No, Tramadol is not banned in India; instead, it is actually highly regulated or controlled by the government. And that is the very reason why you can’t just go ahead and buy it from anywhere; you’ll need a proper prescription for it before you do so.
For those who know literally nothing about this drug, well, Tramadol is a medication for the relief of pain, which physicians typically prescribe in the therapy of medium to high-intensity pain situations, for example, pain after surgical intervention or persistence of pain caused by arthritis and other chronic conditions. It is an opioid drug, and it works to change the brain's signalling to the body, enabling the patient to experience reduced pain sensation.
Still, it’s just that Tramadol is capable of addiction when one uses it improperly. People in large numbers began to abuse the drug for recreational purposes; consequently, the authorities imposed regulations, and that's why it is highly controlled.
One point that is misunderstood by a lot of people is the fact that the Indian government has not banned Tramadol; however, it is still listed as a controlled substance by the authorities. So, it is allowed for the physician to give the prescription and the pharmacist to hand it over to the patient, but supervision by a healthcare professional is a must for the patient. That's the only limitation for it!
And as per the recent update, well, on April 26th, 2018, the Indian Government announced that Tramadol would be classified as a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act. This implies that the medication is on par with the likes of morphine and other potent analgesics. Injections in the case of severe medical necessity are the only allowed usage of Tramadol, and it can be dispensed upon presentation of a legitimate prescription by a licensed medical practitioner only.
No prescription? No Tramadol. It’s that simple.