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B.Pharm Semester 3 Syllabus | New PCI B.Pharm Syllabus 2026

Semester 3 of the new B.Pharm syllabus from the Pharmacy Council of India (NEP-2020) has eight theory courses, three practical courses, and one AEC elective slot. The eight theory courses are: Introduction to Machine Learning in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Ethics and Universal Human Values, General Pharmacology, Heterocyclic Compounds and Stereochemistry, Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms I, Pharmaceutical Engineering, and Pharmaceutical Microbiology. The practical courses cover General Pharmacology, Heterocyclic Compounds and Stereochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms I. The elective slot is BP312P AEC, where only 1 elective course shall be selected from the AEC options listed in the appendix of the official syllabus.

Source: Pharmacy Council of India, Syllabus, Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) (2026), As per NEP 2020. The syllabus text below is reproduced word for word from the official document.

BP301T Introduction to Machine Learning in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Theory)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to:

  1. Introduce the fundamental concepts of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science and their relevance to pharmaceutical sciences.
  2. Develop conceptual understanding of machine learning workflows, including model building, training–testing strategies, and evaluation.
  3. Explain the principles and applications of regression models for predicting continuous outcomes in pharmaceutical and healthcare data.
  4. Familiarize students with classification and tree-based models used for clinical prediction and decision-making.
  5. Introduce unsupervised learning techniques and demonstrate their applications in pattern recognition and healthcare data analysis.

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Explain the basic concepts of artificial intelligence and machine learning, including types of learning and model development.
  2. Apply regression models to analyze pharmaceutical data and interpret model outputs and performance metrics.
  3. Analyze classification models for predicting categorical clinical outcomes using evaluation measures such as accuracy, sensitivity, and ROC–AUC.
  4. Interpret tree-based and ensemble learning models for decision-making in pharmaceutical and healthcare applications.
  5. Utilize unsupervised learning techniques such as clustering to identify patterns in healthcare and pharmaceutical datasets.

Unit I

Foundations of Machine Learning

Definition and scope of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science • Types of machine learning: supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning • Features and labels, training data and testing data • Concept of model building and prediction • Train-test split, overfitting and underfitting • Conceptual explanation of bias-variance trade-off • Overview of the basic ML workflow

Unit II

Regression Models in Healthcare

Overview of the concepts in predictive modeling for continuous outcomes, with emphasis on interpretation of outputs, and applications in pharmaceutical sciences.

• Linear regression and multiple linear regression • Model coefficients and their interpretation • Residuals and goodness-of-fit • Performance metrics such as Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), R² score • Implementation of regression models on pharmaceutical data (e.g. dose–response relationships, predicting drug dissolution rates, estimating PK parameters), and demonstration of predictive modeling using python libraries such as sklearn

Unit III

Classification Models in Clinical Applications

Overview of the following ML models used for categorical prediction, with emphasis on conceptual understanding, interpretation of outputs and applications in pharmaceutical sciences.

• Logistic regression • Probability output and threshold selection • Confusion matrix • Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, recall • Intuitive understanding of ROC curve and AUC, and kNearest Neighbors • Demonstration of predictive modeling using pharmaceutical and clinical examples such as predicting adverse drug reactions, disease risk prediction, binary therapeutic outcome modeling.

Unit IV

Tree-Based Models & Ensemble Learning

Overview of the following ML models with emphasis on intuitive and conceptual understanding.

• Decision Trees (structure and splitting criteria), interpretation of decision paths and feature importance • Random Forest, overview of ensemble concept • Advantages and limitations of tree-based models • Demonstration of these models for pharmaceutical and clinical applications such as ADR risk stratification, Patient classification, Predicting treatment outcomes etc.

Unit V

Unsupervised Learning & Practical Case Studies

Overview of the unsupervised learning with emphasis on intuitive and conceptual understanding of pattern recognition and clustering, and their applications in pharmaceutical sciences.

• Concept of unsupervised learning • Clustering overview, K-means clustering, choosing number of clusters, Interpreting cluster outputs • Mini-case study integrating regression, classification, or clustering on healthcare datasets to demonstrate Patient segmentation, and drug grouping based on properties.

