Offences and penalties under Drugs and Magic Remedies Act MCQs With Answer

Introduction

Offences and penalties under Drugs and Magic Remedies Act MCQs With Answer is a focused study tool for B. Pharm students preparing to understand the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act. This introduction covers the Act’s intent to prevent misleading or false advertisements, define objectionable claims and “magic remedies,” outline who can be held liable, and summarize typical penalties such as fines and imprisonment. Grasping this regulatory framework helps pharmacy graduates ensure ethical pharmaceutical practice, protect public health, and maintain legal compliance in advertising, promotion, and publication. Clear knowledge of offences and penalties strengthens professional responsibility and regulatory readiness. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What is the primary purpose of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act?

• To regulate drug pricing and trade margins
• To prohibit advertisements with misleading claims about curing certain diseases
• To license drug manufacturing units
• To govern clinical trial procedures

Correct Answer: To prohibit advertisements with misleading claims about curing certain diseases

Q2. The full name of the Act commonly referred to as the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act is:

• Drugs and Cosmetics Act
• Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954
• Pharmacy Act
• Medical Advertising Control Act

Correct Answer: Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954

Q3. Under the Act, what constitutes a “magic remedy” in general terms?

• A remedy backed by peer-reviewed clinical trials
• A treatment claiming supernatural or miraculous cure for listed diseases
• A prescription medicine approved by regulators
• A homeopathic remedy only sold in pharmacies

Correct Answer: A treatment claiming supernatural or miraculous cure for listed diseases

Q4. Which parties can be held responsible for publishing objectionable advertisements under the Act?

• Only the product owner
• Manufacturer, advertiser, publisher or distributor involved with the advertisement
• Only the advertising agency
• Only the end consumer promoting the product

Correct Answer: Manufacturer, advertiser, publisher or distributor involved with the advertisement

Q5. Which of the following is included in the Act’s definition of “advertisement”?

• Only print newspaper ads
• Any representation in print, audio, visual or electronic media
• Internal company emails only
• Scientific journal articles exclusive to professionals

Correct Answer: Any representation in print, audio, visual or electronic media

Q6. The Act specifically targets advertisements that claim to diagnose, cure or prevent which of the following?

• General wellness claims like “feel better”
• Specified diseases and disorders listed as objectionable under the Act
• Minor cosmetic conditions only
• Only veterinary conditions

Correct Answer: Specified diseases and disorders listed as objectionable under the Act

Q7. Which of these is a typical offence under the Act?

• Publishing an advertisement claiming a guaranteed cure for a listed disease without evidence
• Correctly labeling a prescription drug with dosage instructions
• Selling a licensed drug through regular channels
• Conducting a regulated clinical trial

Correct Answer: Publishing an advertisement claiming a guaranteed cure for a listed disease without evidence

Q8. Typical penalties for offences under the Act include:

• Revocation of university degrees only
• Imprisonment, fines, or both depending on offence and court order
• Automatic approval for future advertisements
• No penalty, only a warning

Correct Answer: Imprisonment, fines, or both depending on offence and court order

Q9. Which of the following best describes a permissible advertisement under the spirit of this Act?

• Claims of miraculous cures for serious conditions without evidence
• Advertisements that provide factual, non-misleading information about legal indications
• Advertisements promoting self-diagnosis for listed diseases
• Celebrity endorsements promising guaranteed results

Correct Answer: Advertisements that provide factual, non-misleading information about legal indications

Q10. Under the Act, testimonials or endorsements that claim guaranteed cures are considered:

• Scientific evidence
• Potentially objectionable advertisements if they imply cure for listed diseases
• Automatically acceptable if a celebrity endorses
• Irrelevant to advertising law

Correct Answer: Potentially objectionable advertisements if they imply cure for listed diseases

Q11. If a pharmacy distributes pamphlets claiming a product cures a listed disease, the pharmacy may be:

• Exempt from liability as a retailer
• Liable under the Act for distributing an objectionable advertisement
• Only fined under tax law
• Encouraged by regulators

Correct Answer: Liable under the Act for distributing an objectionable advertisement

Q12. Which of the following is a key compliance step for pharmaceutical companies under this Act?

• Ensuring all promotional claims for listed conditions are substantiated and avoid objectionable language
• Using exaggerated efficacy statements to boost sales
• Publishing claims without review
• Focusing only on social media with no oversight

Correct Answer: Ensuring all promotional claims for listed conditions are substantiated and avoid objectionable language

Q13. The Act’s scope applies to advertisements of:

• Only prescription drugs mentioned in the National Formulary
• Any drug, remedy, or treatment promoted to the public claiming cure for listed diseases
• Only over-the-counter vitamins
• Only surgical procedures

Correct Answer: Any drug, remedy, or treatment promoted to the public claiming cure for listed diseases

Q14. Which behavior by an advertiser would most likely attract enforcement action under the Act?

• Stating that a product “may help relieve symptoms” with evidence
• Claiming a non-scientific, definitive cure for a serious listed disease
• Listing contraindications and side effects transparently
• Providing references to clinical studies

Correct Answer: Claiming a non-scientific, definitive cure for a serious listed disease

Q15. For B. Pharm students, understanding this Act is important because:

• It helps in designing clinical trials
• It ensures ethical promotion and protection of public health when working in industry or pharmacy practice
• It is only relevant to marketing students
• It replaces pharmacology knowledge

Correct Answer: It ensures ethical promotion and protection of public health when working in industry or pharmacy practice

Q16. Which of these advertising claims would most likely violate the Act?

