The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 protects public health by prohibiting misleading or unsubstantiated advertisements that claim cures or special properties for drugs, remedies and allied products. For B.Pharm students, understanding the Act’s objectives, scope, key definitions (advertisement, magic remedy, drug), the Schedule of specified diseases, enforcement mechanisms and compliance responsibilities is essential. This introduction emphasizes how labeling, promotional claims, testimonials and marketing strategies must be evidence‑based and ethically justified. Mastery of these rules supports safe dispensing, responsible promotion and regulatory preparedness in pharmacy practice. Prepare for exam and professional practice. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the full name of the DMRA legislation relevant to objectionable advertisements?
- Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954
- Drug Advertisement Control Act, 1954
- Medicinal Claims and Advertising Regulation Act, 1954
- Consumer Protection in Drug Marketing Act, 1954
Correct Answer: Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954
Q2. What is the primary objective of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act?
- To ban all drug advertising irrespective of content
- To regulate pricing of pharmaceutical products
- To prohibit misleading or unverified advertisements that claim to cure scheduled diseases
- To license new pharmaceutical companies
Correct Answer: To prohibit misleading or unverified advertisements that claim to cure scheduled diseases
Q3. Which of the following best describes a “magic remedy” under the Act?
- An officially approved proprietary medicine
- Any article advertised as having magical properties or guaranteed cures for listed diseases
- A homeopathic remedy registered under a different Act
- A surgical device exempt from advertising restrictions
Correct Answer: Any article advertised as having magical properties or guaranteed cures for listed diseases
Q4. Which items are included in the legal definition of “advertisement” under the Act?
- Only television commercials
- Any notice, circular, label, wrapper or representation made in any form or medium
- Only printed newspaper ads
- Internal company communications
Correct Answer: Any notice, circular, label, wrapper or representation made in any form or medium
Q5. What does the Schedule in the Act list?
- Approved brand names for drugs
- Prices of essential medicines
- Diseases and conditions for which advertising of cures is restricted
- Registered pharmaceutical manufacturers
Correct Answer: Diseases and conditions for which advertising of cures is restricted
Q6. Which party can be held liable for publishing an objectionable advertisement?
- Only the person who wrote the advertisement text
- The publisher, advertiser, manufacturer or any person aiding publication
- Only the retail pharmacist selling the product
- Only the consumer who shared the ad
Correct Answer: The publisher, advertiser, manufacturer or any person aiding publication
Q7. Does the Act prohibit advertisements claiming cure for cancer and other serious illnesses?
- No, the Act permits such claims with a disclaimer
- Yes, claims of cure for listed serious illnesses are prohibited
- Only when broadcast on radio
- Only if the drug is unregistered
Correct Answer: Yes, claims of cure for listed serious illnesses are prohibited
Q8. Which section of the Act primarily deals with prohibition of objectionable advertisements?
- Section 1
- Section 3
- Section 10
- Section 21
Correct Answer: Section 3
Q9. Are online and social media advertisements covered by the Act?
- No, the Act only covers print and broadcast media
- Yes, any medium including online platforms is covered
- Only if the website is hosted domestically
- Only if the ad targets more than 1,000 people
Correct Answer: Yes, any medium including online platforms is covered
Q10. Can a cosmetic product be subject to the Act’s restrictions?
- No, cosmetics are entirely exempt
- Yes, if the cosmetic claims to treat or cure diseases listed in the Schedule
- Only if it contains a scheduled drug ingredient
- Only if sold over the counter
Correct Answer: Yes, if the cosmetic claims to treat or cure diseases listed in the Schedule
Q11. Are testimonials claiming guaranteed cures for scheduled diseases acceptable under the Act?
- Yes, testimonials are always allowed
- No, testimonials implying cure for scheduled diseases are prohibited
- Only celebrity testimonials are prohibited
- Allowed only with prior government permission
Correct Answer: No, testimonials implying cure for scheduled diseases are prohibited
Q12. Which authority typically enforces the provisions of the DMRA at the state level?
- State Drug Control Authorities / State Licensing Authority
- Municipal Corporation exclusively
- Reserve Bank of India
- Ministry of Finance
Correct Answer: State Drug Control Authorities / State Licensing Authority
Q13. Does the Act apply to advertisements directed solely at healthcare professionals?
- No, it only applies to consumer-facing ads
- Yes, the Act applies to advertisements irrespective of the target audience
- Only if the advertiser is a multinational company
- Only for advertisements in medical journals
Correct Answer: Yes, the Act applies to advertisements irrespective of the target audience
Q14. What is the expected standard for claims made in drug advertisements under the Act?
- Claims need no evidence if the product is herbal
- Claims should be truthful, verifiable and supported by scientific evidence
- Claims can be based on consumer reviews only
- Claims are regulated by manufacturers’ marketing teams only
Correct Answer: Claims should be truthful, verifiable and supported by scientific evidence
Q15. Who among the following has a professional obligation to ensure advertising compliance?
- Manufacturers and marketers only
- Regulatory authorities only
- Manufacturers, advertisers, distributors and pharmacists
- Only advertising agencies
Correct Answer: Manufacturers, advertisers, distributors and pharmacists
Q16. What type of remedy is the Act primarily intended to provide?
