Drug Licence — Retail (Form 20/21) & Wholesale (Form 20B/21B) in Delhi, UP, Haryana and Bihar
Quick answer: A medical store needs licences in Forms 20 and 21; a wholesaler needs 20B and 21B — applied for on Form 19 to the State Licensing Authority. In Delhi the fee is ₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for the pair). Since the 2017 amendment (G.S.R. 1337(E)) licences are perpetual: they stay valid as long as the retention fee is paid before the end of every five-year period; pay late and it is ₹1,500 plus 2% of the fee per month for up to six months, after which the licence is deemed cancelled. Retail needs a registered pharmacist; wholesale a competent person.
Last verified 4 October 2026 — rules on this page checked against the current notifications. We update it the day a rule changes.
Fees and validity — the rule, not the folklore
| Item | Position |
|---|---|
| Retail Form 20 / Form 21 | ₹1,500 each (Delhi Drugs Control checklist) — ₹3,000 for a chemist shop |
| Wholesale Form 20B / Form 21B | ₹1,500 each — ₹3,000 for a wholesaler |
| Restricted licence 20A (Form 19A) | ₹500 |
| Homoeopathic 20C / 20D | ₹250 |
| Validity | Perpetual — Rule 63(1) as substituted by G.S.R. 1337(E), 27 October 2017: valid "if licencee deposits a licence retention fee … before the expiry of a period of every succeeding five years" |
| Late retention | ₹1,500 + 2% of licence fee per month or part, up to six months; thereafter deemed cancelled (Rule 63(3)) |
| Duplicate licence | ₹150 |
People and premises
- Retail: sales under the personal supervision of a pharmacist registered with the State Pharmacy Council
- Wholesale: a competent person — the Rule 64 qualification (graduate with one year's experience in drug dealing, or matriculate with four years) is confirmed against the current text at filing
- Premises: minimum area and cold-storage conditions per the state checklist; separate 20/21 and 20B/21B storage if both held
- Documents (Delhi list): system-generated Form 19; fee receipts; affidavit of non-conviction of proprietor/partners/directors and the firm; ownership or tenancy proof; site plan; pharmacist or competent-person registration, qualification and appointment letter
Authority by state
| State | Licensing authority |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Department of Drugs Control, GNCTD (drugs.delhi.gov.in) |
| Uttar Pradesh (Noida, Ghaziabad) | Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) — district Drug Inspectors and the Licensing Authority |
| Haryana (Gurugram, Faridabad) | Food and Drugs Administration Haryana (State Drugs Controller) |
| Bihar (Patna) | Drugs Control Administration, Health Department |
Several states route applications through CDSCO's Online National Drugs Licensing System (ONDLS); we confirm the live portal for your district at filing. State fees outside Delhi are quoted from the authority's own schedule at filing.
What we do
- Form 19 filing with the full document set; inspection scheduling; replies to deficiency memos
- Retention-fee calendar for every five-year period — the single biggest cause of "deemed cancelled" licences
- Add-ons: MCD HTL (chemist category ₹10,000 + ₹5,750), GST, Shop Act; wholesale cold-chain SOPs
We state only figures read on the issuing authority's own notification or portal; anything else is confirmed at filing and never estimated.
Client: A Patna wholesaler whose 20B/21B had lapsed on the retention date.
Situation: Distributor supply was cut when the licence showed as cancelled after seven months.
Approach: Established the deemed-cancellation position, filed fresh Form 19 with the competent person's documents and a premises inspection within the week.
Outcome: Fresh licences granted; a retention calendar now runs for all four forms.
Client identity and certain details have been changed or withheld to protect confidentiality. Outcomes depend on individual facts and are not a guarantee of results.
Talk to us before you file anything
Frequently asked questions
What is the drug licence fee in Delhi?
₹1,500 per form — ₹3,000 for a retail pair (20 + 21) or a wholesale pair (20B + 21B); restricted 20A is ₹500 and homoeopathic 20C/20D ₹250.
Is a drug licence valid for five years?
No. Since the 2017 amendment it is perpetual, provided the retention fee is paid before the end of every five-year period.
What if the retention fee is paid late?
₹1,500 plus 2% of the licence fee per month or part thereof, for up to six months; after that the licence is deemed cancelled and a fresh application is needed.
Can a non-pharmacist own a medical store?
Yes, but retail sale must be under a registered pharmacist's personal supervision.
Who is a competent person for a wholesale licence?
A person meeting the Rule 64 qualification — a graduate with one year's experience in dealing in drugs, or a matriculate with four years — confirmed against the current rule at filing.
What is Form 20B?
The wholesale licence for drugs other than those in Schedules C and C(1); 21B covers Schedule C/C(1) drugs.
Which authority issues drug licences in Noida and Gurugram?
UP FSDA for Noida/Ghaziabad; Food and Drugs Administration Haryana for Gurugram/Faridabad.
Can I apply online?
Yes — through the state system or CDSCO's ONDLS where the state has moved to it; we confirm the live route for your district.