The present invention discloses a novel, cost-effective process for preparing psychostimulant drug cytidinediphosphate-choline (CDP-Choline) commonly known as citicoline. The process comprises reacting cytidine 5"-monophosphate with morpholine in presence of a coupling reagent and an organic solvent to form morpholidate compound condensing morpholidate compound with calcium salt of phosphorylcholinehalide in presence of an acid to form citicoline calcium chloride and purifying the citicoline calcium chlorideby passing through cationic and anionic resinsand eluting by water to form citicoline sodium of formula I.