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Antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance: why some microbes are harder to treat, how resistance spreads in hospitals, farms and the environment, and the plans and new drugs against it. Prelims has asked why multi drug resistance occurs in microbial pathogens in India.

UPSC has asked

Prelims 2019: reasons for multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India

Showing 1 of 2 subjects, those that changed from 16 to 31 July 2026.Show all

Antibiotic use in India: the AWaRe classification

Prelims and Mains

The World Health Organization sorts antibiotics into Access (first line), Watch (broader spectrum, for specific situations) and Reserve (last resort).

What changed

27 Jul 2026New subject
- A global study puts India's antibiotic use at about 18.3 defined daily doses per thousand people a day, above the estimated optimal range of 9.9 to 14.7.
- Use of Watch antibiotics is about 9.3 doses against a recommended 6, while Access antibiotics stand at only about 4.5.
The Indian Express, 27 Jul 2026: India uses too many broad-spectrum antibiotics and too few first-line ones, a global study finds (opens in a new tab)