What is the BGS-004 December 2025 Question Paper?
The BGS 004 December 2025 question paper is the official IGNOU Term-End Examination paper for Gendered Perspectives on Health held in December 2025. It carries 100 marks across eight essay-style questions, tests the entire BGS-004 syllabus, and now serves as the most reliable practice paper for upcoming attempts.
For BAGS and CGSCI students whose Term-End Exam is still some weeks or months away, this paper is rare gold. The structure follows the standard format: students attempt any five of eight questions, with all questions carrying equal weight at 20 marks each. The IGNOU Term-End Examination December 2025 official schedule confirms this paper sat on the calendar.
About IGNOU BGS-004 Gendered Perspectives on Health
About This Solved Paper
| Prepared by | Unnati Education academic team, IGNOU-experienced content writers |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Postgraduate in Public Health with specialization in Gender, Reproductive Health, and Mental Health |
| Programme | Offered as a core or elective course in IGNOU's Bachelor of Arts (Gender Studies), BAGS, and as a key course in the Certificate in Gender and Science (CGSCI) |
| Institution Reference | IGNOU Term-End Examination, December 2025 |
| Last updated | April 2026 |
About the Course
BGS-004 is a 6-credit core paper offered to BAGS and CGSCI learners. It looks at health through a feminist and intersectional lens: gender bias in medical research, the gender-nutrition connection, sexually transmitted infections in vulnerable groups, surrogacy law, mental health, disability, reproductive technologies, and vaccines. The paper expects students to weave WHO frameworks with Indian schemes (NMHP, RBSK, NHM) and named feminist health scholars. The IGNOU BGS 004 question paper rewards exactly that combination.
BGS 004 Question Paper December 2025: Exam Pattern and Marks Breakdown
Here's the structure at a glance, so you can plan your three hours before opening the booklet.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Total questions printed | 8 (Q1 to Q8) |
| Questions to attempt | Any 5 out of 8 |
| Marks per question | 20 marks each (equal weight) Q8 structure | Short notes, write any 4 of 5 sub-parts (5 marks each) Word limit | Long answers around 600 words, short notes around 200 to 250 words |
| Calculator policy | Not applicable, theoretical paper |
| Missing data assumption | Not applicable, no quantitative problems involved |
All Questions in the BGS 004 Question Paper December 2025 (Complete List)
This paper covers gender bias in medical education and research, gender-nutrition interrelationships, sexually transmitted infections and vulnerable groups, surrogacy in national and international contexts, gender as a determinant of mental health, gender and disability, the gender-mental health link, and short notes on positive mental health strategies, the social model of disability, lifespan approach, reproductive technology, and vaccines and gender. Below is the verbatim text.
Note : Attempt any five questions. All questions carry equal marks.
Identify and describe the nature of gender biases in medical education and research. Give appropriate examples. 20
Define gender. Discuss its interrelationship with health and nutrition. 20
Explain the meaning of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Discuss how STIs impact the vulnerable groups. 20
Write an essay on surrogacy with a focus on both national and international contexts. 20
Do you agree that gender is a determinant of mental health ? Substantiate your argument with suitable examples. 20
Write a critical essay on gender and disability. 20
How are gender and mental health related ? Explain with the help of suitable examples. 20
Write short notes on any four of the following : 4×5=20
(a) Strategies for building positive mental health
(b) Social model of disability
(c) Lifespan approach
(d) Reproductive technology
(e) Vaccines and gender
Syllabus Topics Covered
The December 2025 paper hits these BGS-004 syllabus blocks straight on. Use this list to spot weak zones before you start practising.
