In hilly and tribal areas a sub centre is established on:

Appeared in: Raj. CHO -2025

Explanation

According to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), a Sub-Centre in hilly, tribal, or difficult-to-access areas is established to serve a population of 3,000.
This reduced population norm, compared to the 5,000-person norm in plain areas, is a deliberate policy to ensure healthcare accessibility despite geographical barriers and scattered settlements.
Sub-Centres are the most peripheral contact point between the community and the primary healthcare system, providing essential services like maternal and child health, immunizations, and basic first aid.

Option A: This is the population norm for establishing a Sub-Centre in plain areas, not hilly or tribal areas.
Option B: This is the population norm for establishing a Primary Health Centre (PHC), the next level up from a Sub-Centre, in hilly and tribal areas.
Option D: This is the population norm for establishing a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in plain areas.

Visual 1: Infographic: A flowchart illustrating the three-tier rural healthcare system in India (Sub-Centre → PHC → CHC), showing the population norms for each level in both plain and hilly/tribal areas.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Population norms for establishing health centers in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) at Sub-Centres are often the first and only point of healthcare contact for remote populations, making these centers critical for achieving national goals in maternal and child health, immunization, and disease control.
Understanding these population norms is essential for community health nurses involved in planning, resource allocation, and evaluating the reach and effectiveness of public health programs.
What if? If the question had asked for a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in a hilly area, the correct answer would be 20,000 population.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Sub-Centre' and 'hilly and tribal areas'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question based on Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for healthcare infrastructure.
Recall the specific population norms for different levels of the rural health system (Sub-Centre, PHC, CHC).
Differentiate the norm for a Sub-Centre from that of a Primary Health Centre (PHC).
Crucially, distinguish the norm for 'hilly/tribal areas' from the norm for 'plain areas' to select the correct value.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full Raj. CHO -2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.