the forms, eligibility, documents and steps in full, read the pharmacy license guide, or open your state page below.

State	Issued by	Official fee	Apply at
Delhi	Drugs Control Department, Government of NCT of Delhi	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	drugs.delhi.gov.in
Maharashtra	Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	fda.maharashtra.gov.in
West Bengal	Directorate of Drugs Control, Health and Family Welfare Department, West Bengal	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	wbhealth.gov.in (Directorate of Drugs Control)
Tamil Nadu	Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department (Drugs Control)	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	drugscontrol.tn.gov.in
Karnataka	Drugs Control Department, Karnataka	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	drugs.karnataka.gov.in
Telangana	Drugs Control Administration, Telangana	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	dca.telangana.gov.in
Gujarat	Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA), Gujarat	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	gujhealth.gujarat.gov.in (FDCA)
Uttar Pradesh	Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), Uttar Pradesh	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	fsdaup.gov.in
Bihar	Drugs Control Administration, Health Department, Bihar	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	nsws.gov.in (state approvals)
Rajasthan	Drug Control Organisation, Medical and Health Department, Rajasthan	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	rajswasthya.rajasthan.gov.in
Madhya Pradesh	Food and Drugs Administration, Madhya Pradesh	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	fdamp.mponline.gov.in (MP FDA online portal)
Haryana	Food and Drugs Administration, Haryana	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	fdaharyana.gov.in
Kerala	Drugs Control Department, Kerala	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	dc.kerala.gov.in
Andhra Pradesh	Drugs Control Administration, Andhra Pradesh	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	dca.ap.nic.in
Punjab	Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab (Drugs Control)	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	health.punjab.gov.in (Drug and Cosmetic Act page)
Odisha	Drug Control Administration, Odisha	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	dcaodisha.nic.in
Assam	Commissionerate of Food and Drugs Administration, Assam	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	fda.assam.gov.in
Jharkhand	State Drugs Control Directorate, Jharkhand	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	sdcd.jharkhand.gov.in
Chhattisgarh	Food and Drug Administration, Chhattisgarh	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	cg.nic.in/dcml (Food and Drug Licensing)
Uttarakhand	Food Safety and Drug Administration, Uttarakhand	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	fda.uk.gov.in
Goa	Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (DFDA), Goa	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	dfda.goa.gov.in
Chandigarh	Drugs Controller and Licensing Authority, Chandigarh Administration (Health Department)	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	admser.chd.nic.in (Chandigarh online services)
Himachal Pradesh	Drugs Control Licensing Authority, Himachal Pradesh	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	dcla.hp.gov.in
Jammu and Kashmir	Drugs and Food Control Organisation, Jammu and Kashmir	₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source	CDSCO list of State Drugs Control departments

Documents to keep ready

Registered pharmacist: qualification, State Pharmacy Council registration, appointment letter
Premises of at least 10 sq m (15 sq m for retail plus wholesale)
Rent agreement or ownership proof
Site plan and key plan
Refrigerator purchase bill
Non-conviction affidavit
Photo ID of the owner

Steps to apply

Collect the documents listed here.
Apply online at drugs.delhi.gov.in.
Pay the official fee: ₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21).
Wait for the result. Usual time: About 30 days, with inspection.
Keep the certificate safe. Validity: Permanent; retention fee of ₹1,500 per form every 5 years.

Where to apply

Drugs Control Department, Government of NCT of Delhi. Apply on the official portal: drugs.delhi.gov.in.

Govt License is not a government website. We never take government fees or apply for you.

After you apply

What to do once the form is submitted: where to track it, how long it takes, why it gets rejected and what the law says if you do not have it.

Track your application

Use the official portal where you applied. It is linked above.

Typical time

Set by each state. Where a state publishes it: up to 35 days in Delhi, about 30 days in Tamil Nadu and Goa, up to 30 working days in Karnataka. Other states publish no time limit online.

Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source

If you operate without it

Selling medicines without a valid licence is punishable with jail for 3 to 5 years and a fine of at least ₹1,00,000 or three times the value of the medicines seized, whichever is more. A court can give a lighter sentence for special reasons it records. The stock and the fittings used can also be confiscated. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 changed sections 29, 30(2) and 32B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act but not section 27(b), as read in the Gazette copy. Changes made after that are not checked here.