Gender bias in medicine: under-representation of women in clinical trials, pain dismissal, the male body as default in drug dosing Gender and nutrition: NFHS-5 anaemia data (around 57% of women aged 15 to 49), POSHAN Abhiyaan, intra-household food allocation STIs and vulnerable groups: NACO data, transgender population, sex workers, migrant workers, NACP-V framework Surrogacy: Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021, altruistic-only model, ART (Regulation) Act 2021, Hague Convention debates, Israel and Ukraine cases Mental health and gender: NMHS 2015-16 data, Mental Healthcare Act 2017, postpartum depression, suicide rates among married women Disability and gender: RPWD Act 2016, the social vs medical model, intersection with caste and poverty, Anita Ghai's scholarship Reproductive technologies: IVF access, surrogacy ethics, sex selection and PCPNDT 1994 Vaccines and gender: HPV vaccine debates, Mission Indradhanush, gender disparities in COVID-19 vaccination Health policy frameworks: National Health Policy 2017, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, ASHA and Mahila Arogya Samiti Feminist health scholars: Mohan Rao, Sumati Nair, Lesley Doyal, Anita Ghai, Veena Das
Sample Answer Preview: BGS-004 Gender and Health Explanation
Take Question 5, "Do you agree that gender is a determinant of mental health?" It's a 20-marker, around 600 words. Most students answer "yes" and then list general stress factors. Here's how examiners actually mark it.
Step 1, State your position with framing (about 3 marks). One opening line: yes, gender is a significant determinant of mental health, but it operates not as a biological variable, rather through gendered social roles, unequal power relations, exposure to violence, and differential access to care. Reference WHO's social determinants of health framework right at the start.
Step 2, Lay out four pathways with Indian data (about 8 marks, 2 each). Number them. One: prevalence patterns, where the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 found higher prevalence of common mental disorders among women, especially depression and anxiety. Two: gender-based violence, where roughly 30% of Indian women report intimate partner violence (NFHS-5), a leading cause of PTSD and depression. Three: reproductive transitions, including postpartum depression affecting around 22% of new mothers in Indian community studies, and menopause-related mood disorders. Four: workplace and caregiving stress, the "double burden" pushing women into chronic stress and burnout, with limited recognition in clinical settings.
Step 3, Build the masculinity angle (about 4 marks). Mental health is gendered for men too. Higher male suicide rates (in India around 71% of suicide deaths in 2022 were men, NCRB data), under-diagnosis of depression because help-seeking is seen as weakness, and substance abuse as a culturally accepted coping route. This balance earns marks because most students forget men entirely.
Step 4, Add a critical scholar layer (about 3 marks). Reference Mohan Rao on the Indian public health system's gender blindness, and Veena Das on the everyday normalisation of women's distress. Mention the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 as a rights-based framework but flag its weak gender-disaggregated implementation.
Step 5, Close with policy direction (about 2 marks). Mention the District Mental Health Programme, Tele MANAS, and the need for gender-disaggregated mental health surveillance under NMHP. End with one line on integrating gender training into primary care psychiatry. With this structure plus two named scholars and three data points, you'll cross 16 out of 20 every single time.
How to Write High-Scoring Answers
Three habits separate a 60% script from an 85% one in BGS-004.
First, name your scholars. Mohan Rao on Indian public health, Anita Ghai on disability, Lesley Doyal on what makes women sick, Veena Das on everyday violence, Sumati Nair on women's bodies as sites of policy. One named scholar per essay earns 1 to 2 marks.
Second, anchor at least one current Indian data point in every answer. NFHS-5 anaemia at 57% of women, NMHS 2015-16 prevalence figures, NCRB suicide data, NACO HIV statistics. Specific data tells the examiner you've engaged beyond textbook theory.
Third, attack the question word. "Critical essay" demands strengths and weaknesses. "Define and discuss" wants both definition and application. The disability question, for example, expects the medical-versus-social-model contrast plus an Indian intersection with caste and class, not just a definition.
Who Should Use This Solved Question Paper
This paper fits you if any of these match.
- You're a BAGS or CGSCI student with the next BGS-004 Term-End Exam in June 2026 or December 2026 and you want a real reference paper to drill on.
- You're attempting BGS-004 as a backlog and last attempt the surrogacy law or the disability question caught you without case material.
- You're a working professional in public health, NGO, or counselling practice juggling distance education, who needs a focused resource you can revise on the metro.
- You're tired of free PDFs that confuse the medical and social models of disability, and you want one verified version with a named subject expert.
Why This is Better Than Free PDFs and Telegram Files
Free PDFs are everywhere. Telegram channels, WhatsApp groups, random Drive links shared by seniors. Most have outdated data (no Surrogacy Act 2021, no Mental Healthcare Act 2017), missing scholar names, and shaky theoretical framing. They cost you nothing, and that's exactly what they're worth on exam day.
