UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Update on Health Workforce Availability in Public Health Facilities
Q1. With reference to the MoHFW's February 2026 estimate of India's doctor-population ratio, consider the following:
1. The ratio is computed by counting registered allopathic doctors together with registered AYUSH practitioners.
2. The estimate assumes that 100% of registered practitioners are active and available.
3. Registered AYUSH practitioners number about 7.51 lakh.
4. The resulting ratio of 1:811 is worse than the WHO norm of 1:1000.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The ratio is computed by counting registered allopathic doctors together with registered AYUSH practitioners.
- The estimate assumes that 100% of registered practitioners are active and available.
- Registered AYUSH practitioners number about 7.51 lakh.
- The resulting ratio of 1:811 is worse than the WHO norm of 1:1000.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q2. As per the MoHFW update of February 2026, what is the total number of registered allopathic (modern medicine) doctors in India?
- A. 13,88,185
- B. 7,51,768
- C. 39,40,000
- D. 12,55,786
Q3. The publication 'Health Dynamics of India (Infrastructure and Human Resources)' is compiled and released by which of the following?
- A. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- B. National Statistical Office under MoSPI
- C. NITI Aayog
- D. Ministry of Ayush
Q4. Since which year has the annual publication — formerly titled 'Rural Health Statistics' and now 'Health Dynamics of India' — been brought out?
- A. 1992
- B. 2005
- C. 1947
- D. 2018
Q5. The nurse-population ratio of 2.23 per 1,000, cited in the February 2026 update, is arrived at on the basis of which of the following assumptions?
- A. That 80% of the registered nursing personnel are active and available
- B. That all registered nursing personnel are active
- C. That only government-employed nurses are counted
- D. That the count includes ANMs and community health volunteers
Q6. With reference to India's nursing workforce as reported in February 2026, consider the following:
1. The total nursing personnel registered stands at about 39.40 lakh.
2. There are about 5,310 nursing institutions in the country.
3. A majority — over 3,000 — of these nursing institutions are government institutions.
4. The institutions together produce nearly 3.82 lakh nursing personnel annually.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The total nursing personnel registered stands at about 39.40 lakh.
- There are about 5,310 nursing institutions in the country.
- A majority — over 3,000 — of these nursing institutions are government institutions.
- The institutions together produce nearly 3.82 lakh nursing personnel annually.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q7. Consider the following statements regarding the AYUSH regulatory architecture:
1. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020 replaced the erstwhile Central Council of Indian Medicine.
2. The National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020 replaced the Central Council of Indian Medicine.
3. Both the NCISM and the NCH function under the Ministry of Ayush.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020 replaced the erstwhile Central Council of Indian Medicine.
- The National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020 replaced the Central Council of Indian Medicine.
- Both the NCISM and the NCH function under the Ministry of Ayush.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) regulates education and practice in which of the following systems of medicine?
- A. Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa
- B. Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy
- C. Homoeopathy and Naturopathy
- D. Modern allopathic medicine alongside Ayurveda
Q9. Consider the following bodies:
1. Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB)
2. Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB)
3. Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB)
4. Board of Ethics and Registration of Practitioners of Indian Systems of Medicine
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as autonomous board(s) under the National Medical Commission?
- Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB)
- Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB)
- Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB)
- Board of Ethics and Registration of Practitioners of Indian Systems of Medicine
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q10. With reference to the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), consider the following:
1. A Sub-Centre is the most peripheral first contact point between the community and the primary health care system.
2. In the plains, one Primary Health Centre is prescribed for a population of about 30,000.
3. A Community Health Centre invariably serves a population of exactly one lakh in every area, without exception.
4. IPHS norms cover District Hospitals and Sub-District Hospitals.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- A Sub-Centre is the most peripheral first contact point between the community and the primary health care system.
- In the plains, one Primary Health Centre is prescribed for a population of about 30,000.
- A Community Health Centre invariably serves a population of exactly one lakh in every area, without exception.
- IPHS norms cover District Hospitals and Sub-District Hospitals.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 only
- C. 3 only
- D. 3 and 4
Q11. The National Health Mission — under which States are supported for hard-area allowance and the multi-skilling of doctors to address specialist shortages — is implemented by which of the following?
- A. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- B. Ministry of Ayush
- C. Ministry of Rural Development
- D. NITI Aayog