Stay with the evidence: On the ban on Fixed Dose Combination drugs

What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India?
1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.
2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced.
3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 1 and 2 only
3. C. 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

Consider the following statements :
Statement-I :India's public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care.
Statement-II: Under India's decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
4. D. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct ?

1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2018, mandates reservation in education and employment, places a legal duty on Governments to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination.
2. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains — built infrastructure, transport systems and information and communication technology.
3. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a public sector organisation set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a not-for-profit company to promote entrepreneurship among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Select the answer using the code given below :

1. A. 1 and 2
2. B. 2 only
3. C. 1 and 3
4. D. 1 only

With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?

1. A. The ceiling laws were aimed at family holdings and not individual holdings.
2. B. The major aim of land reforms was providing agricultural land to all the landless.
3. C. It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as a predominant form of cultivation.
4. D. Land reforms permitted no exemptions to the ceiling limits.

Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called:

1. A. Operation Sankalp
2. B. Operation Maitri
3. C. Operation Sadbhavana
4. D. Operation Madad

Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana:
1. It is safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. A. Only one
2. B. Only two
3. C. Only three
4. D. All four

Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare.

Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X's actions?

1. A. Esprit de corps
2. B. Equity
3. C. Accountability
4. D. Delegation

Consider the following statements about the Rashtriya Gokul Mission:

I. It is important for the upliftment of rural poor as majority of low producing indigenous animals are with small and marginal farmers and landless labourers.
II. It was initiated to promote indigenous cattle and buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. I only
2. B. II only
3. C. Both I and II
4. D. Neither I nor II

With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana, consider the following statements:

1. The entry age group for enrolment in the scheme is 21 to 40 years.
2. Age specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary.
3. Each subscriber under the scheme shall receive a minimum pension of ₹ 3,000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years.
4. Family pension is applicable to the spouse and unmarried daughters.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1,3 and 4
2. B. 2 and 3 only
3. C. 2 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 4

With reference to the 'Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan', consider the following statements:

1. This scheme guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy and six months post-delivery health care service in any government health facility.
2. Under this scheme, private sector health care providers of certain specialities can volunteer to provide services at nearby government health facilities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2

"The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance." Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.

"Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries." How would you integrate energy security with India's foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the issue.

Examine the evolving pattern of Centre-State financial relations in the context of planned development in India. How far have the recent reforms impacted the fiscal federalism in India?

Indian Constitution has conferred the amending power on the ordinary legislative institutions with a few procedural hurdles. In view of this statement, examine the procedural and substantive limitations on the amending power of the Parliament to change the Constitution.

"With the waning of globalization, post-Cold War world is becoming a site of sovereign nationalism." Elucidate.

With reference to Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs, which of the following statements correctly describes their primary intended advantage?

1. A. They allow for precise titration of individual drug components based on patient needs.
2. B. They improve patient compliance by reducing the number of pills to be taken.
3. C. They reduce the overall cost of drug manufacturing due to simplified production processes.
4. D. They eliminate the possibility of drug interactions between different active ingredients.

The Union Health Ministry recently banned several Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs. Which of the following is NOT a reason cited in the article for such bans?

1. A. Lack of therapeutic justification.
2. B. Potential to contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
3. C. Difficulty in identifying the specific ingredient causing an allergic reaction.
4. D. Excessive pricing by pharmaceutical companies.

The article highlights a significant public health concern associated with the usage of irrational antibiotic Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs. What is this concern?

1. A. Increased risk of organ failure due to drug overdose.
2. B. Exacerbation of the growing antimicrobial resistance problem.
3. C. Development of new, more virulent strains of bacteria.
4. D. Reduced efficacy of single-drug formulations over time.

Discuss the rationale behind the government's ban on Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs and the challenges in ensuring its effective implementation.

Start by outlining the reasons for the ban, such as lack of therapeutic justification and safety concerns, then elaborate on the practical difficulties in enforcing the ban across the entire supply chain, from manufacturers to pharmacies.

Examine how the regulation of Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs contributes to public health and addresses issues like Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). What role do regulatory bodies play in this context?

Explain the public health benefits of FDC regulation, specifically linking it to patient safety and the fight against AMR. Then, detail the responsibilities and actions required from regulatory bodies like State Drug Controllers and enforcement agencies in ensuring compliance and monitoring.