BP302T Environmental Sciences (Theory)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to:

  1. Explain the environmental challenges and disaster risks relevant to human health and pharmaceutical activities.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of waste management protocols and legal guidelines for pharmaceutical and biomedical waste handling.
  3. Apply technical understanding of effluent and sewage treatment technologies used in the pharmaceutical sector.
  4. Assess the ecological impact of APIs and recommend mitigation strategies for pollution control.
  5. Explain sustainable practices and energy-efficient operations within pharmaceutical industries.

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Understand the basic concepts of environmental pollution, its types, causes, and disaster management strategies.
  2. Identify and categorize different types of pharmaceutical and biomedical waste generated in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
  3. Describe the design and operation of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), and water purification systems in pharma settings.
  4. Analyze the environmental risks posed by pharmaceutical manufacturing, APIs, and dosage forms.
  5. Recognize the importance of sustainability and green pharmacy practices in the pharmaceutical industry.

Unit I

Environmental Pollution

• Definition, scope, and importance of environmental studies • Types, causes, effects, and control measures of Air, water, soil, noise, and nuclear pollution • Solid waste and hazardous waste management in pharmaceuticals • Role of pharmacists in conservation and sustainable use of resources

Unit II

Pharmaceutical Waste and Effluent Management

• Types of pharmaceutical waste: chemical, expired drugs, packaging, biomedical waste • Biomedical Waste Management Rules (2016) and CPCB guidelines • Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) design and functioning • Water purification methods in pharmaceutical settings (RO, UV, distillation, filtration)

Unit III

Environmental Impact of the Pharmaceutical Industry

• Sources of pollution in pharmaceutical manufacturing • Types of pharmaceutical waste: solid, liquid, and gaseous • Environmental risks of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and its dosage forms. Impact of pharmaceutical residues on ecosystems and human health

Unit IV

Sustainability in the Pharmaceutical Sector

• Principles of sustainable development in pharma • Principles and Practices of Green pharmacy • Energy conservation and resource optimization.

Unit V

Government Policies, Compliance, and Practical Exposure

• Environmental laws: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act • National Green Tribunal (NGT) and regulatory bodies (CPCB, SPCB) • Government initiatives: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan; River rejuvenation program- Namami Gange Programme; Jal Jeevan Mission • ISO-14000

BP303T Ethics and Universal Human Values (Theory)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are:

  1. Understand the concept, definition, scope, and need of Value Education in personal, social, and professional life.
  2. Develop self-exploration, positive attitude, confidence, and ethical sensitivity as foundations of value-based living.
  3. Comprehend the co-existence of Self (I) and Body and establish harmony between physical and psychological aspects.
  4. Analyze the importance of family, society, and relationships in promoting mutual respect, trust, and cooperation.
  5. Appreciate the concept of harmony in nature and existence, leading to sustainable and responsible human conduct.

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Explain the principles, content, and process of Value Education and apply ethical values in day-to-day life.
  2. Demonstrate self-awareness, right understanding, confidence, and clarity about happiness and prosperity through self-exploration.
  3. Distinguish between the needs and activities of the Self and the Body and establish harmony between them.
  4. Apply values such as respect, affection, kindness, gratitude, and love to maintain harmony in family and society.
  5. Interpret the concept of harmony in nature and holistic existence, recognizing the four orders of nature and the comprehensive human goal.

Unit I

Introduction to Value Education

  1. Concept, definition, and need for value education.
  2. Content and process of value education.
  3. Application of human values in everyday life.

Unit II

Self-Exploration and Human Aspirations

  1. Self-exploration as a means of value education.
  2. Development of positive attitude and self-confidence.
  3. Right understanding of happiness and prosperity.

Unit III

Harmony in the Human Being

  1. Human being as more than just the physical body.
  2. Harmony between the Self ('I') and the Body.
  3. Understanding the coexistence of the Self and the Body.

Unit IV

Harmony in the Individual and Society

  1. Understanding the needs of the Self and the needs of the Body.
  2. Activities of the Self and activities of the Body.
  3. Family as the basic unit of human interaction and the role of values in relationships.
  4. Foundations of respect in relationships: affection, kindness, guidance, reverence, glory, gratitude, and love.

