← All questionsGS3 · 2014 · Science & Technology ·Antimicrobial Resistance
QUESTION 13
GS3
12.5 marks

Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription contribute to emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What mechanisms are available for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the issues involved.

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9 min
200 words
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What the examiner wants

Discuss the exact proposition in the PYQ — “Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription contribute to emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What mechanisms are available for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the issues…” — using concept/chronology or mechanism, evidence on both sides where relevant, and a conclusion that answers the directive rather than merely describing Antimicrobial Resistance.

DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1For the prompt cue ‘Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription contribute to emergence of drug-resistant disease’, directly answer: Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription contribute to emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India?≈45 words
  2. 2For the prompt cue ‘Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription contribute to emergence of drug-resistant disease’, directly answer: What mechanisms are available for monitoring and control?≈45 words
  3. 3For the prompt cue ‘Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription contribute to emergence of drug-resistant disease’, directly answer: Critically discuss the issues involved≈45 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

Define/contextualise Antimicrobial ResistanceExplain mechanism/chronologyQuestion-specific evidence/examplesImplicationsConcise conclusion

Where marks usually go

  • For the prompt cue ‘Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription contribute to emergence of drug-resista’, avoid a generic note on Antimicrobial Resistance; answer the actual wording/directive and the Antimicrobial Resistance proposition
  • For the prompt cue ‘Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription contribute to emergence of drug-resista’, do not add examples around Antimicrobial Resistance unless they prove, qualify or rebut the proposition asked

Value addition

  • 3-box flow: concept/context → core argument/evidence → implication/way forward
    → Draw it in the body, next to the point it supports.

Official source anchors

These are authoritative sources selected for this exact PYQ. Where a card is an official-domain anchor rather than a fact-level citation, verify the precise provision, definition or data point on the linked source before using it.