Child and adolescent psychiatry: mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in India: practice question

A Psychiatry 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.

Try it

Psychiatry · Child and adolescent psychiatry: mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in India

Sample item

A doctor in India suspects that a 10-year-old has been sexually abused. Under which Indian law is there a duty to report the suspicion to the authorities?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012

The POCSO Act 2012 makes it mandatory to report known or suspected sexual offences against a child under 18 years. Failure to report is itself an offence.

Option by option

  • A. Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

    The Mental Healthcare Act governs mental health care and rights, not child sexual abuse reporting.

  • B. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act

    The NDPS Act governs drugs and psychotropic substances.

  • C. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (correct)

    Correct. POCSO imposes the duty to report sexual offences against children.

  • D. Right to Education Act, 2009

    The Right to Education Act concerns schooling.

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 Psychiatry questions

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The POCSO Act 2012 makes it mandatory to report known or suspected sexual offences against a child under 18 years.

Why is "Mental Healthcare Act, 2017" not the answer?

The Mental Healthcare Act governs mental health care and rights, not child sexual abuse reporting.

Why is "Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act" not the answer?

The NDPS Act governs drugs and psychotropic substances.

Why is "Right to Education Act, 2009" not the answer?

The Right to Education Act concerns schooling.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child and adolescent psychiatry: mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in India in Psychiatry. Failure to report is itself an offence.

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 Child and adolescent psychiatry: mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in India?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry 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.