Unit V

Harmony in Society and Nature

  1. Comprehensive human goal: the five dimensions of human endeavour.
  2. Harmony in nature and the four orders in nature.
  3. Holistic perception of harmony in existence.

BP304T General Pharmacology (Theory)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are:

  1. To provide a foundational understanding of the history of pharmacology, focusing on the evolution of drug discovery and development.
  2. Introducing the concepts of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, helping students understand the mechanisms of drug action, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
  3. To familiarize students with the principles behind new drug development, including preclinical testing, drug screening methods, and safety pharmacology.
  4. To enable students to learn about toxicity testing, ensuring they understand different methods of evaluating drug safety and the regulatory guidelines involved in toxicity assessment.
  5. To prepare students for understanding the pharmacology of different therapeutic drug classes, by applying basic pharmacological knowledge to current trends in drug development and screening.

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Relate the fundamental principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drugs actions on the human body.
  2. Illustrate the processes involved in the drug metabolism, toxicity, and safety evaluation to relate their significance in the preclinical development of new drugs.
  3. Apply the knowledge of pharmacological principles to efficacy, toxicity, and safety evaluation of new drug candidates.
  4. Assess the ethical and scientific principles underlying drug safety, efficacy, and toxicity testing
  5. Appraise the recent trends in pharmacology.

Unit I

Introduction to Pharmacology

a) Definition, historical perspectives, branches of pharmacology and their scope, drug, nature and sources of drugs, International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and International Nonproprietary Names (INN) for drugs

b) Concept of generic medicines, essential drugs and rational drug use (RDU). Indian Government's initiatives to promote these concepts.

c) Routes of drug administration along with their advantages and disadvantages.

Unit II

Pharmacokinetics

a) Drug absorption, mechanisms of drug absorption, membrane transporters, bioavailability, bioequivalence, factors affecting drug absorption.

b) Drug distribution in different compartments, volume of distribution, storage sites, plasma protein binding and its therapeutic importance.

c) Drug biotransformation, microsomal, nonmicrosomal metabolism and cytochrome P450 enzyme system, phase I and II reactions, first-pass metabolism, entero-hepatic cycling, concept of prodrugs.

d) Drug excretion and its kinetics.

Unit III

Pharmacodynamics

a) Types drug action and mechanisms of drug action, dose response relationship.

b) Receptor theories, structure of receptors, classification and regulation of receptors, spare receptors. Concept of agonist, inverse agonist, partial agonist and antagonist.

c) Signal transduction mechanisms of receptors.

d) Factors modifying drug action including the concepts of tachyphylaxis, idiosyncrasy, drug tolerance, dependence, addiction, and the combined effect of drugs (Additive effect & Synergism).

e) Adverse drug reactions (ADR) and types of ADRs.

f) Drug interaction, types, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug-drug interactions.

Unit IV

Overview of drug discovery and evaluation of new drug

a) Brief discussion on drug discovery and preclinical evaluation of new drugs.

b) Human relevant screening techniques: Reconstructed human epidermis, organ-on- Chip model, skin irritancy test by reconstructed corneal epithelium, skin corrosivity testing by Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay.

c) Advantages and disadvantages of in vitro and in silico Pharmacological screening and evaluation

Unit V

Recent trends in pharmacology

a) Chronopharmacology: Introduction, biological clock, types of rhythms, hormones, diseases and drugs affected by circadian rhythm. Introduction to chrono kinetics and importance of chronotherapeutic and future scope.

b) Introduction, general principles, applications and scope of Pharmacogenomics, Gene therapy, Biosimilars and Precision medicine.

Toxicology

a) Introduction to toxicology and its branches. Classification of poisons based on actions and lethal doses, types of antidotes.

b) General principles of treatment of acute poisoning include heavy metal poisoning. Management of poisoning.

c) Definition and basic knowledge of preclinical toxicity testing-acute toxicity, sub-acute toxicity, combined chronic and carcinogenicity testing as per OECD norms.

d) Basic understanding of principles of genotoxicity and teratogenicity as per OECD guidelines.

e) Definition and concepts of safety pharmacology as per ICH and OECD guidelines.

