Toxicology: NDPS Act: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Toxicology: NDPS Act

Sample item

A heroin-dependent man is arrested with a small quantity meant for personal use and volunteers for treatment at a recognised de-addiction centre. How does the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 treat him?

AHe may be granted immunity from prosecution for small-quantity offences if he completes treatmentBHe is always sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonmentCHe is exempt only if he is a doctorDHe is released with no condition regardless of treatment

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. He may be granted immunity from prosecution for small-quantity offences if he completes treatment

The NDPS Act provides that an addict charged with offences involving small quantities, or consumption, who volunteers for medical treatment at a government-recognised facility may be granted immunity from prosecution, which can be withdrawn if he does not complete treatment. The Act otherwise carries severe penalties for larger quantities.

Option by option

A. He may be granted immunity from prosecution for small-quantity offences if he completes treatment (correct)
Correct. The Act favours treatment for addicts with small quantities.
B. He is always sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment
Mandatory ten-year sentences apply to commercial quantities, not this scenario.
C. He is exempt only if he is a doctor
Being a doctor does not confer an exemption.
D. He is released with no condition regardless of treatment
Immunity is conditional on completing treatment.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, He may be granted immunity from prosecution for small-quantity offences if he completes treatment. The NDPS Act provides that an addict charged with offences involving small quantities, or consumption, who volunteers for medical treatment at a government-recognised facility may be granted immunity from prosecution, which can be withdrawn if he does not complete treatment.

Why is "He is always sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment" not the answer?

Mandatory ten-year sentences apply to commercial quantities, not this scenario.

Why is "He is exempt only if he is a doctor" not the answer?

Being a doctor does not confer an exemption.

Why is "He is released with no condition regardless of treatment" not the answer?

Immunity is conditional on completing treatment.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: NDPS Act in Forensic Medicine. The Act otherwise carries severe penalties for larger quantities.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Toxicology: NDPS Act?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.