UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Dr. Jitendra Singh Dedicates UMMID Programme to the Nation; Says Genomic and Precision Medicine Will Shape the Future of Healthcare

Q1. Which one of the following is the nodal implementing department for the UMMID (Unique Methods of Management and treatment of Inherited Disorders) initiative?

  • A. Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • B. Indian Council of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • C. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

Q2. With reference to the UMMID initiative and the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021, consider the following statements: 1. UMMID is implemented by the Department of Biotechnology, whereas the National Policy for Rare Diseases is administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 2. UMMID was launched earlier than the notification of the National Policy for Rare Diseases. 3. Services under UMMID are delivered exclusively through private super-specialty hospitals empanelled as NIDAN Kendras. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. UMMID is implemented by the Department of Biotechnology, whereas the National Policy for Rare Diseases is administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  2. UMMID was launched earlier than the notification of the National Policy for Rare Diseases.
  3. Services under UMMID are delivered exclusively through private super-specialty hospitals empanelled as NIDAN Kendras.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the services offered at NIDAN (National Inherited Diseases Administration) Kendras under the UMMID initiative, which of the following is/are NOT among the activities undertaken at these Kendras?

  1. Prenatal testing and diagnosis for genetic disorders
  2. Newborn screening for treatable inherited metabolic disorders
  3. Manufacturing and free distribution of orphan drugs for rare diseases
  4. Training of clinicians in human and medical genetics
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 4 only

Q4. The UMMID initiative, under which NIDAN Kendras have been established in government hospitals to provide genetic diagnostics, prenatal testing and counselling for inherited disorders, is implemented by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • B. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
  • C. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. National Health Authority under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Q5. With reference to the UMMID Programme that was dedicated to the Nation in 2026, consider the following statements:

  1. It is implemented by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
  2. Under the programme, NIDAN Kendras are set up exclusively in private super-specialty hospitals to ensure quality of genetic diagnostics.
  3. The programme covers prenatal testing, newborn screening for inherited disorders, and genetic counselling.
  4. At the time of its dedication to the Nation, the programme had benefited nearly three lakh individuals through screening and diagnostic services.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. With reference to the UMMID Programme as launched in 2019 and as dedicated to the Nation in 2026, consider the following statements:

  1. UMMID was launched in 2019 with five NIDAN Kendras in the first phase, and by its 2026 dedication to the Nation the network had expanded to nearly thirty NIDAN Kendras.
  2. While the 2019 launch placed UMMID under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the 2026 dedication brought it under the Department of Biotechnology.
  3. At the 2026 dedication, the Union Minister projected UMMID's experience as a foundation for precision medicine in conditions such as diabetes, cardiac ailments and cancers, beyond rare inherited disorders.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. With reference to the GenomeIndia Project, consider the following institutions:

  1. 1. Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
  2. 2. BRIC-National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani
  3. 3. National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru
  4. 4. CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. The GenomeIndia Project sanctioned by the Department of Biotechnology aims to undertake whole genome sequencing of 10,000 healthy individuals drawn from approximately how many distinct communities across India?

  • A. 49 communities
  • B. 75 communities
  • C. 99 communities
  • D. 125 communities

Q9. The National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021, which designates Centres of Excellence and provides financial assistance up to Rs. 50 lakh for treatment, is formulated and implemented solely by which one of the following Ministries/Departments of the Government of India?

  • A. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
  • B. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • C. Department of Health Research, Indian Council of Medical Research
  • D. Ministry of AYUSH

Q10. With reference to the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021, which of the following statements is/are NOT correctly described? 1. Group 1 covers disorders amenable to one-time curative treatment. 2. For Group 2 diseases, financial support is envisaged to be provided by the State Governments. 3. The policy is formulated and implemented by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology. 4. Financial assistance for treatment at a Centre of Excellence was enhanced to Rs. 50 lakh in 2022.

  1. Group 1 covers disorders amenable to one-time curative treatment.
  2. For Group 2 diseases, financial support is envisaged to be provided by the State Governments.
  3. The policy is formulated and implemented by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
  4. Financial assistance for treatment at a Centre of Excellence was enhanced to Rs. 50 lakh in 2022.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q11. Which one of the following best describes the mode of inheritance of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)?

  • A. Autosomal dominant
  • B. Autosomal recessive
  • C. X-linked recessive
  • D. Mitochondrial (maternal) inheritance

Q12. In how many high-focus, tribal-dominated States is the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (launched in 2023) being implemented?

  • A. 10 States
  • B. 14 States
  • C. 17 States
  • D. 21 States

Q13. With reference to the UMMID (Unique Methods of Management and treatment of Inherited Disorders) Programme, which one of the following is the nodal implementing agency?

  • A. Indian Council of Medical Research under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • B. Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • C. Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research under the Ministry of Science and Technology

Q14. In the context of precision medicine, the term 'pharmacogenomics' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The mass production of generic drugs using recombinant DNA technology in bioreactors
  • B. The study of how inherited and acquired genetic variation in an individual influences response to drugs
  • C. The use of gene-editing tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 to permanently correct disease-causing mutations
  • D. The application of artificial intelligence to design novel small-molecule drugs from chemical libraries

Q15. With reference to 'Mission COVID Suraksha', which supported the indigenous development of vaccines such as ZyCoV-D, CORBEVAX and iNCOVACC, which one of the following is the nodal department under which this Mission was launched?

  • A. Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Health Research
  • B. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
  • C. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Q16. With reference to the 'National Biopharma Mission' and the 'BioE3 Policy', consider the following statements: 1. The National Biopharma Mission, titled 'Innovate in India (i3)', is co-funded by the World Bank. 2. The BioE3 Policy, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024, aims at fostering high-performance biomanufacturing across sectors such as health, agriculture and industry. 3. Unlike the National Biopharma Mission, the BioE3 Policy is administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and not by the Department of Biotechnology. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The National Biopharma Mission, titled 'Innovate in India (i3)', is co-funded by the World Bank.
  2. The BioE3 Policy, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024, aims at fostering high-performance biomanufacturing across sectors such as health, agriculture and industry.
  3. Unlike the National Biopharma Mission, the BioE3 Policy is administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and not by the Department of Biotechnology.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3