BP305T Heterocyclic Compounds and Stereochemistry (Theory)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to:

  1. Understand Chemistry of Carboxylic acids, Phenols, Amines and Polynuclear Aromatic hydrocarbons
  2. Explain the concepts of optical isomerism and their pharmaceutical significance.
  3. Explain the concepts of Geometrical isomerism and their pharmaceutical significance
  4. Know about IUPAC nomenclature and Chemistry of heterocycles
  5. Equip students with knowledge of organic reaction mechanisms and their applications in drug synthesis.

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Recall and outline methods for the preparation and chemical reactions of various organic compounds.
  2. Explain the acidity and basicity of organic compounds and recognize the medicinal relevance of polynuclear hydrocarbons and heterocyclic compounds.
  3. Illustrate the concepts of stereoisomerism with appropriate examples.
  4. Classify, name, and interpret the structures and chemistry of heterocyclic compounds.
  5. Describe and analyze the synthesis, chemical behaviour, and applications of heterocyclic and polynuclear hydrocarbon compounds.

Unit I

Chemistry of Carboxylic acids, Phenols, Amines and Polynuclear Aromatic hydrocarbons

  1. Aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids • Methods to prepare carboxylic acids (Oxidation of alcohols, carbonation of Grignard reagent, Kolbe-Schmidt reaction) • Study of acidity of carboxylic acids and effect of substituents on acidity • Study of chemical reactions of carboxylic acids [Mechanism of nucleophilic acyl substitution, Decarboxylation and Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky reaction]. Pharmaceutical applications of aromatic carboxylic acids (Benzoic acid, Salicylic acid, Acetyl Salicylic acid)

  2. Aliphatic and aromatic amines • Methods to prepare amines (Reduction of nitro compound, reduction of nitriles and Hofmann degradation of amides) • Study of basicity of amines and effect of substituents on basicity • Study of mechanism and synthetic applications of diazonium salts including Sandmeyer's and azo-dye coupling reaction

  3. Alcohols and Phenols • Classification of alcohols, methods to prepare alcohols (oxymercuration - demercuration, reduction of carbonyl compounds) • Acidity of alcohols and Phenols including effect of substituent on acidity • Definition of phenols, method to prepare phenols by cumene process. Comparison of the acidity of phenol vs alcohol • Study of mechanism of chemical reactions of phenols (Reimer-Tiemann reaction, halogenation and nitration of phenols). Pharmaceutical applications of alcohols and phenols (Glycerine, Thymol, Paracetamol)

  4. Chemistry of polynuclear hydrocarbons Definition, and classification of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, Study of synthesis (Haworth synthesis) and mechanism of electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions of naphthalene, phenanthrene and anthracene and medicinal uses of drugs containing Naphthalene (Propranolol, Naphazoline) and Phenanthrene (Morphine, Codeine).

Unit II

Optical isomerism

• Definition of stereoisomerism and types of stereoisomerism with examples • Definition with examples for optical activity, origin of chirality, elements of symmetry, chiral and achiral molecules, enantiomerism, diastereoisomerism and meso compounds • Study of configuration including D & L system, sequence rules, R & S system. Medicinal importance of optical isomers with examples • Racemic mixture and resolution of racemic mixtures

Unit III

Geometrical isomerism

• Nomenclature of geometrical isomers (Cis & Trans, E & Z, Syn & Anti system) • Conformational isomerism and its analysis in ethane, butane and cyclohexane • Stereo isomerism in biphenyl compounds (Atropisomerism) and conditions for optical activity in biphenyl compounds

Unit IV

Chemistry of five membered heterocycles

• IUPAC nomenclature and classification of heterocyclic compounds as per the Hansch-Widman system • Relative aromaticity and reactivity of pyrrole, furan and thiophene • Study of synthesis of pyrrole (Paal – Knorr synthesis), furan (Feist-Bénary reaction), thiophene (Hinsberg synthesis) and Mechanism of Electrophilic substitution reactions of pyrrole, furan and thiophene • Medicinal uses of drugs containing pyrrole (Ethosuximide, procyclidine), furan (Furosemide, Nitrofurazone) and thiophene (Cephaloridine, Clopidogrel)

