D.Pharm 1st Year Syllabus ER-2020: Subjects & Books

Complete Guide to D.Pharmacy 1st Year Syllabus (PCI ER-2020): Subjects, Practicals & Recommended Books

You have cleared Class 12 Science, chosen pharmacy, and now one question matters most: what will you actually study in the first year? Under the Pharmacy Council of India’s Education Regulations 2020 (ER-2020), the D.Pharm curriculum was redesigned to move the pharmacist’s role from “dispenser of medicines” to “medicine expert” within the healthcare team.

The first year (Part I) lays the scientific foundation for everything that follows: how medicines are formulated, how drugs are made and tested, where natural medicines come from, how the human body works, and how pharmacists protect public health. Students who master these five subjects find Part II (Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapeutics, Hospital & Clinical Pharmacy, and more) far easier.

This guide breaks down the official D Pharm subjects ER 2020 for the first year, covering chapters, practicals, assignments, field visits, exam pattern, and the exact textbooks recommended by PCI.

📞 Admission Helpline: 9896420138
Planning your D Pharm admission Rewari for the upcoming session? Visit www.madhavcollegeofpharmacy.com or call our admission cell for guidance on eligibility, documents, and counselling.

D Pharmacy Course Duration and Syllabus at a Glance

The D.Pharm program runs for two academic years (Part I and Part II), followed by 500 hours of practical training (Part III). Across the program there are 11 theory courses, 10 practical courses, and 275 tutorial hours dedicated to small-group learning.

Under Diploma in Pharmacy eligibility criteria, candidates must have passed 10+2 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Mathematics, which means both PCB and PCM students can apply.

1st Year Academic Framework (Part I)

Every subject carries 3 theory hours, 1 tutorial hour, and 3 practical hours per week.

In-Depth Subject Breakdown

1. Pharmaceutics (ER20-11T / ER20-11P)

Overview & Objectives: Pharmaceutics teaches the art and science of formulating and dispensing dosage forms. Students learn the types, advantages, preparation methods, packaging, labelling, and quality control of medicines, along with the basics of quality assurance and Good Manufacturing Practices.

Key Theory Chapters:

• History of pharmacy in India, pharmacy as a career, and pharmacopoeias (IP, BP, USP, NF, Extra Pharmacopoeia)
• Packaging materials: glass, plastic, metal, and rubber
• Pharmaceutical aids: colouring, flavouring, sweetening agents, and preservatives
• Unit operations: size reduction, size separation, mixing, filtration, drying, and extraction
• Dosage forms: tablets (including sustained-release and fast-dissolving), capsules, liquid orals, topical preparations, nasal and ear preparations, powders, sterile formulations, and immunological products
• Plant layout, quality control, quality assurance, cGMP, calibration, and validation
• Introduction to novel drug delivery systems

Practical Lab Focus:

• Preparing and dispensing formulations such as Simple Syrup, Calamine Lotion, Sulphur Ointment, Cetrimide Cream, Normal Saline, Tetracycline Capsules, and Paracetamol Tablets
• Formulating at least five cosmetic preparations (cold cream, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)
• Tablet manufacturing demonstration and quality control tests
• Correct use of inhalers, spacers, and insulin pens

Field Visit: Industrial visit to a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit.

Official Recommended Books:

1. History of Pharmacy in India by Dr. Harikishan Singh
2. Indian Pharmacopoeia, Govt. of India Publication
3. A Text book of Pharmaceuticals Formulation by B.M. Mithal, Vallabh Prakashan
4. Bentleys’ Text book of Pharmaceutics, Editor E.A. Rawlins, Elsevier Int.
5. The Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy, Leon Lachman, Herbert Lieberman and Joseph Kanig, Editors, Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, Varghese Publishing House
6. Responsible Use of Medicines: A Layman’s Handbook, www.ipapharma.org/publications

2. Pharmaceutical Chemistry (ER20-12T / ER20-12P)

Overview & Objectives: This subject covers the chemical structure, classification, storage, and medicinal uses of organic and inorganic drugs, along with impurity testing and quality control. Students also learn to identify dosage forms and popular brand names in the market.

