Practice questions
Q1Which of the following is an official objective of Integrated Child Development Services?
A To improve nutritional and health status of children aged 0-6 years and reduce mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout
B To replace all primary schools with Anganwadi Centres
C To restrict child services to curative hospital care after severe illness
D To provide a universal old-age pension through every Anganwadi Centre
Explanation A central objective of ICDS is to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the 0-6 age group. The scheme also aims to lay foundations for development, reduce mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout, coordinate departments and strengthen mothers' capacity through nutrition and health education.
Q2Which statement best describes the historical starting point and core orientation of Integrated Child Development Services?
A It was created only to provide cash incentives for institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
B It began in 2005 as the rural health infrastructure arm of the National Rural Health Mission.
C It is a scheme limited to school-going children above six years of age.
D It was launched on 2 October 1975 as a flagship programme for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers, combining nutrition, health and pre-school support.
Explanation ICDS is historically tied to its 2 October 1975 launch and is designed as an integrated package for early childhood and maternal support. Its focus is not one isolated benefit: it combines supplementary nutrition, health-related links and pre-school non-formal education through Anganwadi Centres for children below six years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Q3In ICDS-NRHM convergence, which ICDS services are mainly health-related and delivered with support from the public health system?
A Take-home ration, adolescent counselling and school enrolment
B Pre-school education, growth chart colouring and community festival management
C Immunization, health check-up and referral services
D Supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education and nutrition education
Explanation ICDS has both nutrition/education services and health-linked services. The health-linked part is immunization, health check-up and referral services, which operate through convergence with the public health infrastructure under the health department. This is why Anganwadi-centred work must coordinate with ANM/health staff instead of functioning as a stand-alone nutrition channel.
Q4A supervisor is checking whether Village Health and Nutrition Day is being organised in the intended convergence format. Which observation most directly fits the official design?
A The session is treated as a school examination day for children above six years.
B The session is held only at the district hospital and Anganwadi workers have no mobilisation role.
C The Anganwadi Centre is used as the village hub, with ASHA and AWW mobilising women and children and ANM/health staff providing services and counselling.
D The meeting is limited to distribution of old-age pension forms by the Panchayat secretary.
Explanation Village Health and Nutrition Day is a convergence platform usually organised monthly at the Anganwadi Centre. The AWC acts as a local service hub; ASHA and the Anganwadi worker mobilise eligible families, while the ANM and health personnel provide basic services, referral guidance and counselling on maternal-child health and nutrition.
Q5For a Mahila Supervisor monitoring ICDS convergence, which pairing of field unit and responsibility split is most accurate?
A Sub-centre is the sole ICDS unit; the Union Government directly manages every Anganwadi Centre daily.
B School management committee is the operational unit; ICDS services are implemented only through primary schools.
C District hospital is the operational unit; Panchayats alone decide the national nutrition norms.
D Anganwadi Centre is the habitation-level operational unit; the Centre handles policy and planning while states handle day-to-day implementation.
Explanation The Anganwadi Centre is the operational unit of ICDS/Anganwadi Services at habitation level. Official material also distinguishes responsibilities: the Central Government is responsible for policy and planning, while state governments manage day-to-day implementation. This matters in supervision because convergence with NHM is checked at the field level, but scheme design and implementation authority sit at different levels.
More questions
6Which statement best captures the launch and core thrust of the National Rural Health Mission?
AIt began in 2018 as a nutrition-only campaign for children, adolescents and pregnant women.
BIt was launched on 12 April 2005 to provide accessible, affordable and quality health care to rural populations, especially vulnerable groups, through decentralised and community-owned systems.
CIt was approved in 2013 only as an urban health mission for municipal areas.
DIt began in 1975 as a child nutrition programme implemented only through Anganwadi Centres.
7Which set correctly represents the six-service package delivered through Anganwadi Services, earlier known as ICDS?
APrimary school teaching, midday meals for Classes I to VIII, birth registration, old-age pension, vaccination, and referral services
BSupplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-up, and referral services
CCash maternity benefit, institutional delivery incentive, ambulance transport, school scholarships, deworming camps, and adolescent clubs
DOnly supplementary nutrition, growth charting, and home visits by the Anganwadi Worker
8Which statement correctly describes the launch and broad aim of the National Rural Health Mission?
ANRHM was launched on 12 April 2005 to provide accessible, affordable and quality health care to the rural population, especially vulnerable groups.
BNRHM was launched in 1975 as the pre-school education wing of ICDS.
CNRHM is a food procurement programme for supplementary nutrition at Anganwadi Centres.
DNRHM was created only for urban slums and was later renamed as ICDS.
9In the NRHM community-process design, what is the role of ASHA?
AA medical specialist posted at the Community Health Centre for surgical referrals
BA trained female community health activist selected from the village to work as an interface between the community and the public health system
CA district-level officer who sanctions Anganwadi building construction
DA pre-school teacher appointed only to conduct non-formal education for children aged 3-6 years
10Which objective is NOT a core objective of Integrated Child Development Services as classically stated in official training material?
AProviding unemployment allowance to mothers after completion of lactation period
BLaying the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child
CEnhancing the capability of mothers to look after normal health and nutritional needs of the child
DImproving the nutritional and health status of children in the age group 0-6 years
11In the ICDS-Anganwadi service package, which group of services is specifically linked with NHM and public health infrastructure rather than being delivered only by the Women and Child Development side?
APre-school non-formal education, early stimulation, and school-readiness activities
BNutrition and health education, community mobilisation, and adolescent skilling
CImmunization, health check-up, and referral services
DSupplementary nutrition, hot cooked meals, and take-home ration
12Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, how should the relationship between Anganwadi Services and the earlier ICDS be understood?
AAnganwadi Services are the revised form of the earlier ICDS service platform, now subsumed under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
BAnganwadi Services are limited to vaccination and exclude supplementary nutrition and preschool education.
CICDS was abolished and replaced by a hospital-only nutrition rehabilitation service.
DPoshan 2.0 covers only adult women and has no component for children below six years.
13Under ICDS/Anganwadi Services, which set correctly lists only the six standard services provided to eligible beneficiaries?
ASupplementary nutrition, old-age pension, free textbooks, health check-up, referral services and sanitation subsidy
BSupplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-up and referral services
CImmunization, school mid-day meal, crop insurance, referral services, pension counselling and pre-school education
DCash maternity benefit, ambulance purchase, hospital construction, nutrition education, police verification and health check-up
