Generic vs branded medicines in India: same salt, different price
What separates generic and branded medicines in India, how to compare them by salt, strength and form, when switching is fine, and when to ask first.
Two strips sit side by side on the counter. Same salt, same strength, and one costs a fraction of the other. Most people in India have stood there wondering whether the cheaper one is as good. The short answer on generic vs branded medicines is that they're designed to work the same way. The useful answer is knowing exactly what to compare, and the few cases where you shouldn't switch without asking.
What's the difference between generic and branded medicines?
A generic medicine contains the same active ingredient (the "salt"), in the same strength and dosage form, as the branded original. What usually differs is the brand name, the price, the inactive ingredients and how the tablet looks.
The active ingredient is what treats your condition. Paracetamol 650 mg is paracetamol 650 mg, whatever name is printed on the strip.
India adds a twist that confuses many people. Most medicines sold here are branded generics: generic medicines that a company sells under its own brand name. So "generic vs branded" in an Indian pharmacy often really means "this company's version vs that company's version" of the same salt.
| Branded medicine | Generic medicine | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient (salt) | Same | Same |
| Strength and dosage form | Same, when matched correctly | Same, when matched correctly |
| Name on the strip | Company's brand name | Salt name, or a different brand name |
| Inactive ingredients (fillers, colours, coating) | Company's own | Can differ |
| Look, shape, colour | Company's own | Can differ |
| Price | Often higher | Often lower |
| Quality standards | Set under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act | The same standards apply |
Are generic medicines as effective as branded ones?
Generic medicines are made to deliver the same active ingredient in the same amount, and they must meet the same quality standards under Indian drug law. For most everyday and long-term medicines, a correctly matched generic does the same job.
What actually decides whether a medicine works is quality, and quality comes down to the manufacturer and the supply chain, not the word "generic" or "branded". A badly stored branded strip can be worse than a well-made generic. That's why it matters more where you buy than which label you pick. Buy from a licensed pharmacy, and check the pack before you use it. Our guide on how to check a medicine's expiry date, batch number and MRP shows what to look for, including the QR codes now printed on India's top-selling brands.
Why are generic medicines cheaper?
Generics are usually cheaper because their makers didn't pay for the original research and spend far less on marketing the brand. The medicine inside isn't a lesser version.
A few things keep prices in check in India:
- Ceiling prices. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) fixes ceiling prices for scheduled medicines under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. Both branded and generic versions must be sold within them.
- The MRP rule. No pharmacy can charge more than the MRP printed on the pack, and the MRP includes all taxes.
- Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Under the government's Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, these stores sell generic medicines that the scheme says cost 50% to 90% less than branded equivalents.
How do you compare a generic and a branded medicine correctly?
Match four things: the salt, the strength, the dosage form and the release type. If all four match, compare the price per tablet, not the price per strip.
Here's how to do it with the strip in your hand:
- Find the salt name. It's printed under or next to the brand name, often in smaller letters, for example "Paracetamol Tablets IP 650 mg".
- Match the strength. 500 mg and 650 mg are different medicines for dosing purposes.
- Match the form. Tablet, capsule, syrup and drops aren't interchangeable, even with the same salt.
- Check the release type. Letters like SR, ER, CR or XL after the name mean the medicine releases slowly over many hours. A plain tablet isn't a substitute for an SR one.
- Check every salt in a combination. Many cold, pain and diabetes medicines contain two or three salts. All of them, at the same strengths, must match.
- Compare price per unit. A strip of 15 at one price and a strip of 10 at another can't be compared directly. Divide by the number of tablets.
If any one of these doesn't match, it isn't a like-for-like swap. Ask the pharmacist.
When should you not switch without asking your doctor?
For most medicines, a correctly matched generic is fine. For a few, small differences between products matter more, and your doctor may want you to stay on the same one.
Ask your doctor before switching if you take:
- medicines where the dose is adjusted very precisely, such as thyroid medicines, blood thinners and medicines for epilepsy,
- medicines after an organ transplant,
- inhalers, injections or devices, where the device itself affects how much medicine you get.
Also ask if you've ever reacted to a colour, filler or coating in a tablet. Inactive ingredients differ between makers, and you'll want to check the new one.
None of this means these medicines are unsafe as generics. It means the switch should be a decision you make with your doctor, not one made for you at the counter.
What does Indian law say about doctors prescribing generic names?
Doctors in India are expected to prescribe using generic names as far as possible. The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, which still apply, ask doctors to prescribe drugs by generic name, legibly.
The National Medical Commission went further in August 2023 with rules that would have required generic-name prescribing, but it put those rules on hold within weeks. So you'll still see both kinds of prescriptions. If yours has only a brand name, the pharmacist can usually tell you the salt and strength, and whether a matching generic is available.
How does InstaMG handle generic alternatives?
On InstaMG, you can see same-salt alternatives for a medicine and what you'd save, but a substitute is never given without your approval.
If the pharmacist at the accepting pharmacy suggests a substitute, perhaps because the brand you ordered is out of stock, you see both medicines side by side: salt, strength and price. You approve or decline. If you decline, nothing changes in your order without you knowing.
It's the same rule we follow everywhere: clinical decisions stay visible and stay yours. Our article on how InstaMG matches your order with the nearest pharmacy explains the full flow, and what makes a prescription valid in India covers what the pharmacist checks.
Frequently asked questions
Are generic medicines safe in India?
Generic medicines must meet the same quality standards under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act as branded ones. Buy them from a licensed pharmacy and check the pack, batch number and expiry date, as you would for any medicine.
What is a branded generic medicine?
A branded generic is a generic medicine sold under a company's own brand name. Most medicines sold in India are branded generics, so different brands of the same salt are often generics from different companies.
How do I know if a generic is the same as my branded medicine?
Match the salt name, strength, dosage form and release type (such as SR or ER), and every salt in a combination medicine. If all of these match, the generic is a like-for-like alternative.
Can a pharmacist change my branded medicine to a generic?
A pharmacist can suggest a generic with the same salt and strength. On InstaMG, a substitute is only given if you approve it. For thyroid medicines, blood thinners, epilepsy medicines and transplant medicines, ask your doctor before switching.
Why are Jan Aushadhi medicines so cheap?
Jan Aushadhi Kendras sell generic medicines under a government scheme that aims to make medicines affordable. The scheme says its medicines cost 50% to 90% less than branded equivalents, mainly because they carry no brand marketing costs.
Before you switch
Check the salt, strength, form and release type, then compare the price per tablet. If you take a medicine where precise dosing matters, make the switch with your doctor.
InstaMG launches in Sector 150, Noida in November 2026, with same-salt alternatives and what you'd save shown in the app, and substitutes only with your approval. Join the waitlist for early access.