UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Stem cell therapy cannot be offered as a clinical service for autism: Supreme Court

Q1. With reference to the regulation of stem cell therapy in India following the Supreme Court's ruling in Yash Charitable Trust v. Union of India (2026), consider the following statements: 1. Autologous bone marrow transplantation is recognised as standard clinical care under the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017. 2. Epithelial therapies for corneal surface disorders are recognised as standard clinical care under the same guidelines. 3. Stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder is among the indications approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research as standard care. 4. Apart from recognised standard-care indications, any other use of stem cells in patients is treated as investigational and permissible only within an approved and monitored clinical trial. Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. Autologous bone marrow transplantation is recognised as standard clinical care under the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017.
2. Epithelial therapies for corneal surface disorders are recognised as standard clinical care under the same guidelines.
3. Stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder is among the indications approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research as standard care.
4. Apart from recognised standard-care indications, any other use of stem cells in patients is treated as investigational and permissible only within an approved and monitored clinical trial.

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Following the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling in Yash Charitable Trust v. Union of India, which one of the following bodies issued the advisory directing medical colleges, institutions and registered medical practitioners to restrict stem cell therapy to the 32 conditions approved on ICMR recommendations?

• A. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
• B. Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)
• C. Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)
• D. National Medical Commission (NMC)

Q3. The National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017 — relied upon by the Supreme Court in its 2026 ruling on stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder — were jointly issued by which one of the following?

• A. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
• B. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
• C. Department of Health Research (DHR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
• D. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)

Q4. Comparing the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017 with the Supreme Court's 2026 judgment in Yash Charitable Trust v. Union of India, consider the following statements: 1. The 2017 Guidelines had permitted stem cell therapy as a routine clinical service for Autism Spectrum Disorder, a position now overturned by the 2026 judgment. 2. While the 2017 Guidelines lacked binding statutory force, the 2026 judgment directs the constitution of a dedicated national regulatory authority for stem cell oversight. 3. Both the 2017 Guidelines and the 2026 judgment treat the use of stem cell therapy outside an approved and monitored clinical trial — for indications other than recognised standard-care exceptions — as impermissible. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The 2017 Guidelines had permitted stem cell therapy as a routine clinical service for Autism Spectrum Disorder, a position now overturned by the 2026 judgment.
2. While the 2017 Guidelines lacked binding statutory force, the 2026 judgment directs the constitution of a dedicated national regulatory authority for stem cell oversight.
3. Both the 2017 Guidelines and the 2026 judgment treat the use of stem cell therapy outside an approved and monitored clinical trial — for indications other than recognised standard-care exceptions — as impermissible.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. As per the advisory issued in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling on stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder, on how many diseases/conditions is stem cell therapy permissible as standard clinical care, based on the Indian Council of Medical Research's recommendations?

• A. 22
• B. 28
• C. 32
• D. 36