Key Theory Chapters:

• Errors, accuracy, precision, and limit tests for chlorides, sulphates, iron, heavy metals, and arsenic
• Volumetric analysis (acid-base, non-aqueous, precipitation, complexometric, redox) and gravimetric analysis
• Inorganic pharmaceuticals: haematinics, antacids, topical agents, dental products, and medicinal gases
• Nomenclature of heterocyclic compounds
• Medicinal compounds acting on the CNS, ANS, and cardiovascular system, plus diuretics, hypoglycemics, analgesics, anti-infectives, antibiotics, and anti-neoplastic agents

Practical Lab Focus:

• Limit tests and IP identification tests for anions and cations
• Preparing and standardizing Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium Permanganate solutions
• Assays of Ferrous Sulphate, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, and Ibuprofen
• Melting point and boiling point determination
• Synthesis of Benzoic Acid and Picric Acid, and systematic qualitative analysis

Official Recommended Books:

1. Medicinal & Pharmaceutical chemistry by Harikishan Singh and VK Kapoor
2. Wilson and Griswold’s Text book of Organic Medicinal and pharmaceutical Chemistry
3. Practical Organic Chemistry by Mann and Saunders
4. Practical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Volume I & II by Beckett and J. B. Stenlake
5. Indian Pharmacopoeia
6. Vogel’s text book of Practical Organic Chemistry

3. Pharmacognosy (ER20-13T / ER20-13P)

Overview & Objectives: Pharmacognosy is the study of drugs from natural sources. It covers crude drug evaluation, phytoconstituents, traditional systems of medicine, nutraceuticals, and herbal cosmetics.

Key Theory Chapters:

• Classification of crude drugs and methods of adulteration and evaluation
• Alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, volatile oils, tannins, and resins
• The largest chapter (30 hours): biological source, constituents, and uses of crude drugs such as Senna, Digitalis, Ginger, Belladonna, Rauwolfia, Vasaka, Cinchona, Ashwagandha, Tulsi, and Guggul
• Surgical dressings and sutures
• Principles of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy; preparation of Arista, Asava, Churna, and Bhasma
• Herbs as health food, herbal formulations, and herbal cosmetics

Practical Lab Focus:

• Morphological identification of 16 drugs, including Ispaghula, Clove, Cinnamon, and Ephedra
• Transverse section studies of drugs such as Datura, Liquorice, Curcuma, and Nux vomica
• Physical and chemical evaluation of any five drugs like Asafoetida, Acacia, and Gelatine

Field Visit: Medicinal garden and traditional-medicine pharmacies.

Official Recommended Books:

1. Text book of Pharmacognosy by C. K. Kokate, S. B. Gokhale, A.P. Purohit, Nirali Prakashan
2. Text book of Pharmacognosy by C.S. Shah and J. S. Qadry, CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd.
3. Text Book of Pharmacognosy by T. E. Wallis, CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd.
4. Study of crude drugs by M. A. Iyengar, Manipal Press Ltd, Manipal
5. Powder crude drugs by M. A. Iyengar, Manipal Press Ltd, Manipal
6. Anatomy of crude drugs by M. A. Iyengar, Manipal Press Ltd, Manipal
7. Augmented Text Book of Homeopathic Pharmacy by Dr. D D Banerjee, B Jain Publishers (P) Ltd

4. Human Anatomy & Physiology (ER20-14T / ER20-14P)

Overview & Objectives: This subject explains the structure and functions of the human body, homeostasis, and vital physiological parameters. It is especially valuable for PCM students entering pharmacy.

Key Theory Chapters:

• Cell structure and tissues
• Osseous, haemopoietic, and lymphatic systems
• Cardiovascular system, including cardiac cycle, ECG basics, and blood pressure regulation
• Respiratory, digestive, nervous, urinary, endocrine, and reproductive systems
• Skeletal muscles and sense organs

Practical Lab Focus:

• Compound microscope and blood collection techniques
• Blood group, ESR, haemoglobin, bleeding and clotting time
• RBC, WBC, and differential counts
• Recording blood pressure, body temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, and pulse oxygen
• Peak flow meter readings, height, weight, and BMI measurement
• Study of human skeleton, models, and charts

Official Recommended Books:

1. Human Physiology by C. C. Chatterjee
2. Human Anatomy and Physiology by S. Chaudhary and A. Chaudhary
3. Derasari and Gandhi’s elements of Human Anatomy, Physiology and Health Education
4. S.R. Kale and R.R. Kale, Textbook of Practical Anatomy and Physiology
5. Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and illness
6. Human Anatomy and Physiology by Tortora Gerard J
7. Fundamentals of Medical Physiology by K. Sambulingam and P Sambulingam
8. Ranade V.G. Text Book of Practical Physiology
9. Goyal R.K., Natvar M.P. and Shah S.A., Practical Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Experimental Physiology

5. Social Pharmacy (ER20-15T / ER20-15P)

Overview & Objectives: Social Pharmacy is a new ER-2020 subject that introduces public health, epidemiology, nutrition, preventive care, and the pharmacist’s role in national health programs.

