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DNB Community Medicine Previous Year Questions

These are the DNB Community Medicine (Community Medicine (PSM)) theory questions asked by NBEMS in the December 2025 and June 2025 exams, listed paper by paper as they appeared. The Prep DNB app has all 23 DNB sessions from December 2014 to December 2025 — 919 questions in total — with repeat-question tracking, examiner keywords and MCQs.

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DNB Community Medicine December 2025 Question Paper

Paper 1

  1. Draw the schematic diagrams of the design of case-control and cohort studies. Explain the concept of matching with examples. How will you measure the strength of the association between the risk factor and the outcome in a case-control study? [4+3+3]
  2. a) Define a step-wedge trial. [2] b) Draw and explain the schematics of a step-wedge trial for an intervention to improve cervical cancer screening in rural areas of a district of Telangana. [5] c) What precautions are required for data analysis in this type of trial? [3]
  3. a) What are the principles of medical ethics? [4] b) What ethical issues may arise while conducting research and what measures can be taken to manage these issues? [6]
  4. How will you investigate an outbreak of measles among school going children in district Fatehabad? [10]
  5. a) List the methods of evaluation of a health promotion program. [5] b) How will you evaluate the health promotion strategies used in the NP-NCD? [5]
  6. a) List the determinants of health. [5] b) Which of the social determinants have been incorporated into the National Health Policy 2017? [5]
  7. a) What is the composition of NITI Aayog? [3] b) Discuss the 'composite health index' developed by the NITI Aayog. [7]
  8. a) Define spectrum of Health. [2] b) Discuss various levels of prevention and modes of intervention in context to cervical cancer. [8]
  9. a) What are the criteria considered by the policy makers for initiation of a screening programme? [5] b) How will you assess validity of a screening test? [5]
  10. a) Compare the methodology and health indicators captured by NFHS and NSSO health-related surveys. [8] b) Which agencies conduct these surveys? [2]

Paper 2

  1. List infectious disease causation models. Draw a disease causation model for classical dengue fever. Which part of this model is being used by the NVBDCP for controlling dengue in India? [3+5+2]
  2. What are the occupational hazards for housekeeping (i.e. cleaning) staff in a 1000-bedded tertiary level hospital in India? What measures can be taken for prevention and control of these occupational hazards? [4+6]
  3. Describe the epidemiology of rabies. A 10-year-old boy had a dog bite 2 hours ago and he was brought to a PHC with a scratch mark on his right leg. His past history suggests that he had a similar incidence in the last year and received complete course of vaccination at that time. How will you manage the case? Suggest measures to control urban rabies. [3+4+3]
  4. What do you understand by 'opt out in HIV epidemiology in India? How is it different from Loss to follow up (LFTU)? Critically analyze strategies for HIV-TB co-infection under National AIDS Control Programme. [3+3+4]
  5. Perform a SWOT analysis of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). [10]
  6. Discuss the role of Poshan Abhiyaan in tackling childhood under nutrition in India. [10]
  7. Explain the 'GATHER' approach in contraception counselling. The mother of a 2-year-old girl child visited an Ayushman Arogya Mandir for contraceptive advice. List the contraceptive options available under the RMNCHA+N. Which methods she may opt for spacing her next pregnancy? [3+4+3]
  8. Draw and explain the schematics of packages of healthcare services available for elderly at various levels of public healthcare system in India. [10]
  9. Define maternal mortality ratio (MMR). What is the current MMR in India? Discuss the initiatives taken by the GoI to reduce MMR. [2+2+6]
  10. Explain the salient features of Liquid Waste Management rules 2025. List the important timelines in these rules. [8+2]

Paper 3

  1. List the stages of epidemiological transition. Which stage is India in now? Discuss how the epidemiological transition has corresponded to the demographic transition in India. [5+1+4]
  2. List the national NCD targets. Which of these are being monitored in the NP-NCD? Draw the organogram of NP-NCD at the district level. [2.5+2.5+5]
  3. What are the direct dietary assessment methods used at Anganwadi centres under ICDS? L. Boopathi is a 2-year-old boy residing in the urban slums of Chennai. He has been diagnosed with moderate acute malnutrition today. Write a dietary prescription for him for the next two weeks. [6+4]
  4. List the types of verbal autopsy forms used by the Sample Registration System (SRS) in India. Discuss the Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) system in India. [2+8]
  5. Which diseases are included in the Community-based Assessment Checklist (CBAC)? Who fills this form? How does population-based screening for diabetes mellitus happen in India? [4+1+5]
  6. List at least five behaviour theories that can be used in health-related communication. Draw and explain the schematics for the Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) strategy to improve the adoption of cervical cancer screening by rural women. [2.5+7.5]
  7. What are the features of the Mental Healthcare Act 2017? List the instances where consent is not required during HIV testing. [6+4]
  8. List health system related portals used by a Community Health Officer (CHO) in Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Explain the functioning of the portal under the NTEP. [4+6]
  9. What is the magnitude of substance abuse in India? Discuss the strategies for prevention and control of tobacco in India. Critically analyze the achievements of various tobacco control strategies. [2+4+4]
  10. What are the differences between formative and summative assessments in medical education? What is the ideal method and role of feedback mechanism for teacher in medical education? [4+6]