Unit V

Chemistry of other heterocycles

• Study of nomenclature of fused heterocyclic compounds, synthesis for pyrazole (Knorr synthesis), imidazole (Debus-Radziszewski reaction), pyridine (The Hantzsch synthesis), quinoline (The Skraup synthesis) and Electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions of pyrazole and imidazole • Chemical structures of Indole, pyrimidine, benzimidazole, purine, azepine, pyrazole, oxazole, Phenothiazine, benzotriazole, quinoxaline • Basicity of imidazole, pyridine and quinolone • Medicinal uses of any two drugs containing pyrazole (Sildenafil, Celecoxib), imidazole (Metronidazole, Pilocarpine), pyridine (Isoniazid, Chlorpheniramine), quinoline (Chloroquine, Ciprofloxacin), indole (Indomethacin, Reserpine), benzimidazole (Albendazole, Mebendazole) pyrimidine (Fluorouracil, Sulphadiazine), purine (Mercaptopurine, Thioguanine), azepine (Diazepam, Loxapine) heterocycles

BP306T Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms I (Theory)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to:

  1. Understand the fundamentals of dosage form development, including pre-formulation studies, drug–excipient compatibility, and stability considerations as per ICH guidelines.
  2. Acquire knowledge of formulation and manufacturing of compressed solid dosage forms, including tablets and coated tablets, along with quality control and packaging.
  3. Develop competence in the formulation and evaluation of finely divided and filled solid dosage forms, such as powders, granules, and hard and soft gelatin capsules.
  4. Understand the principles and formulation strategies of modified-release solid dosage forms, including sustained-release and controlled-release systems.
  5. Gain knowledge of microencapsulation techniques, their applications, advantages, limitations, and evaluation of microcapsules in pharmaceutical products.

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Describe pre-formulation principles and evaluate key physicochemical parameters critical to solid dosage-form development.
  2. Apply formulation and manufacturing processes and perform quality control tests for tablets, including coated tablets, and troubleshoot common formulation and processing defects.
  3. Formulate and evaluate finely divided and filled solid dosage forms such as medicated powders, granules, hard capsules, and soft gelatin capsules using appropriate materials, equipment, and quality control procedures.
  4. Design and evaluate modified-release solid dosage forms by selecting suitable polymers and mechanisms to achieve sustained and controlled drug release.
  5. Analyze various microencapsulation methods, select suitable techniques for specific drug-delivery needs, and evaluate microcapsules based on physicochemical and performance parameters.

Unit I

Fundamentals of Dosage Form Development:

Pre-formulation studies: concept, need, and parameters including solubility, pKa, physical nature (amorphous and crystalline), polymorphism, particle size and shape, and powder flow parameters. Drug–excipient compatibility studies. Packaging selection for various dosage forms. Drug product and container-closure interaction. Introduction to stability guidelines of new drug substances and products (ICH Q1).

Unit II

Compressed Solids:

Tablets Excipients (roles and examples); tooling (types and specifications); manufacturing methods and equipment; tablet defects and remedies; in-process quality control (IPQC); finished-product tests; packaging.

Tablet Coating Types of coating (sugar, film, compression, enteric); need, advantages, and limitations; polymers, process specifications, and equipment; coating defects; quality control of coated tablets.

Unit III

Finely Divided and Filled Solids:

Medicated powders and granules: formulation considerations, manufacturing processes (mixing, granulation), quality control, and packaging. Gelatin and non-gelatin shells: composition, empty shell manufacturing, quality control, and capsule sizes. Hard gelatin capsules: formulation design; filling methods (manual, semiautomatic, automatic); IPQC and finished-product tests; packaging. Soft gelatin capsules: shell composition and plasticizers; fill materials; manufacturing methods (rotary die and others); defects; quality control and stability.

Unit IV

Modified-Release Solids:

Types of tablets: sustained-release and controlled-release tablets. Concept, need, advantages, and disadvantages. Formulation design and drug-release mechanisms. Polymers used for sustained and controlled release. Evaluation of modified-release dosage forms.

Unit V

Microencapsulation:

Concept, need, advantages, and disadvantages. Methods of microencapsulation: spray drying, spray congealing, extrusion and spheronisation, fluidized bed coating, and phase-separation coacervation. Evaluation of microcapsules.