• “This supplement supports general well-being”
• “Guaranteed cure for serious disease X within days”
• “Consult your physician before use”
• “Contains natural vitamins”

Correct Answer: “Guaranteed cure for serious disease X within days”

Q17. How does the Act protect consumers?

• By allowing unrestricted health claims
• By restricting misleading advertisements and preventing false hope or harm from unproven remedies
• By mandating free distribution of medicines
• By subsidizing all advertised remedies

Correct Answer: By restricting misleading advertisements and preventing false hope or harm from unproven remedies

Q18. What role can a pharmacist play to ensure compliance with the Act?

• Ignore advertisement content entirely
• Verify claims before recommending products and refuse to distribute objectionable promotional material
• Recommend products based solely on marketing
• Encourage patients to rely on unverified advertisements

Correct Answer: Verify claims before recommending products and refuse to distribute objectionable promotional material

Q19. Which type of statement is safest to include in public promotion to avoid violating the Act?

• Definitive cure claims for listed diseases
• Objective, evidence-based information with clear disclaimers about indications and limitations
• Unverified user testimonials promising cure
• Claims to replace prescribed medical treatment

Correct Answer: Objective, evidence-based information with clear disclaimers about indications and limitations

Q20. Publishing an advertisement that targets diagnosis or cure of a listed disease without evidence is considered:

• An ethical marketing practice
• An offence under the Act
• Encouraged by healthcare regulators
• Irrelevant to pharmacists

Correct Answer: An offence under the Act

Q21. The Act’s list of objectionable diseases is used to:

• Identify conditions for which advertising cure claims are strictly restricted
• List every possible minor ailment
• Regulate only packaging colors
• Determine pharmacy opening hours

Correct Answer: Identify conditions for which advertising cure claims are strictly restricted

Q22. Which of the following is a legitimate defense available to a defendant charged under the Act?

• Claiming ignorance is always sufficient
• Proving the advertisement did not make a false or objectionable claim and was factual
• Relying solely on social media popularity
• Asserting that the product was free

Correct Answer: Proving the advertisement did not make a false or objectionable claim and was factual

Q23. The Act encourages regulatory compliance primarily by:

• Promoting false advertising to increase sales
• Deterring misleading promotion through legal penalties
• Funding promotional campaigns for all remedies
• Allowing unverified claims in rural areas only

Correct Answer: Deterring misleading promotion through legal penalties

Q24. In academic or professional teaching materials, mentioning the Act is important to:

• Teach students how to craft sensational ads
• Train future pharmacists in ethical communication and legal boundaries for drug promotion
• Discourage evidence-based practice
• Encourage off-label promotion

Correct Answer: Train future pharmacists in ethical communication and legal boundaries for drug promotion

Q25. Which of the following actions would best reduce institutional risk of violating the Act?

• Creating an internal review process for all promotional material with legal and medical review
• Allowing marketing to publish without oversight
• Using exaggerated claims to compete
• Ignoring regulatory guidance

Correct Answer: Creating an internal review process for all promotional material with legal and medical review

Q26. The term “objectionable advertisement” mainly refers to ads that:

• Contain only neutral scientific terminology
• Make prohibited claims about diagnosis, cure, mitigation or prevention of listed diseases
• Provide contact details of the manufacturer
• List ingredients and composition accurately

Correct Answer: Make prohibited claims about diagnosis, cure, mitigation or prevention of listed diseases

Q27. Which behavior is consistent with the Act when advertising a health supplement?

• Claiming it cures a specified serious disease
• Stating it “may support general health” and avoiding disease-specific cure claims
• Advertising it as a replacement for prescribed medicines
• Using celebrity claims of guaranteed cure

Correct Answer: Stating it “may support general health” and avoiding disease-specific cure claims

Q28. For a manufacturer, one immediate consequence of being found guilty of objectionable advertisement may include:

• Mandatory award of trademark rights
• Legal action resulting in fines, possible imprisonment for responsible persons, and reputational damage
• Automatic export licenses
• Increased advertising budgets from regulators

Correct Answer: Legal action resulting in fines, possible imprisonment for responsible persons, and reputational damage

Q29. When evaluating an existing advertisement for compliance, which factor is most critical?

• Whether the ad uses bright colors
• Whether the ad makes unsubstantiated claims about listed diseases or promotes self-diagnosis
• The length of the advertisement only
• The font size used in fine print

Correct Answer: Whether the ad makes unsubstantiated claims about listed diseases or promotes self-diagnosis

Q30. As future pharmacists, the best practice regarding patient queries influenced by suspect advertisements is to:

• Ignore patient concerns
• Educate patients about evidence-based treatments, report misleading promotions to authorities if needed, and discourage reliance on objectionable claims
• Recommend products solely based on advertisement claims
• Encourage self-medication based on social media ads

Correct Answer: Educate patients about evidence-based treatments, report misleading promotions to authorities if needed, and discourage reliance on objectionable claims

G S Sachin

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