The genesis of pharmacology in India dates back to the beginning of 20th Century when Col.Ram Nath Chopra took over the reins in 1921 as the first Professor of Pharmacology at the School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta. Col. Chopra who is rightly regarded as the doyen of pharmacology initiated several research investigations to study the merits and demerits of indigenous drugs used in the country since ancient times.

The story of the birth of the Indian Pharmacological Society (IPS) dates back to 1966, when the 12th Annual Conference of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India (APPI) held at Patna, a large gathering of pharmacologists resolved to start an independent body for pharmacologists. Prof. Desmond Lawrence of Clinical Pharmacology Division in University of London provided real momentum to the new movement. Two vital objectives were spelt out viz., integrating pharmacology in medical education and to work for all round development of pharmacology. Professors G.Achari, K.P.Bhargava, R.P.Kholi and P.N.Saxena later provided the needed impetus.