Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi appointed Drugs Controller General of India

23 Feb, 2023, New Delhi: Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi - the secretary-cum-scientific director of Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission – has been appointed India’s Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). The event transpired on Wednesday, and comes on the heels of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)’s recommendation for his name for the post of DCGI last month. 

The appointment is likely to be effective from the date Mr Raghuvanshiwas assumes charge till he attains the age of superannuation (which is slated on February 28, 2025) or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The ACC order mentions that "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal for appointment of Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, to the post of Drugs Controller (India), Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)." 
Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshiwas succeeds Dr V G Somani to the post. Dr Somani’s extended tenure had expired on February 15, and Dr P B N Prasad was given the charge of the post from February 16 to 28. Dr Somani was appointed DCGI for a term of three years on August 14, 2019. His tenure was extended twice -- on August 16 and November 16, 2022 -- for three months each. 

The DCGI heads the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) which is the apex quality custodian when it comes to drugs supply across the country. The DCGI also carries the authority to allow approvals for new drugs and regulating clinical trials.

Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi: Journey synopsis 

Dr. Raghuvanshi completed his Bachelors and Masters from IIT-BHU (formerly IT-BHU), Varanasi and PhD from the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. After working for seven years at the National Institute of Immunology, he joined leading Indian multinational pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. After 12 years at Ranbaxy Laboratories, he moved to Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, Hyderabad, where he worked for 11 years.

Dr. Raghuvanshi's expertise lies in dosage form design and development, mainly in the domain of pharmaceutical innovation. He has been involved in development of different kind of products such as oral solids, oral liquids, topicals, injections, nasal sprays, auto-injectors, sublingual, mouth dissolve, extended release and delayed release for global markets. More than 200 products developed by him and his teams are currently being sold in India, the US, Europe and emerging markets.

Dr. Raghuvanshi has 14 granted US patents along with more than 250 published patent cooperation treaties and Indian patents. He has more than 25 publications in peer reviewed journals and has co-authored six chapters in books. For his contribution, Dr Reddy's Labs has twice awarded him with "Dr Reddy's Excellence Award". Dr Raghuvanshi had joined the IPC as secretary-cum-scientific director on February 16, 2021.

*This press release is published by VOH team.*

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