Here's what's different. Every essay is checked against the BGS 004 Gendered Perspective on Health Solved Question Paper standard and the official IGNOU syllabus. Scholars are correctly attributed, Indian schemes and laws are current, and every essay sticks to the expected word count.
You also get a real human you can email. Stuck on the medical versus social model the night before? Write back. Free PDFs don't reply.
Student Reviews
Geeta, Patna. Working as an ASHA facilitator and chasing BAGS in the evenings. The gender and nutrition essay with NFHS-5 anaemia data and POSHAN Abhiyaan was the most useful health policy summary I've read. Used parts of it for my block-level training too.
Karthika, Thiruvananthapuram. First-time learner, came to gender studies after a Sociology BA. The mental health and gender essay finally gave me a framework that included men too. Veena Das reference was the cherry on top.
Mehul, Vadodara. Studying BAGS as a second degree alongside a counselling diploma. The disability and gender critical essay with the social model breakdown and Anita Ghai citation was the cleanest treatment I've found. Strong 17 out of 20 in my next paper.
How to Get the Solved Paper, Step by Step
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the actual December 2025 paper or a guessed version?
Yes, this is the actual IGNOU paper from December 2025. Our team works only with verified Term-End Examination papers, never reconstructed or rumour-based versions floating in Telegram groups. The questions you'll see in Section 7 of this page match the original word for word, including the section instructions, the short-note sub-parts, and the marks distribution. Cross-check it against any classmate's question paper from the December 2025 cycle.
How useful is this for my 2026 Term-End Exam?
Very useful, because IGNOU rotates a steady pool of essay questions across cycles. Topics like gender bias in medical research, surrogacy law, gender and mental health, disability, and reproductive technology appear repeatedly with small wording changes. If your Term-End Exam falls in June 2026 or later, working through this December 2025 paper exposes you to the actual essay style, scholar expectations, and the data demand that scoring well requires.
Are all the long questions and internal choices fully solved?
Yes, all eight questions are fully solved, even though students only attempt five. That gives you full coverage so you can pick whichever five feel easier on the day. Each long answer follows the 600-word target, names the relevant scholars (Mohan Rao, Anita Ghai, Lesley Doyal), and includes Indian schemes and recent data (NFHS-5, NMHS, NCRB, NACO). All five sub-parts in Question 8's short notes section are also fully written out.
Can I use these answers in my IGNOU assignments?
Use it as a reference, not a copy-paste source. The answers here are exam-style essays, while BAGS and CGSCI assignments often expect slightly more developed argument with citations. Lift the structure, the named scholars, the schemes, and the data points, then expand each into your TMA in your own voice. That way you actually learn the topic, your assignment stays original, and you avoid plagiarism flags.
How quickly do I receive the solved paper after payment?
Instant. The moment your payment goes through, the PDF link arrives in your registered email and on the success page. Most students download it in under two minutes. If anything gets stuck because of a network issue or wrong email entry, our support team resends it manually within working hours. No overnight wait, no chasing follow-ups, no missing files when your exam is days away.
What if there's an issue or I need a refund?
If the file fails to download or the content doesn't match what's described on this page, write to us within 48 hours and we'll either fix the issue or refund the full amount. Doubt clearing on specific questions, including theory-heavy ones like the social model of disability or surrogacy law, is included free, just email us with the question number. Replies come on working days, usually same day for paid resources.
About Unnati Education
Unnati Education is a study resources platform built for IGNOU students. We work on solved papers, assignment guidance, and topic notes across BAGS, CGSCI, BAG, BCOMG, BSCG, and other IGNOU programmes. Every paper is reviewed by a subject mentor before it goes live. We don't outsource to anonymous freelance writers. If a student writes in with a doubt, a real person replies, usually the same day. That's the standard, every paper, every cycle.
Explore More IGNOU BGS-004 Study Material
More resources you can pair with this paper:
Solved assignments for the latest BGS-004 TMA cycle Topic notes on Mohan Rao, Anita Ghai, surrogacy law, and the social model of disability Previous year solved papers for BGS-004 (June 2024, December 2024, June 2025) Policy reference sheet on PCPNDT, Surrogacy Act 2021, ART Act 2021, Mental Healthcare Act 2017, RPWD Act 2016
Bundle pricing applies if you pick three or more resources together.