Paper 4

  1. Discuss various management techniques based on behavioural sciences. [10]
  2. Explain the six phases of pandemics according to WHO. Which of these were observed during the Covid-19 pandemic? [6+4]
  3. Define Health in All Policies (HiAP). Explain the challenges and opportunities for its implementation in India. [2+8]
  4. What are the recent advances in the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program? What are the key components of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan? [6+4]
  5. Discuss the role of international organizations (like WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, FAO etc.) in global health. Discuss in brief two health programs in India which emerged as a result of such collaborative effort. [5+5]
  6. List and explain the important leadership styles with suitable examples. Which of these would you recommend for in charge of a district hospital during a disaster? [6+4]
  7. Draw the schematics of the incident command system in disaster preparedness and response for a district hospital. What are the key components of the disaster cupboard in the district hospital? [7+3]
  8. Draw the schematics of the Johari Window. How can it be used in conflict resolution among staff members of a primary health Centre (PHC)? [5+5]
  9. What does NQAS stand for? Discuss its salient features. [1+9]
  10. How many Common Review Missions (CRMs) have been conducted to date? Explain the methodology of CRM. [1+9]

DNB Community Medicine June 2025 Question Paper

Paper 1

  1. a) Five year survival. [5] b) Life tables in survival analysis. [5]
  2. a) Multistage stratified cluster sample design. [5] b) Quota sampling. [5]
  3. a) Estimation of sample size in a randomized controlled trial (comparing proportions). [5] b) Blinding and allocation concealment in a randomized controlled trial. [5]
  4. a) 'Less than minimal risk category of risk in research (as per ICMR). [5] b) Clinical Trial Registry-India (CTRI). [5]
  5. a) Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI)'. [5] b) Consent and Assent in research. [5]
  6. a) Equivalence trials and Non-inferiority trials. [5] b) Phases in testing of a new drug. [5]
  7. a) 'Child in Conflict with Law under the Juvenile Justice Act. [5] b) Problem families. [5]
  8. a) Social psychology. [4] b) Social security measures and its relationship to health and disease. [6]
  9. a) Human Development Index (HDI). [6] b) Focus group discussion. [4]
  10. a) Wilcoxon signed rank test. [5] b) Box plot (box and whisker plot)'. [5]

Paper 2

  1. a) Public health measures for viral hepatitis. [5] b) Hepatitis A vaccination in India. [5]
  2. a) Concept of 'Active and Healthy Ageing. [4] b) Objectives of the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE). [3] c) National centers for ageing. [3]
  3. a) Daksh skills lab. [5] b) OSCE checklist - steps of blood pressure recording using an aneroid sphygmomanometer. [5]
  4. a) Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK). [5] b) Newborn stabilization unit. [5]
  5. a) Kyasanur forest disease. [5] b) Tick-borne diseases in India. [5]
  6. a) 'First 1000 days in child health. [5] b) SAANS campaign in childhood pneumonia. [5]
  7. a) Role of BCC in reducing STIs. [4] b) Elimination of vertical transmission of HIV and Syphilis (EVTS). [6]
  8. a) Stable malaria and unstable malaria. [5] b) Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in malaria. [5]
  9. a) Zika virus in India. [5] b) Enzootic cycle (sylvatic cycle) in communicable diseases. [5]
  10. a) Occupational hazards for workers in battery manufacturing. [6] b) Asbestosis. [4]

Paper 3

  1. a) Demographic dividend. [5] b) Calculation of the total fertility rate. [5]
  2. a) Steps for preventing drunk driving (driving under the influence of alcohol)'. [5] b) Excessive screen time among children. [5]
  3. a) Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in India. [5] b) Dietary guidelines for prevention of lifestyle diseases. [5]
  4. a) Social determinants of anemia. [5] b) Indications for parenteral treatment of iron deficiency anemia. [5]
  5. a) Challenges in the family adoption program for MBBS students. [6] b) Feedback mechanisms for teacher, in medical education. [4]
  6. a) e-Sanjeevani. [5] b) Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)'. [5]
  7. a) 'Kayakalp initiative. [7] b) Three bucket system in equipment for cleaning. [3]
  8. a) Use of ferric carboxy maltose. [3] b) National deworming day. [3] c) Advantages of point of care testing for hemoglobin. [4]
  9. a) Body Roundness Index (BRI)'. [4] b) Measurement of abdominal obesity in Indians. [6]
  10. a) National program for palliative care (in India)'. [5] b) Care of a bed-ridden patient. [5]

