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 81–90 of 151 questions
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
Q81. Arrange the following progression of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and related initiatives in India in chronological order of their launch: I. District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) II. National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) III. Tele-MANAS initiative IV. Mental Healthcare Act (the revised act decriminalizing suicide attempts) Which of the following represents the correct sequence?
Explanation
The National Mental Health Programme was launched first in 1982, followed by the District Mental Health Programme in 1996 to decentralize services. The Mental Healthcare Act, which significantly reformed legal protections and rights for patients, was enacted in 2017. Most recently, the Tele-MANAS initiative was launched in 2022 to provide comprehensive 24x7 tele-mental health counseling and support services across India.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
Q82. Papaya seeds are most commonly used to adulterate which of the following spices?
Explanation
Dried papaya seeds are a common adulterant used in black pepper because they bear a striking physical resemblance to peppercorns. While they may not be acutely toxic, their use is a fraudulent practice that reduces the quality and flavor of the spice. Consumers can often detect this adulteration by placing peppercorns in water; genuine peppercorns sink, while dried papaya seeds tend to float.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
Q83. Which food preservation technique eliminates pathogens through high pressure rather than high heat?
Explanation
Pascalization, also known as high-pressure processing, is a food preservation method that uses extremely high pressure to kill harmful bacteria and extend the shelf life of products. Unlike pasteurization, which uses heat, pascalization maintains the nutritional value, flavor, and texture of fresh food more effectively. It is commonly used for products like fruit juices, seafood, and deli meats to ensure safety without chemical additives.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
Q84. Under food safety regulations in India, which food businesses are exempted from obtaining a food license but must merely register?
Explanation
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, small-scale food business operators, such as street vendors and small retailers with an annual turnover of less than twelve lakh rupees, are classified as petty operators. These businesses are exempt from the more complex food licensing requirements but must still complete a simplified registration process. This ensures that even small businesses are brought under the regulatory framework for food safety.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
Q85. The rhythmic muscular contractions that propel food through the digestive tract are known as:
Explanation
Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscular contractions that move food along the digestive tract. These involuntary movements occur in the oesophagus, stomach, and intestines, pushing the contents forward and facilitating mechanical digestion. This process is essential for ensuring that food is thoroughly mixed with digestive juices and that nutrients are efficiently moved to the sites where they can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
Q86. Any foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, particularly the production of antibodies, is called an:
Explanation
An antigen is any substance, typically a protein or polysaccharide on the surface of a pathogen, that the immune system recognizes as foreign. When an antigen enters the body, it triggers an immune response, leading to the production of specific antibodies designed to neutralize the invader. This recognition and response mechanism is the foundation of how the body identifies and fights off infections.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
Q87. The Hepatitis B vaccine is produced using genetic engineering techniques by inserting the viral gene into a yeast cell. Such a vaccine is called a:
Explanation
A recombinant vaccine is produced by inserting the DNA for a specific antigen from a pathogen into a different cell, such as a yeast or mammalian cell. These cells then produce the antigen, which is purified and used as the vaccine. This technology allows for the creation of safe and effective vaccines, like the Hepatitis B vaccine, without using the actual live virus in the manufacturing process.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
Q88. Which of the following is a parasitic disease?
Explanation
Amoebiasis is a parasitic infection of the intestines caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. It is primarily spread through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. While bacterial and viral infections are also common causes of digestive disease, amoebiasis is specifically classified as a parasitic disease. Symptoms can range from mild diarrhea to severe dysentery, requiring targeted anti-parasitic medications for effective treatment.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
Q89. In the context of the DOTS strategy, what does DOTS stand for?
Explanation
Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course is the standardized global strategy for detecting and treating tuberculosis. It focuses on five main components: political commitment, good quality diagnosis, standardized treatment with direct observation, effective drug supply, and a systematic monitoring and evaluation process. This comprehensive approach is designed to ensure high cure rates and prevent the spread of tuberculosis within the general community.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Human Health, Food, Nutrition and Public Health Programmes
Q90. Malaria is transmitted to humans through the bite of:
Explanation
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Only the female mosquito bites because she needs the protein from human blood to develop her eggs. When she bites an infected person, she takes in the parasite, which then undergoes further development before she can pass it to the next person she bites.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
81
(a) II, I, IV, III
82
(b) Black pepper
83
(c) Pascalization (high-pressure process)
84
(d) Petty operators with turnover below 12 lakhs
85
(a) Peristalsis
86
(b) Antigen
87
(b) Recombinant vaccine
88
(a) Amoebiasis
89
(c) Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course
90
(d) Female Anopheles mosquito
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.
