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 person is caught with a quantity of a narcotic drug that is more than the small quantity but less than the commercial quantity. Under the NDPS Act, what is the punishment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years and fine

The NDPS Act grades penalties by quantity. Small quantity carries up to one year, intermediate quantity up to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine, and commercial quantity a minimum of 10 years extending to 20 years. Death is prescribed only for certain repeat offences with commercial quantities.

Option by option

  • A. Imprisonment up to 6 months only

    Up to one year (or fine) applies to small quantities only.

  • B. Death penalty

    Capital punishment is not the penalty for a first intermediate quantity offence.

  • C. Rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years and fine (correct)

    Intermediate quantities attract rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years.

  • D. Minimum 10 years and maximum 20 years

    A minimum of 10 years applies to commercial quantities.

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.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years and fine. The NDPS Act grades penalties by quantity.

Why is "Imprisonment up to 6 months only" not the answer?

Up to one year (or fine) applies to small quantities only.

Why is "Death penalty" not the answer?

Capital punishment is not the penalty for a first intermediate quantity offence.

Why is "Minimum 10 years and maximum 20 years" not the answer?

A minimum of 10 years applies to commercial quantities.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: NDPS Act in Forensic Medicine. Small quantity carries up to one year, intermediate quantity up to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine, and commercial quantity a minimum of 10 years extending to 20 years. Death is prescribed only for certain repeat offences with commercial 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.