Paper 4

  1. a) U-WIN portal. [5] b) Introduction of third dose of fractional-dose inactivated polio vaccine (fIPV). [5]
  2. a) Biomedical waste management rules. [6] b) Central Pollution Control Board. [4]
  3. a) 'POSDCORB in health management. [5] b) Composition and functions of hospital infection control committee. [5]
  4. a) Integrated health information platform. [6] b) M pox virus outbreak investigation. [4]
  5. a) Organizational behavior. [5] b) Explain opportunity cost with an example. [5]
  6. a) Define a disaster and describe its types. [5] b) Disaster cycle. [5]
  7. a) Challenges for tribal health in India. [7] b) Tribal T.B. initiative. [3]
  8. a) Importance of digital healthcare in India. [5] b) Health technology assessment in India. [5]
  9. a) Drivers (risk factors) of anti-microbial resistance. [6] b) Bacterial priority pathogens list by the World Health Organization. [4]
  10. a) Define plagiarism and methods to detect plagiarism. [5] b) Open access publication. [5]

High-Yield DNB Community Medicine Topics

A selection of 27 of the 53 important topics curated in the app from repeated DNB Community Medicine questions.

National health programs — highest yield for PSM

  • Tuberculosis (NTEP): case definitions, DSTB/DRTB regimens, Nikshay, GeneXpert, MDR/XDR, IPT
  • HIV/AIDS (NACO): 95-95-95 targets, ICTC/PPTCT, ART, PEP/PrEP, opportunistic infections
  • National Immunization Schedule: latest vaccines (PCV, rotavirus, MR), Mission Indradhanush, catch-up

Maternal and child health

  • Maternal health: ANC components, high-risk pregnancy, JSSK, PMSMA, SUMAN, three delays model
  • Maternal mortality: causes in India, MMR calculation, verbal autopsy, confidential inquiry
  • IMR/NMR/under-5 mortality: determinants, IMNCI, HBNC, SNCU levels, first 1000 days

Communicable diseases

  • Malaria: vectors, ABER/API/SPR indices, case management, elimination, drug resistance
  • Dengue and chikungunya: clinical classification, vector control, outbreak management
  • Vector-borne diseases: JE, filariasis (MDA), kala-azar elimination, integrated vector management

Epidemiology and biostatistics — core exam topics

  • Epidemiology basics: triad of causation, web of causation, natural history, iceberg phenomenon
  • Study designs: cross-sectional, case-control (OR), cohort (RR, AR), RCT (phases, blinding)
  • Bias and confounding: selection, information, recall bias; control methods; effect modification

Non-communicable diseases and screening

  • NCD burden and epidemiological transition; NPCDCS strategies at HWC
  • Hypertension and diabetes control programs (IHCI); cardiovascular risk scores
  • Cancer screening: cervix (VIA/Pap/HPV), breast (CBE/MMG), oral cancer

Family planning and reproductive health

  • Contraception: methods, Pearl index, IUCD/OCP/injectables, emergency contraception
  • Family planning programs: NFPIS, Mission Parivar Vikas, unmet need
  • MTP Act 2021, PCPNDT Act, POCSO Act — key provisions for community medicine

Environmental and occupational health

  • Safe water: purification (chlorination, sand filters, RO), surveillance, waterborne diseases
  • Sanitation: Swachh Bharat, ODF, FSSM; biomedical waste management (colour coding, BMW Rules)
  • Air pollution: NAAQI, health effects, climate change and health

Health systems and administration

  • Health care delivery in India: PHC/CHC/SC norms (IPHS), referral system, NUHM
  • National Health Policy 2017 and health financing: NHM, out-of-pocket expenditure, UHC
  • Health planning: Bhore/Mudaliar committees, planning cycle, SWOT analysis

Disaster, communication, and special topics

  • Disaster management: triage, NDMA, disaster cycle, biological disasters
  • Outbreak investigation: steps, line listing, cohort/case-control in outbreaks
  • IEC/BCC, health belief model, social marketing in health programs

Older DNB Community Medicine Question Papers

The remaining 21 papers are available in the Prep DNB app, organized paper-wise with repeat-question tracking.

Get all 23 papers in the app

Previous Year Questions for Other DNB Subjects