Law: Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, section 27(b)(ii) read with section 18(c); Drugs Rules, 1945, rule 58(2)

Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source

Common reasons for rejection and how to fix them

Reason	How to fix it
Premises are smaller than 10 square metres (15 if retail and wholesale together) or have no proper storage	Choose or change the premises so they meet Rule 64, then ask for a fresh inspection.
No Registered Pharmacist, or the pharmacist is not registered with the State Pharmacy Council or is named at another shop	Appoint a Registered Pharmacist who works only for you and attach the registration certificate and an appointment letter.
A pharmacy does not meet Schedule N (dispensing area, height, barrier, poison cupboard, apparatus)	Fix the points in Schedule N and reapply or ask for re-inspection.
Missing or mismatched papers: rent agreement without the owner's NOC, a different address on different papers, no site plan, wrong declaration or fee receipt	Use the same address on every paper, attach the owner's NOC, ID and ownership proof, use the formats your state portal gives (or our free samples, then confirm with your office) and pay the exact fee.
Earlier conviction or an earlier cancelled or suspended licence	The authority may refuse. You can appeal to the State Government within 30 days of the order.

Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source

Govt License is an independent guide. Fines and rules change, so confirm on the official portal. Items marked Not officially verified could not be checked on an official page.

Free formats you may need

Printable samples you can copy, fill in and print. Each is only a sample, so check it with the issuing office.

Landlord NOC

A letter from the owner of a shop or office saying the tenant may run a business there.

Free format

Partnership consent letter

A letter signed by all partners of a firm saying one partner may apply for, sign for and hold a licence on behalf of the firm.

Free format

Pharmacist consent letter

A letter from a Registered Pharmacist saying he or she agrees to work as the qualified person in charge of a pharmacy or medical store, for the drug licence application (Forms 20 and 21).

Free format

Pharmacist affidavit

A sworn statement by a Registered Pharmacist giving registration details and confirming he or she will personally supervise the pharmacy named in the drug licence application.

Free format

Premises declaration

A declaration by the owner of a pharmacy or medical store giving the area, storage and ownership details of the premises, for the drug licence application.

Free format

All free formats

Common questions

What is a retail drug licence?

Licence to sell medicines under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

Who needs a retail drug licence?

Pharmacies and medical stores. Needs a registered pharmacist and at least 10 sq m.

How much does a retail drug licence cost?

The official fee is ₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21). Confirm on the portal before you pay.

Where do I apply for a retail drug licence?

Apply on the official portal at drugs.delhi.gov.in, run by Drugs Control Department, Government of NCT of Delhi.

How long does it take and how long is it valid?

Usual time: About 30 days, with inspection. Validity: Permanent; retention fee of ₹1,500 per form every 5 years.

Is Govt License a government website?

No. Govt License is an independent guide. We link to the official government portals where you apply and pay. Always confirm the fee on the portal before paying.

Aksar pooche jaane wale sawaal

Yahi jaankari, Hinglish mein.

Drug licence ka application status kaise check karein?

Official link par application ya reference number daalkar status dekhein. Link upar 'After you apply' mein diye hain: official portal. Apply karne ke baad kam se kam utna time rukein: Set by each state. Where a state publishes it: up to 35 days in Delhi, about 30 days in Tamil Nadu and Goa, up to 30 working days in Karnataka. Other states publish no time limit online..

Drug licence ka application reject ho jaye to kya karein?

Portal par likhi wajah padhein, galat ya dhundhle document badalkar dobara apply karein. Sabse aam wajah aur unka solution upar 'After you apply' mein diye gaye hain. Jahan 'Not officially verified' likha hai wahan official site se pakka kar lein.

Bina Drug licence ke pakde gaye to kya hoga?

Kanoon (Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, section 27(b)(ii) read with section 18(c); Drugs Rules, 1945, rule 58(2)) ke tahat jurmana ya saza ho sakti hai. Rakam aur details upar 'After you apply' mein English mein di gayi hain. Jahan 'Not officially verified' likha hai wahan official source se pakka kar lein.