✅ Answer: A) It is the world’s largest producer of generic medicines and vaccinesIndia is called the “Pharmacy of the World” because it is the world’s largest producer of generic medicines (by volume) and vaccines. India supplies about 60% of the world’s vaccines and 20% of global generic medicines. India’s pharma industry is worth ~$50 billion and exports to 200+ countries. Serum Institute of India (Pune) is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. India’s affordable medicines have saved millions of lives globally, especially in developing countries.

✅ Answer: A) Strengthen healthcare infrastructure and services in rural and urban areasThe National Health Mission (NHM) was launched in 2013 by merging the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM, 2005) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). It aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, improve health outcomes, and provide universal access to quality healthcare. Key components: ASHA workers, Health and Wellness Centres, free medicines and diagnostics, maternal and child health services. NHM has significantly improved India’s health indicators.

✅ Answer: A) Provides vaccines to developing countries at affordable pricesGAVI (the Vaccine Alliance) is an international organisation that provides vaccines to developing countries at affordable prices. It was founded in 2000 with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, UNICEF, and World Bank. GAVI has helped vaccinate over 1 billion children in developing countries. India’s Serum Institute of India is a major vaccine supplier to GAVI. GAVI played a crucial role in COVID-19 vaccine distribution through COVAX.

✅ Answer: A) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare + NITI AayogThe Telemedicine Practice Guidelines 2020 were issued jointly by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NITI Aayog. They were released in March 2020 — just as COVID-19 lockdowns began — providing the first legal framework for telemedicine in India. The guidelines allow registered medical practitioners to provide teleconsultation via video, audio, or text. They specify what medicines can be prescribed via telemedicine. This enabled eSanjeevani and other telemedicine services to scale rapidly.

✅ Answer: A) National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers are community health workers introduced under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005. There are over 1 million ASHA workers in India. They serve as a link between the community and the health system. They promote maternal and child health, immunisation, family planning, and disease prevention. ASHA workers received the WHO Director-General’s Global Health Leaders Award in 2022 for their role during COVID-19.

✅ Answer: A) Ensure equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccinesCOVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access) was established by WHO, GAVI, and CEPI to ensure equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines. It aimed to provide vaccines to 92 low- and middle-income countries. India’s Serum Institute of India was a major supplier to COVAX. India also donated vaccines to neighbouring countries under “Vaccine Maitri” initiative. COVAX faced challenges due to vaccine nationalism by wealthy countries and export restrictions.

✅ Answer: A) Greater precision, smaller incisions, less blood loss, faster recoveryRobotic surgery (like the Da Vinci Surgical System) offers greater precision, smaller incisions (minimally invasive), less blood loss, reduced pain, and faster recovery compared to traditional open surgery. The surgeon controls robotic arms from a console. It is used for prostate, cardiac, gynaecological, and other surgeries. India has over 100 Da Vinci systems. Robotic surgery is more expensive but outcomes are often better. AI is being integrated into robotic surgery for real-time guidance.

✅ Answer: A) Donating and supplying COVID-19 vaccines to other countriesIndia’s “Vaccine Maitri” (Vaccine Friendship) initiative involved donating and supplying COVID-19 vaccines to other countries, especially developing nations. India supplied vaccines to 95+ countries. Covishield (Serum Institute) and Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) were supplied. India donated vaccines to neighbours (Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Myanmar) and African countries. The initiative was paused in April 2021 due to India’s second COVID wave but resumed later. It enhanced India’s soft power globally.

✅ Answer: A) Medicines on this list have their prices regulated by the governmentThe National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) lists medicines that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population. Medicines on NLEM have their prices regulated by NPPA (National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority) under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). The latest NLEM (2022) has 384 medicines. Price regulation ensures affordable access to essential medicines. WHO also maintains a Model List of Essential Medicines, which India’s NLEM is based on.

✅ Answer: A) Apex body for biomedical researchICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) is India’s apex body for biomedical and health research, established in 1911. It is funded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. ICMR has 26 national institutes and 6 regional medical research centres. During COVID-19, ICMR collaborated with Bharat Biotech to develop Covaxin. ICMR also developed the first COVID-19 testing protocol in India. CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) is India’s drug regulatory authority.