The Union Health Ministry announced that 167 drug samples across India did not meet quality standards in December 2025. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) reported that Central drug labs found 74 samples to be 'not of standard quality' (NSQ). State drug testing labs identified 93 more such samples. The CDSCO updates its list of NSQ and spurious drugs monthly as part of routine checks. The Ministry clarified, "The failure is specific to the drug products of the batch tested by the government laboratory, and it does not warrant any concerns on the other drug products available in the market." Additionally, five drug samples were found spurious in December — four from North Zone (Ghaziabad) and one each from FDA Ahmedabad, Bihar, and Maharashtra. These were made by unauthorized manufacturers using brand names belonging to other companies. "The matter is under investigation, and action will be taken as per the law," said the Ministry. The routine identification of NSQ and spurious drugs is done in collaboration with State regulators to keep unsafe medicines off the market.