The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) held interviews for the appointment of the DCGI in January. The top contenders for the post were Dr. VG Somani, Dr. Rajeev Raghuvanshi, and Dr.Jai Prakash. 

On January 30, the UPSC communicated its decision to the Health Ministry and recommended Raghuvanshi for the country's apex drug regulator post. 

Former Ranbaxy, DRL exec Rajeev Raghuvanshi is appointed as new DCGI with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post till his attaining the age of superannuation on 28.02.2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. 

Dr Raghuvanshi had joined the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission as the Secretary-cum-Scientific Director on February 16, 2021. He completed his bachelor's and Masters's from IIT-BHU (formerly IT-BHU), Varanasi, and his Ph.D. from the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. 

SIGNIFICANCE: DCGI heads the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), which is responsible for ensuring the quality of drug supply across the country. 

DCGI has the authority to approve new drugs and regulate clinical trials in India. 

His appointment comes at a time when India's pharma regulatory landscape is under the scanner after multiple reports of sub-standard and toxic drugs exported to various countries in the globe began doing the rounds last November-December.