Forensic Medicine: Modes and Manner of Death Basics
Published:
Reviewed by Bismith B · 09 Jun 2026
Questions
30
Duration
30 min
Faculty-reviewed
0
Updated
26 May 2026
About this mock
UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit X drill on the medico-legal classification of death. Covers the triad of cause of death, mechanism of death, and manner of death as defined in Modi's Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology and Reddy's Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (35th ed). The three classical modes of death, coma, syncope, and asphyxia, are tested at the definitional and post-mortem-finding level. The five NAME manners (Natural, Accidental, Suicidal, Homicidal, Undetermined) and their medicolegal significance are covered alongside the Indian legal framework: BNSS 2023 Section 194 (replacing CrPC 1973 Section 174 on inquest by Executive Magistrate), and the homicide provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, specifically Section 100 (culpable homicide, formerly IPC 1860 Section 299) and Section 101 (murder, formerly IPC 1860 Section 300).
This mock is built for MSc Forensic Science students at AIIMS Delhi, KEM Mumbai, and NFSU Gandhinagar preparing for UGC-NET Paper II, and for candidates appearing in FACT and state PSC forensic pathology papers. The Indian death-certification process under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act and the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form 4) are tested alongside WHO ICD-10 coding basics for underlying, immediate, and intermediate causes. The post-mortem report layout expected under BNSS 2023, and the distinction between a police inquest and a magistrate's inquest, complete the statutory coverage.
Topics covered:
- Cause, mechanism, and manner of death: definitions and distinctions
- Three classical modes of death: coma, syncope, and asphyxia
- NAME manners: Natural, Accidental, Suicidal, Homicidal, Undetermined
- BNSS 2023 Section 194 inquest (formerly CrPC 174) and magistrate's role
- BNS 2023 Sections 100 and 101: culpable homicide and murder provisions
- Post-mortem signs distinguishing coma, syncope, and asphyxia
- Death certification and Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form 4)
- WHO ICD-10 classification: underlying, intermediate, and immediate cause coding
Allow 30 minutes.
Sources & references
Questions in this mock are written and verified against the following sources. Citations are recorded per question and shown in the explanation after submission.
- cited in 12 questions
Modi, J. P. — Modi's Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, 24th Edition, LexisNexis
Chapter: Post-mortem examination — preservation and forwarding of viscera in suspected poisoning cases
- cited in 6 questions
Reddy, K.S. Narayana — The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 35th Edition, Jaypee Brothers
Chapter: Post-mortem changes — estimation of time since death: rigor mortis, hypostasis, decomposition
- cited in 4 questions
Knight, Bernard and Saukko, Pekka — Knight's Forensic Pathology, 4th Edition, CRC Press
Chapter 2: Classification of death — suicidal versus accidental manner; role of intent
- cited in 3 questions
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023
Section 101: Murder (formerly IPC 1860 Section 300) — when culpable homicide amounts to murder
Open source - cited in 2 questions
World Health Organization — International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), Volume 2: Instruction Manual
Chapter 4: Rules and Guidelines for Mortality and Morbidity Coding — underlying cause of death selection
- cited in 2 questions
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023
Section 194: Inquiry into cause of death (formerly CrPC 1973 Section 174)
Open source - cited in 1 question
World Health Organization — International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), Volume 1: Tabular List
Chapter XX: External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98)
How our mocks are built
Questions are written and edited by the ForensicSpot team and cited from peer-reviewed forensic textbooks, official syllabi and primary case law. Each one is verified before publishing. Detailed explanations show after you submit, so the test stays a real test. See a mistake? Tell us.
Common questions
What does the Forensic Medicine: Modes and Manner of Death Basics mock cover?+
UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit X drill on the medico-legal classification of death. Covers the triad of cause of death, mechanism of death, and manner of death as defined in Modi's Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology and Reddy's Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (35th ed). The three classical modes of death, coma, syncope, and asphyxia, are tested at the definitional and post-mortem-finding level. The five NAME manners (Natural, Accidental, Suicidal, Homicidal, Undetermined) and the
How many questions and how long is the test?+
30 multiple-choice questions, 30 minutes total. Difficulty: easy. Tier: Premium.
Who is this mock for?+
Forensic science students and aspirants who want timed, exam-style practice with explanations and verified source citations on Forensic Medicine, NET. Useful for postgraduate entrance preparation and for BSc / MSc forensic students testing their recall under time.
Are the questions reviewed?+
Each question carries a verified source citation. Faculty review for individual questions is in progress.
Do I need an account to take this mock?+
Yes, a free ForensicSpot account is required to start a timed attempt — this lets you save progress, see per-question explanations after submission, and track your topic-level performance over time.