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.
