Q41. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iron is highest for which of the following demographic groups?
Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes: RAS Prelims MCQs
151 RAS Prelims MCQs on human health, food, nutrition and public health programmes test nutrients, vitamins, deficiency diseases and government programmes. Carbohydrates, vitamin names, iron and anaemia, overnutrition, adulteration and epidemic dropsy, the role of an ASHA worker and the aims of Poshan Abhiyan are asked as facts and effects.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 41–50 of 151 questions
Q42. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common metric used to classify malnutrition (underweight and overweight). It is calculated as:
Explanation
Body Mass Index is a simple and widely used anthropometric tool to categorize individuals as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. It is calculated by dividing an individual’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. This metric provides a general assessment of body fatness and helps identify potential health risks associated with different weight categories.
Q43. Arrange the following steps of detecting food adulteration in a suspected sample in the correct logical sequence:
I. Compare results with standard parameters
II. Collect a representative sample
III. Perform chemical analysis in a certified lab
IV. Document the batch and expiry details of the product
Which of the following represents the correct sequence?
I. Compare results with standard parameters
II. Collect a representative sample
III. Perform chemical analysis in a certified lab
IV. Document the batch and expiry details of the product
Which of the following represents the correct sequence?
Explanation
To detect food adulteration, the first step is to collect a representative sample of the suspected item. Next, the batch and expiry details of the product must be documented for legal and tracking purposes. The sample is then sent for chemical analysis in a certified laboratory. Finally, the laboratory results are compared with established standard parameters to determine if adulteration occurred.
Q44. Metanil yellow is a prohibited food dye commonly used illegally to adulterate which of the following food items to enhance its colour?
Explanation
Metanil yellow is a non-permitted food color that is sometimes illegally added to turmeric powder to enhance its bright yellow appearance. This chemical is a synthetic dye that can be toxic if consumed, potentially causing damage to the nervous system and liver. Consumers are advised to check the purity of turmeric, as food safety regulations strictly prohibit the use of such dyes.
Q45. High concentrations of salt or sugar preserve food primarily by:
Explanation
High concentrations of salt or sugar act as preservatives by creating a hypertonic environment. This process, known as osmosis, draws water out of the cells of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, causing them to shrink and become inactive or die. Without sufficient internal water, these microbes cannot grow or reproduce, thereby preventing the spoilage of the preserved food items.
Q46. Bile juice, which aids in the emulsification of fats, is produced by the __________ and stored in the __________.
Explanation
Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver that plays a critical role in the emulsification of dietary fats. Once produced, it is transported to and stored in the gallbladder, where it becomes more concentrated. During digestion, the gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine to help break down large fat globules into smaller droplets, facilitating efficient enzyme action.
Q47. In the adaptive immune system, antibodies are primarily produced by:
Explanation
B-lymphocytes, or B cells, are a type of white blood cell that forms a key part of the adaptive immune system. When they encounter a specific antigen, they differentiate into plasma cells that produce and secrete large quantities of antibodies. These antibodies circulate in the blood and other body fluids, specifically binding to and neutralizing pathogens like bacteria and viruses.
Q48. Which of the following best describes the concept of "Herd Immunity"?
Explanation
Herd immunity, also known as community immunity, occurs when a large proportion of a population becomes immune to a specific infectious disease, either through vaccination or previous infection. This high level of immunity makes it difficult for the pathogen to spread, thereby providing indirect protection to those who are not immune, such as infants or individuals with weakened immune systems.
Q49. Which of the following sets consists entirely of viral diseases?
Explanation
Rabies, measles, and poliomyelitis are all caused by different types of viruses. Rabies is a fatal viral infection of the nervous system, measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus, and polio is a viral disease that can lead to paralysis. In contrast, diseases like tuberculosis and cholera are bacterial, while malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite, not a virus.
Q50. Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is defined as TB that is resistant to at least which two most powerful first-line anti-TB drugs?
Explanation
Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is a specific form of the disease where the bacteria have developed resistance to at least isoniazid and rifampicin. These two drugs are the most powerful first-line medications used in standard tuberculosis treatment. Resistance to them makes the disease significantly harder and more expensive to treat, requiring the use of second-line drugs that may have more side effects.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 41 | (b) Pregnant women |
| 42 | (b) Weight in kg divided by square of height in meters |
| 43 | (a) II, IV, III, I |
| 44 | (d) Turmeric powder |
| 45 | (c) Drawing water out of microbial cells via osmosis |
| 46 | (b) Liver; Gallbladder |
| 47 | (d) B-lymphocytes |
| 48 | (a) Protection occurring when a large group is immune |
| 49 | (a) Rabies, Measles, Poliomyelitis |
| 50 | (d) Isoniazid and Rifampicin |
Key facts from Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
- Carbohydrates are the main source of immediate energy; overnutrition leads to obesity.
- Vitamin C is ascorbic acid; tocopherol (vitamin E) is not part of the Vitamin B complex.
- Iron deficiency most directly leads to anaemia, and anaemia among pregnant women raises the maternal mortality rate.
- The Recommended Dietary Allowance is the daily intake level sufficient for most healthy people.
- Argemone oil in edible mustard oil causes epidemic dropsy.
- An ASHA worker links the community with the public health system under the National Health Mission; Poshan Abhiyan targets stunting, under-nutrition and anaemia.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes?
This page has 151 practice MCQs on Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes (Health, Environment and Agriculture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which condition does iron deficiency cause?
Anaemia, a low level of haemoglobin in the blood. It causes weakness and tiredness, and in pregnant women it raises the risk to both mother and child, so iron and folic acid tablets are given under the public health programmes.
What causes epidemic dropsy?
Argemone oil mixed in edible mustard oil as an adulterant. The toxin it contains affects the body and causes swelling, so adulteration of mustard oil has led to outbreaks in India.
What is the role of an ASHA worker?
To link the community with the public health system under the National Health Mission. An ASHA, the Accredited Social Health Activist, is a village-level worker who guides women to institutional delivery and immunisation.