Ministry Of Health & Family Welfare
Official policy releases, schemes, circulars, and Prelims practice questions from Ministry Of Health & Family Welfare distilled for UPSC Civil Services Examination.
🎯 Ministry Of Health & Family Welfare UPSC Practice Questions
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
By March 2026, how many Soil Health Cards had been issued under the regenerative agriculture initiatives in India?
- [A] 20 crore
- [B] 25.89 crore
- [C] 30 crore
- [D] 35 crore
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
The PIB backgrounder states that 25.89 crore Soil Health Cards were issued by March 2026, making option B correct. The other figures are not mentioned in the notification.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to recent policy initiatives for India's pharmaceutical, MedTech, and healthcare sectors, consider the following statements: 1. The PRIP scheme is designed to promote research and innovation specifically within the pharma-medtech sector. 2. The government targets self-reliance in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and advanced medical equipment like MRI machines by 2028. 3. Ayushman Bharat forms a component of the national healthcare strategy, providing financial protection to over 70 crore citizens. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- [A] 1 and 2 only
- [B] 2 and 3 only
- [C] 1 and 3 only
- [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
All three statements are correct. The PRIP (Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector) scheme targets enhanced R&D; PLI and park schemes aim for API and medical device self-reliance (including MRI machines) by 2028; and Ayushman Bharat offers health protection coverage to over 70 crore citizens.
Official Policy Notifications & Dossiers
5 Briefs-
PRS
Explaining the draft Bill on violence against healthcare professionals and clinical establishments
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a draft Bill prohibiting acts of violence against healthcare service personnel and damage to clinical establishments, defining violence as harm, obstruction, or property loss while discharging duties.
- Offences under the draft Bill entail imprisonment from six months to five years for general violence, and between three years to ten years with fines between two lakh rupees and Rs 10 lakh for grievous hurt.
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PRS
Explaining the draft Bill on violence against healthcare professionals and clinical establishments
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released a draft Bill to penalize violence against healthcare professionals and damage to clinical establishment properties.
- Offences under the draft Bill are classified as cognizable and non-bailable, requiring investigation by a police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
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PRS
Central government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic (Jan 2020 - Apr 7, 2020)
- Welfare measures included Rs 500 per month for women account holders under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, three free gas cylinders for poor families, and the establishment of the PM CARES Fund as a public charitable trust with 100% tax deduction on donations.
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PRS
Kerala Government’s Response to COVID-19 (January 30, 2020 - April 22, 2020)
- On January 30, 2020, India’s first COVID-19 positive case was reported in Kerala, prompting early surveillance and risk-based categorisation of passenger arrivals.
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PRS
Tamil Nadu Government’s Response to COVID-19
- The state government announced financial assistance of Rs 60 crore on March 15 to various departments and distributed cash support of Rs 1,000 along with free essential commodities through the Public Distribution System.
- As of April 28, Tamil Nadu recorded 1,937 confirmed cases, with 1,101 recoveries and 24 deaths, while enforcing phased lockdowns, border sealing, and district-specific curfews.