Concept:
The National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) lists the medicines considered most important for the health needs of the population. The Government uses this list to decide which medicines should have their prices controlled so they remain affordable.
Step 1: Price control of scheduled medicines in India is carried out under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO), which is administered by the NPPA (National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority). The medicines in the NLEM form the "Schedule" of the DPCO whose ceiling prices are fixed.
Step 2: The other options do not deal with price fixing. The Pharmacy Act regulates the profession of pharmacy, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act regulates quality and sale, and the Consumer Protection Act protects consumer rights in general. So the NLEM serves as the basis for price control specifically under the DPCO, 2013.
Answer: Option (3) — NLEM 2025 is the basis for price control under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. (3)