Key Theory Chapters:

• Concept of health, National Health Policy, National Health Mission, and the SDGs
• Family planning, mother and child health, vaccines, and immunization
• Environment and health, and drugs of misuse and abuse
• Nutrition, balanced diet, food safety, and drug-food interactions
• Microbiology basics, epidemiology, and communicable diseases such as COVID-19, tuberculosis, dengue, malaria, and HIV/AIDS
• National health programs and an introduction to pharmacoeconomics

Practical Lab Focus:

• National immunization schedules and family planning devices
• Hand hygiene, masks, PPE, and menstrual hygiene
• First aid, Basic Life Support, CPR, and AED use
• Water purification and testing, nutrition charts, and tobacco cessation counselling
• Health communication in regional languages

Field Visits: Any three facilities, such as a sewage treatment plant, bio-medical waste plant, or primary health centre.

Official Recommended Books:

1. Social Pharmacy – Innovation and development. Geoff Harding, Sarah Nettleton and Kevin Taylor. The Pharmaceutical Press
2. Text Book of Community Pharmacy Practice. RPSGB Publication
3. Community Pharmacy Handbook – Jonathan Waterfield
4. S Khurana, P Suresh and R Kalsi. Health Education & Community Pharmacy. S Vikas & Co
5. Social Pharmacy: Tayler, Geoffrey. Pharmaceutical Press, London
6. Dandiya PC, Zafer ZYK, Zafer A. Health education & Community Pharmacy. Vallabh Prakashan
7. Websites of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Health Portal
8. Pharmacists at the Frontlines: A Novel Approach at Combating TB, www.ipapharma.org
9. Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook by David Werner, 2015 updated version
10. Various WHO publications, www.who.int

🎓 Want to study these subjects with expert mentorship?
Call 9896420138 or explore www.madhavcollegeofpharmacy.com to learn about D Pharmacy admission Haryana at Madhav College of Pharmacy, Rewari.

Examination & Internal Assessment Scheme

Each theory and practical course is assessed for 100 marks: 20 internal + 80 final board examination, conducted in Haryana by HSBTE as the examining authority.

Assignments (at least three per subject where prescribed) are evaluated on relevance, use of resources, organization, coherence, and timely submission.

Practical Lab Infrastructure at Madhav College of Pharmacy, Rewari

As a PCI approved pharmacy college in Rewari, Madhav College of Pharmacy structures its first-year practical training around the laboratories prescribed under ER-2020:

• Pharmaceutics Lab: Balances, standard sieves, ointment slabs, autoclave, dissolution apparatus, and viscometers for hands-on dosage form preparation.
• Machine Room: Tablet punching, capsule filling, disintegration, hardness, and friability testing equipment, bringing industrial processes into the classroom.
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry Lab: Nessler’s cylinders, pH meters, melting point apparatus, and colorimeters for limit tests, assays, and synthesis.
• Physiology & Pharmacognosy Lab: Microscopes, haemocytometers, haemoglobinometers, BP instruments, pulse oximeters, peak flow meters, glucometers, skeletons, and permanent slides.
• Model Community Pharmacy: A running pharmacy setup for real-world dispensing and counselling practice.

Faculty mentors guide students through tutorials, assignments, and field visits so every experiment connects to real practice. The campus is easily accessible for students from Rewari, Gurugram, Mahendragarh, and Bawal, making it a strong choice for anyone searching for the best D Pharmacy college in Rewari.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which 1st-year subject requires the most practical work?
All five subjects carry equal practical hours (75 each). Pharmaceutics, however, involves the widest range of hands-on preparations, including more than 20 formulations plus cosmetic preparations.

2. How many sessional exams are conducted in D.Pharm 1st year?
PCI prescribes two or more sessional exams per academic year for each theory and practical course. The best two performances are used to calculate internal marks.

3. What is the passing percentage in D.Pharm 1st year?
The syllabus document does not state pass marks. Minimum passing criteria are defined under the ER-2020 regulations and applied by HSBTE, so always check the current HSBTE examination scheme, which our admission cell shares with every admitted student.

4. Can PCM students handle Human Anatomy & Physiology?
Yes. The Diploma in Pharmacy eligibility criteria accept both PCB and PCM, and Human Anatomy & Physiology is taught from the basics of cell structure onwards.

5. What is the scope of D Pharmacy in Haryana after completing the course?
After completing Part I, Part II, and 500 hours of practical training, D.Pharm holders become eligible to apply for registration with the State Pharmacy Council. Registration opens legitimate career paths in retail and hospital pharmacy, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and public health programs, subject to the respective recruitment rules.

Start Your Pharmacy Journey at Madhav College of Pharmacy, Rewari

A strong first year builds a confident pharmacist. At Madhav College of Pharmacy, the full ER-2020 syllabus is delivered through structured theory, dedicated tutorials, hands-on labs, and guided field visits, preparing you for board exams and professional practice.

Seats for the upcoming academic session are limited. Take the first step toward your D Pharm admission Rewari today.

✅ Admission Helpline: 9896420138
🌐 Official Website: www.madhavcollegeofpharmacy.com
Visit the admission cell at Madhav College of Pharmacy, Rewari, to check eligibility, tour the labs, and secure your seat.