BP307T Pharmaceutical Engineering (Theory)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to:

  1. Provide fundamental knowledge of pharmaceutical engineering principles and common unit operations involved in solid and liquid pharmaceutical manufacturing.
  2. Develop an understanding of thermal operations such as drying, evaporation, distillation, and heat transfer used in pharmaceutical processing.
  3. Introduce material handling systems, corrosion control, and waste management practices relevant to pharmaceutical plants.
  4. Explain the principles of fluid flow and flow measurement used in pharmaceutical process equipment.
  5. Develop knowledge of the design, construction, working principles, and pharmaceutical applications of engineering equipment used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Explain the principles and pharmaceutical applications of unit operations such as size reduction, mixing, size separation, and fluid flow.
  2. Identify and describe the construction, working, and utility of various pharmaceutical engineering equipment.
  3. Compare and evaluate different thermal processes such as drying, evaporation, distillation, and heat transfer based on operational efficiency.
  4. Apply principles of safe and efficient material handling and understand the impact of corrosion and waste management in pharmaceutical industries.
  5. Examine the relevance of contemporary technological trends such as PAT and automation for enhancing pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.

Unit I

Unit operations associated with solids

Principle, construction, working, advantages and disadvantages and Pharmaceutical applications of size reduction, size separation and mixing equipment

Unit II

Unit operations associated with liquids

Principle, construction, working, advantages and disadvantages and Pharmaceutical applications of filtration, crystallization and centrifugation equipment

Unit III

Unit operations associated with heat transfer

Principle, construction, working, advantages and disadvantages and Pharmaceutical applications of evaporation, drying, distillation and Heat transfer equipment

Unit IV

Materials and material handling

Introduction to material handling equipment and techniques, Conveyors, hoists, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), Storage systems: bins, silos in warehouses, Safety considerations in material handling and waste management. Types of corrosion and their impact on pharmaceutical processes and environment

Unit V

Flow of fluids

Types and measurement of flow, manometers, Reynolds number and its significance, Bernoulli's theorem and its applications, Orifice meter, Venturimeter, Pitot tube and Rotometer.

BP308T Pharmaceutical Microbiology (Theory)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to:

  1. Introduce the fundamental concepts of microbiology and its relevance to pharmaceutical sciences.
  2. Provide insights into the industrial application of microorganisms in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products.
  3. Provide knowledge Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) related to microbial contamination control.
  4. Provide understanding in microbial evaluation techniques such as sterility testing, microbial limit tests, and microbial assay.
  5. Familiarize students with sterilization technologies, microbial spoilage control, and in vitro cell culture techniques for pharmaceutical research and quality assurance.

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Explain the basic concepts of microbiology and the role of microorganisms in pharmaceuticals.
  2. Identify and differentiate microorganisms using staining and biochemical techniques.
  3. Evaluate microbial contamination sources and apply GMP-based strategies for contamination control.
  4. Describe microbial spoilage mechanisms and select appropriate disinfectants, antiseptics, or preservatives.
  5. Compare various sterilization methods and assess their effectiveness and validation parameters and perform microbial limit and sterility tests in compliance with pharmacopeial guidelines.

Unit I

Introduction and role of microorganisms in pharmaceutical industry

• Fundamentals of microbiology: Microorganisms and medicines, Introduction to various microorganisms, Microbial cultivation, isolation and enumeration. Pharmaceutical importance of microorganisms. • Introduction to Microscope (Compound and Electron Microscope) • Identification of bacteria using staining techniques (simple, Gram's & Acid-fast staining) and biochemical tests (IMViC). • Antibiotics produced by microbiology (Production and uses streptomycin, cephalosporin)

Unit II

Evaluation of microbiological contamination

• Sources and types of microbial contaminant • Control of microbial contamination during manufacture of Nonsterile dosage forms and sterile dosage forms (including Aseptic area), control of Atmosphere, Water, Raw material, Facility, Packaging, Equipment • Microbiological spoilage of pharmaceuticals, Factors affecting microbial spoilage of pharmaceuticals. • Introduction to Fermentation, types and fermenters.

