MCQs with answers on the topic “India’s Efforts to Combat Malnutrition”

1. Which of the following schemes is primarily aimed at addressing malnutrition in India?

• a) National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)
• b) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
• c) Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
• d) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
• Answer: c) Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

2. What is the primary goal of the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) launched by the Government of India?

• a) To reduce infant mortality rate
• b) To eliminate hunger and malnutrition by 2022
• c) To promote food security
• d) To enhance agricultural productivity
• Answer: b) To eliminate hunger and malnutrition by 2022

3. Which of the following is a key factor in combating malnutrition among children in India?

• a) High literacy rates
• b) Improved access to healthcare services
• c) Universal food distribution
• d) Reduced population growth
• Answer: b) Improved access to healthcare services

4. The “Poshan Abhiyaan” launched by the government in 2018 is aimed at addressing which of the following?

• a) Food security
• b) Malnutrition
• c) Rural sanitation
• d) Child labor
• Answer: b) Malnutrition

5. Which of the following is NOT a component of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme?

• a) Supplementary nutrition
• b) Health and immunization services
• c) Distribution of school uniforms
• d) Pre-school education
• Answer: c) Distribution of school uniforms

6. Which of the following is the target group for the National Nutrition Mission?

• a) Pregnant women and children under 6 years
• b) Only children
• c) All age groups
• d) Elderly population
• Answer: a) Pregnant women and children under 6 years

7. What is the aim of the Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013?

• a) To ensure affordable and nutritious food to all citizens
• b) To provide food aid to neighboring countries
• c) To increase agricultural production
• d) To control food inflation
• Answer: a) To ensure affordable and nutritious food to all citizens

8. Which state launched the “Mukhya Mantri Amrut Ahar Yojana” to address malnutrition in 2019?

• a) Uttar Pradesh
• b) Bihar
• c) Punjab
• d) Rajasthan
• Answer: d) Rajasthan

9. Which micronutrient deficiency is most common among children in India, contributing to malnutrition?

• a) Vitamin D
• b) Iron
• c) Vitamin C
• d) Calcium
• Answer: b) Iron

10. Which international organization partnered with India to launch the “India Nutrition Project” in 2000 to fight malnutrition?

• a) World Bank
• b) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
• c) World Health Organization (WHO)
• d) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Answer: b) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

11. Which of the following is a primary cause of malnutrition in India?

• a) Low calorie intake
• b) Inadequate access to clean water
• c) Poor sanitation and hygiene
• d) All of the above
• Answer: d) All of the above

12. The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) focuses on improving the nutritional status of which group?

• a) Elderly people
• b) Pregnant women and lactating mothers
• c) Children under 5 years
• d) Farmers
• Answer: b) Pregnant women and lactating mothers

13. Under the National Nutrition Mission (NNM), what is the target for reducing stunting, undernutrition, and low birth weight in children?

• a) 10% by 2025
• b) 25% by 2022
• c) 50% by 2030
• d) 50% by 2025
• Answer: b) 25% by 2022

14. Which nutrient is particularly important for cognitive development in children and is a focus area under India’s nutrition programs?

• a) Carbohydrates
• b) Proteins
• c) Iodine
• d) Calcium
• Answer: b) Proteins

15. What is the role of the National Health Mission (NHM) in addressing malnutrition in India?

• a) Providing health insurance to all citizens
• b) Improving the overall healthcare infrastructure
• c) Providing supplementary nutrition to children and women
• d) Reducing infant mortality rate
• Answer: b) Improving the overall healthcare infrastructure

16. Which initiative by the Government of India focuses on the distribution of fortified food to fight malnutrition?

• a) Public Distribution System (PDS)
• b) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
• c) Nutrient-Based Subsidy Program
• d) Atal Mission for Food Fortification
• Answer: b) Mid-Day Meal Scheme

17. What percentage of children in India are reported to suffer from malnutrition, according to the Global Hunger Index?

• a) 15%
• b) 25%
• c) 38%
• d) 45%
• Answer: c) 38%

18. What is the target group for the “Poshan Abhiyaan” scheme launched by the government?

• a) Farmers and agricultural workers
• b) School children
• c) Pregnant women, children under 6 years, and adolescent girls
• d) Elderly population
• Answer: c) Pregnant women, children under 6 years, and adolescent girls

19. Which scheme provides food and nutritional support to children and pregnant women, as a part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)?

• a) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
• b) PDS
• c) Supplementary Nutrition Program (SNP)
• d) Rashtriya Poshan Abhiyaan
• Answer: c) Supplementary Nutrition Program (SNP)

20. Which of the following is an important factor contributing to child undernutrition in India?

• a) Early marriage
• b) Lack of breastfeeding
• c) Poor sanitation and hygiene
• d) All of the above
• Answer: d) All of the above

21. Which of the following is a significant cause of maternal malnutrition in India?

• a) Lack of access to medical care
• b) Low income and poverty
• c) Gender inequality and discrimination
• d) All of the above
• Answer: d) All of the above

22. Which scheme aims to address the issue of hunger and malnutrition in school-going children?

• a) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
• b) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
• c) National Rural Health Mission
• d) National Food Security Act
• Answer: b) Mid-Day Meal Scheme

23. Which of the following methods is used in India to improve child nutrition through micronutrient supplementation?

• a) Vitamin A and Iron Folic Acid supplementation
• b) Protein supplements
• c) Green leafy vegetable cultivation
• d) Wheat fortification
• Answer: a) Vitamin A and Iron Folic Acid supplementation

24. What percentage of children under five years in India are stunted, according to the NFHS-5 data?

• a) 25%
• b) 32%
• c) 37%
• d) 40%
• Answer: b) 32%

25. Which international body helps in the implementation of food fortification programs to combat malnutrition in India?

• a) UNICEF
• b) WHO
• c) World Bank
• d) FAO
• Answer: a) UNICEF

26. What is the purpose of the “FSSAI” in addressing malnutrition in India?

• a) Regulating food safety and quality
• b) Ensuring fair distribution of food
• c) Promoting agricultural development
• d) Providing food subsidies
• Answer: a) Regulating food safety and quality

27. Which of the following is one of the main goals of the “National Nutrition Strategy” launched by NITI Aayog?

• a) Reducing the cost of food grains
• b) Increasing agriculture exports
• c) Reducing malnutrition in children under five years
• d) Encouraging the consumption of genetically modified food
• Answer: c) Reducing malnutrition in children under five years

28. Which of the following states in India has been a leader in implementing nutrition-related schemes to combat malnutrition?

• a) Kerala
• b) Uttar Pradesh
• c) Bihar
• d) Tamil Nadu
• Answer: a) Kerala

29. In the context of combating malnutrition, what does the term “food fortification” refer to?

• a) Selling food at lower prices
• b) Adding essential micronutrients to staple foods
• c) Providing free food to the poor
• d) Distribution of food through government agencies
• Answer: b) Adding essential micronutrients to staple foods

30. Which ministry is primarily responsible for the implementation of the Poshan Abhiyaan in India?

• a) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• b) Ministry of Women and Child Development
• c) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
• d) Ministry of Rural Development
• Answer: b) Ministry of Women and Child Development

These questions can help assess the understanding of India’s efforts to combat malnutrition, with a focus on various schemes, strategies, and initiatives aimed at improving the nutrition levels of vulnerable populations.