Correct Answer: C. 42
This question tests knowledge of Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) norms as per Indian public health standards. The slum population is calculated as 30% of 70,00,000 = 21,00,000. According to the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare guidelines, one UPHC is required for every 50,000 population in urban slum areas. This norm is stricter than the general urban population (1 UPHC per 1,00,000) because slums have higher disease burden, malnutrition, and limited access to healthcare. Therefore, required UPHCs = 21,00,000 ÷ 50,000 = 42 UPHCs. This calculation directly aligns with Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, which emphasizes differential norms for slum populations due to their vulnerability and higher health risks. The norm of 1:50,000 for slums reflects India's commitment to equity in primary healthcare delivery, particularly in metropolitan areas where slum populations face significant health disparities.
Why the other options are wrong
A. 22 — This represents approximately half the correct answer and likely results from miscalculating the slum population (using 15% instead of 30%) or applying the wrong denominator (1 UPHC per 1,00,000 instead of 50,000). This is a common arithmetic trap where students either halve the population or use the general urban norm instead of the stricter slum-specific norm. B. 52 — This overshoots the correct answer and likely arises from using an incorrect denominator such as 40,000 (21,00,000 ÷ 40,000 ≈ 52.5) or misremembering the slum norm. NBE may include this to trap students who confuse slum norms with rural norms or apply non-standard ratios. D. 32 — This results from calculating 21,00,000 ÷ 65,000 or similar incorrect denominators, or from using 30% of the general urban norm (30% of 1,00,000 ≈ 30,000). This trap exploits confusion between population percentages and facility ratios.
High-Yield Facts
- UPHC norm for slum populations: 1 UPHC per 50,000 (stricter than general urban 1:1,00,000)
- Slum population calculation: 30% of 70,00,000 = 21,00,000
- Required UPHCs = 21,00,000 ÷ 50,000 = 42 (direct division formula)
- Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) mandate differential norms for slums due to higher disease burden and health inequity
- Slum-specific norms reflect India's focus on vulnerable populations in urban areas under National Urban Health Mission (NUHM)
Mnemonics
SLUM-50 Rule Slum = 50,000 population per UPHC (vs. general urban 1,00,000). Remember: Slums need double the density of facilities. PSM Facility Norms Quick Recall Rural PHC: 1:10,000 | Urban UPHC (general): 1:1,00,000 | Urban UPHC (slum): 1:50,000. Slums always get stricter ratios (smaller denominator = more facilities).
NBE Trap
NBE pairs slum population with the general urban UPHC norm (1:1,00,000) to trap students who fail to recognize that slum areas have stricter facility requirements due to higher vulnerability. The distractor options (22, 32, 52) exploit arithmetic errors and norm confusion.
Clinical Pearl
In Indian metropolitan areas like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, slum populations (often 30–40% of city population) face 2–3× higher maternal mortality, malnutrition, and communicable disease burden. The 1:50,000 UPHC norm ensures that these vulnerable populations receive proportionally more primary care touchpoints, reducing out-of-pocket expenditure and improving health equity—a core principle of India's National Urban Health Mission.
_Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine (23rd ed.), Chapter on Urban Health & IPHS; Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2012_