- Civil remedies for contract disputes
- Criminal and public interest protection against deceptive advertising
- Tax relief for pharmaceutical companies
- Marketing guidance documents only
Correct Answer: Criminal and public interest protection against deceptive advertising
Q17. Can a manufacturer claim its product “boosts immunity” without evidence under the Act?
- Yes, broad wellness claims are always exempt
- No, even general claims require substantiation and must not imply cure of scheduled diseases
- Yes, if the product is a natural supplement
- Only if marketed outside India
Correct Answer: No, even general claims require substantiation and must not imply cure of scheduled diseases
Q18. Which of the following is a likely enforcement action for violation of the Act?
- Issuance of a tax notice
- Prosecution, seizure of material and penal action under the Act
- Automatic product approval
- Granting of additional marketing rights
Correct Answer: Prosecution, seizure of material and penal action under the Act
Q19. Which of the following adverts would most likely be objectionable under the Act?
- An ad stating a product provides cosmetic glow without medical claims
- An ad claiming a tonic “guarantees cure of diabetes”
- A factual statement of ingredients with amounts
- A recruitment advertisement for pharmaceutical staff
Correct Answer: An ad claiming a tonic “guarantees cure of diabetes”
Q20. How should pharmacists respond if they encounter an advertisement claiming miracle cure for a listed disease?
- Ignore it, since enforcement is not their responsibility
- Report the advertisement to the appropriate regulatory authority and counsel patients
- Promote the product to recover costs
- Advise patients to buy immediately
Correct Answer: Report the advertisement to the appropriate regulatory authority and counsel patients
Q21. Which entity typically has authority to amend the Schedule of diseases under the Act?
- Local municipal bodies
- Central Government by notification
- Any pharmaceutical company on request
- The World Health Organization
Correct Answer: Central Government by notification
Q22. Are claims of “instant cure” for a listed disease consistent with the DMRA?
- Yes, instant cure claims are allowed
- No, such exaggerated claims are objectionable and prohibited
- Allowed only for over‑the‑counter products
- Allowed if accompanied by a user testimonial
Correct Answer: No, such exaggerated claims are objectionable and prohibited
Q23. Which of the following best describes the role of scientific evidence per the Act’s objectives?
- Scientific evidence is irrelevant to advertising
- Evidence is required to substantiate therapeutic claims and avoid misleading the public
- Only historical usage is sufficient evidence
- Only marketing metrics matter, not scientific proof
Correct Answer: Evidence is required to substantiate therapeutic claims and avoid misleading the public
Q24. Can a manufacturer use a disclaimer to validate an otherwise objectionable cure claim?
- Yes, a disclaimer always makes the claim acceptable
- No, a disclaimer does not validate claims that are fundamentally misleading for scheduled diseases
- Only if the disclaimer is in all capital letters
- Only if approved by the advertising agency
Correct Answer: No, a disclaimer does not validate claims that are fundamentally misleading for scheduled diseases
Q25. Which of the following advertisements is least likely to violate the Act?
- An ad claiming a product cures heart disease with no proof
- An ad providing factual composition, approved indications and warnings without cure claims
- An ad asserting guaranteed relief from mental retardation
- An ad promising resurrection of lost vision
Correct Answer: An ad providing factual composition, approved indications and warnings without cure claims
Q26. Who can file a complaint about an objectionable advertisement?
- Only the product manufacturer
- Any aggrieved person, consumer or regulatory authority
- Only the media company that aired the ad
- Only a competitor company
Correct Answer: Any aggrieved person, consumer or regulatory authority
Q27. How does the Act intersect with ethical responsibilities of pharmacists in practice?
- Pharmacists have no role in monitoring advertising practices
- Pharmacists must ensure products they recommend are not promoted with objectionable claims and must counsel patients accurately
- Pharmacists should promote any product for profit regardless of claims
- Pharmacists must create advertisements for manufacturers
Correct Answer: Pharmacists must ensure products they recommend are not promoted with objectionable claims and must counsel patients accurately
Q28. In the context of the Act, what is the safest practice for marketing a therapeutic claim?
- Use emotive language without data to persuade consumers
- Provide clear, validated scientific evidence and avoid claims about scheduled diseases unless permitted
- Rely solely on celebrity endorsements
- Make conditional promises without documentation
Correct Answer: Provide clear, validated scientific evidence and avoid claims about scheduled diseases unless permitted
Q29. Which of the following is a practical implication of the Act for pharmaceutical labeling?
- Labels can claim any therapeutic benefit without proof
- Labels must avoid unverified cure claims and accurately state indications and warnings
- Labels are exempt from regulatory oversight
- Labels should focus only on brand imagery and not ingredients
Correct Answer: Labels must avoid unverified cure claims and accurately state indications and warnings
Q30. Which of these advertising statements would most clearly contravene the Act?
- “This soap cleans and refreshes skin for daily use”
- “Guaranteed permanent cure for AIDS within 7 days”
- “Contains clinically studied moisturizer for dry skin”
- “Store below 25°C and keep out of reach of children”
Correct Answer: “Guaranteed permanent cure for AIDS within 7 days”
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com