Unit III

Microbial control and evaluation

Designing of aseptic area. Laminar flow equipment's, clean area classification, Biological Safety Level categories. Methods of prevention. Disinfectants, antiseptics, and preservatives, and their evaluation, Factors affecting the antimicrobial activity of disinfectants

Unit IV

Sterilization procedures, assurance and evaluation

• Physical, chemical, gaseous, radiation and mechanical methods of sterilization, Advances sterilization technologies, Evaluation of efficiency of sterilization; Validation of sterilization procedures and Sterility indicators. • Sterility assurance, Bioburden determination, Modelling in predicting microbial growth and death, Test for bacteriostatic, bactericidal activity

Unit V

Microbiological quality control

• Microbial limit tests and Microbial assay (antibiotics, vitamins and amino acids) • Sterility testing of products according to IP, BP and USP • Methods for monitoring Water and Air Quality In vitro cell cultures, general procedure for cell culture, Application of cell cultures in pharmaceutical industry and research

BP309P General Pharmacology (Practical)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to:

  1. Understand the historical and foundational aspects of experimental pharmacology
  2. Develop knowledge and practical awareness of ethical and regulatory standards in laboratory animal care and use, as outlined in CCSEA guidelines
  3. Acquire skills in pharmacological data acquisition and analysis
  4. Interpret and construct dose-response curves (DRCs) and calculate and interpret pharmacological indices such as LD50, threshold and ceiling dose, slope of DRC, and PD₂,
  5. Calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters and analyse the roles of pharmacokinetic parameters in the drug effects, and dosing schedule.

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Identify and describe the pharmacological actions of drugs on different physiological systems and understand their therapeutic relevance.
  2. Design basic pharmacological experiments and analyse the results to determine drug efficacy and safety.
  3. Apply the knowledge of drug mechanisms and interactions to predict clinical outcomes.
  4. Develop skills for documentation, data collection, and report preparation of experimental pharmacological investigations.
  5. Understand the importance of pharmacology in drug development, clinical research, and its application in medical practice

List of Practical (Minimum 12 experiments must be performed):

  1. To describe the contributions of renowned pharmacologists and their discoveries based on pharmacological experiments (Any 5 Noble Laureates whose research contributed to the development of Pharmacology).
  2. To study various laboratory safety precautions, hazards, personal hygiene, commonly used tools, devices and instruments in experimental pharmacology.
  3. To study common experimental animals including transgenic animals along with their applications in the pharmacological experiments in current drug discovery paradigm.
  4. To study concept of 6Rs along with the maintenance and experimentation on laboratory animals as per the CCSEA guidelines.
  5. To demonstrate collection/isolation of DNA and RNA using computer simulations and audiovisual aids.
  6. To study important anaesthetics and euthanasia procedures for experimental animals.
  7. To demonstrate different routes drug administration using computer simulation and understand the significance of each route along with the maximum administrable dose.
  8. To study preparation of different types of physiological salt solutions (PSS), cell culture media and to understand the role of each ingredient used in PSS preparation.
  9. To study the instrumentation used for isolated tissue experiments (students organ bath assembly) and recent development in recording of the responses of isolated tissues.
  10. To record the dose response curve of any two agonists on suitable isolated tissue preparation using computer simulation experiment.
  11. To study the potentiating effect of physostigmine on DRC of acetyl choline through interactive computer simulation.
  12. To study antagonizing effect of d-tubocurarine on the DRCs of acetylcholine through interactive computer simulation.
  13. To determine of PD2 of given agonists using isolated tissue preparation using computer simulation experiment.
  14. To study and determine various pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, Tmax, Ke, t½, Vd, Clt, AUC, AUMC) from given hypothetical data.
  15. To estimate LD₅₀ using hypothetical data through computer-simulated experimentation (as per OECD 425 guideline) using software.
  16. Software based quantification of micronucleus test and chromosomal aberration test
  17. Software based prediction of teratogenicity.
  18. Use of UV-Spectrophotometer for studying drug-protein interactions.

*PCI recommended software's shall be used for performing experiments.

