UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Fixing structural deficits in India’s health system

Q1. The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), under which new AIIMS are being established as Institutes of National Importance, is administered by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
  • B. Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • C. Ministry of AYUSH
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q2. In which year was the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), the scheme under which new AIIMS-like institutions and upgradation of Government Medical Colleges are funded, first announced?

  • A. 2003
  • B. 2005
  • C. 2014
  • D. 2018

Q3. As per the information placed before Parliament for the academic year 2025–26, how many new medical colleges have been established across India?

  • A. 22
  • B. 43
  • C. 75
  • D. 157

Q4. Among the 43 new medical colleges established for the academic year 2025–26, the largest single category by ownership is which one of the following?

  • A. State government colleges
  • B. Central government (Union/PSU) colleges
  • C. ESIC (Employees' State Insurance Corporation) colleges
  • D. Private colleges

Q5. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 'Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals', consider the following statements: 1. PMSSY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that mandatorily requires a matching State financial contribution. 2. Under the CSS for new medical colleges, the Centre–State fund-sharing ratio is 60:40 for general category States and 90:10 for North-Eastern and Special Category States. 3. Both schemes are administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. PMSSY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that mandatorily requires a matching State financial contribution.
  2. Under the CSS for new medical colleges, the Centre–State fund-sharing ratio is 60:40 for general category States and 90:10 for North-Eastern and Special Category States.
  3. Both schemes are administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3