BP310P Heterocyclic Compounds and Stereochemistry (Practical)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to:

  1. Understand basic laboratory safety rules and learn how to handle chemicals and glassware properly.
  2. Gain hands-on experience in preparing, purifying, and identifying organic compounds.
  3. Learn practical techniques to separate components of binary organic mixtures.
  4. Learn digital tools for drawing chemical structures and Chemical Reactions.
  5. Determine molecular properties of aromatic organic and heterocyclic compounds

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Draw organic compound structures using chemical drawing tools.
  2. Explain and apply techniques for purification and characterization of organic compounds.
  3. Synthesize organic compounds through practical laboratory methods.
  4. Analyze and separate binary organic mixtures using suitable experimental techniques.
  5. Determine molecular properties of aromatic organic and heterocyclic compounds.

List of Practical (Minimum 12 experiments must be performed):

  1. Prepare, purify and characterize melting point, recrystallization following organic compounds (Minimum of 04 aromatic and any two heterocyclic compounds with different chemical reactions) a. Benzanilide/phenyl benzoate/acetanilide from aniline/ phenol by acetylation/acylation reaction. b. 2,4,6-Tribromo aniline from aniline/para bromo acetanilide from Acetanilide by halogenation (Bromination) reaction. c. 5-Nitro salicylic acid from salicylic acid / meta di-nitro benzene from nitro benzene by nitration reaction. d. Benzoic acid/ Salicylic acid from alkyl benzoate/ alkyl salicylate by hydrolysis reaction. e. 1-Phenyl-azo-2-napthol from aniline by diazotization and coupling reactions. f. Synthesis of 2,4,6- trinitrophenol by nitration reaction g. Synthesis of 3,5-dimethyl pyrazole from acetylacetone. h. Synthesis of benzimidazole from ortho phenylene diamine i. Preparation of benzophenone oxime.
  2. Qualitative analysis of binary mixture of organic compounds (any two) (Acid + Neutral and Base + Neutral).
  3. To draw and visualize 3D structures, calculate molecular properties and to draw Chemical reactions using software tools

BP311P Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms I (Practical)

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to:

  1. Provide understanding on preformulation principles and evaluation of key parameters for drugs, excipients, and dosage forms.
  2. Provide understanding of drug–excipient compatibility testing during formulation development.
  3. Provide hands-on experience in manufacturing processes and evaluation for solid dosage forms.
  4. Provide hands-on experience in manufacturing processes and evaluation for sustained/controlled-release dosage forms and microcapsules.
  5. Provide fundamentals of packaging material evaluation.

Course Outcomes (CO): Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Conduct preformulation studies to evaluate physicochemical properties of drugs and excipients relevant to dosage form development.
  2. Assess drug–excipient compatibility using appropriate experimental techniques during formulation development.
  3. Formulate and evaluate solid dosage forms, including tablets and capsules, using suitable manufacturing methods.
  4. Formulate and evaluate modified-release dosage forms and microcapsules using appropriate formulation and coating techniques.
  5. Evaluate pharmaceutical packaging materials and understand their role in ensuring product stability and quality.

List of Practical (Minimum 12 experiments must be performed):

  1. Preformulation study of any drug/excipient as per pharmacopoeia.
  2. Evaluation of powder flow properties for tablet blends.
  3. Evaluation of effect of lubricating agents on powder flow properties.
  4. Preparation and evaluation of tablets by direct compression.
  5. Preparation and evaluation of tablets by dry granulation.
  6. Preparation and evaluation of tablets by wet granulation.
  7. Quality control of marketed tablets (IR, coated, enteric-coated).
  8. Preparation and evaluation of coated tablets.
  9. Comparison of dissolution profiles of marketed preparations.
  10. Preparation and evaluation of hard-/non-gelatin capsules (fill weight, disintegration).
  11. Virtual demonstration: hard-gelatin shell and soft-gel manufacturing (with overview of aseptic line/isolator).
  12. Evaluation of packaging materials: primary and secondary/tertiary.
  13. Preparation and evaluation of sustained-release tablets.
  14. Preparation and evaluation of enteric-coated tablets.

BP312P AEC Elective Courses (Choose Any One)

This is an elective course slot. Only 1 elective course shall be selected. The three options are:

Note: The syllabi for these elective subjects are given in the appendix of the official PCI syllabus document. See the full elective syllabi on the appendix page of this section: B.Pharm Elective Courses Appendix.

Source: Syllabus, Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) (2026), As per NEP 2020, Pharmacy Council of India. Syllabus text reproduced word for word from the official document.