GPAT, Pharmacist Recruitment (HSSC, ESIC, AIIMS, Railway, etc.) level Capsule Filling Methods MCQs.

1. The most commonly used method for filling hard gelatin capsules in industry is:

A. Hand filling
B. Punch method
C. Dosator method
D. Injection molding

Correct Answer: C. Dosator method

2. The punch method is primarily used for:

A. Industrial scale filling
B. Liquid filling
C. Small-scale or extemporaneous compounding
D. Soft gelatin capsule production

Correct Answer: C. Small-scale or extemporaneous compounding

3. In the dosator method, powder is filled into capsules in the form of:

A. Granules
B. Slugs
C. Powder plugs
D. Pellets

Correct Answer: C. Powder plugs

4. Which method uses a vacuum to fill powder into capsules?

A. Punch method
B. Dosator method
C. Compression method
D. Fusion method

Correct Answer: B. Dosator method

5. The tamping pin method is also known as:

A. Plug method
B. Compression filling method
C. Injection method
D. Rotary die method

Correct Answer: B. Compression filling method

6. In the tamping pin method, powder is filled by:

A. Pouring into the capsule body
B. Compressing powder into plugs using pins
C. Injecting liquid
D. Melting gelatin

Correct Answer: B. Compressing powder into plugs using pins

7. Which filling method is suitable for poorly flowing powders?

A. Hand filling
B. Dosator method
C. Tamping pin method
D. Fusion method

Correct Answer: C. Tamping pin method

8. The rotary die process is used for:

A. Hard gelatin capsules
B. Soft gelatin capsules
C. Pellet filling
D. Tablet compression

Correct Answer: B. Soft gelatin capsules

9. In the rotary die process, fill material is

A. Injected between two gelatin ribbons
B. Compressed into slugs
C. Poured manually
D. Vacuum filled

Correct Answer: A. Injected between two gelatin ribbons

10. Which method is NOT used for hard gelatin capsule filling?

A. Dosator method
B. Tamping pin method
C. Punch method
D. Rotary die method

Correct Answer: D. Rotary die method

11. Capsule filling by hand involves:

A. Automatic filling machine
B. Capsule filling plate
C. Rotary die
D. Vacuum pump

Correct Answer: B. Capsule filling plate

12. Which method forms a compacted powder plug before filling?

A. Dosator method
B. Punch method
C. Tamping pin method
D. Fusion method

Correct Answer: C. Tamping pin method

13. In the dosator method, powder enters the tube due to:

A. Pressure
B. Gravity and vacuum
C. Heat
D. Centrifugal force

Correct Answer: B. Gravity and vacuum

14. The filling of pellets into capsules is usually done by:

A. Rotary die
B. Dosator modification
C. Manual pouring
D. Injection

Correct Answer: B. Dosator modification

15. Which method provides better weight uniformity for powders?

A. Punch method
B. Hand filling
C. Tamping pin method
D. Spatula method

Correct Answer: C. Tamping pin method

16. Which process is used for liquid filling in hard gelatin capsules?

A. Rotary die
B. Fusion sealing method
C. Tamping pin method
D. Punch method

Correct Answer: B. Fusion sealing method

17. The main limitation of the punch method is:

A. High cost
B. Low accuracy and poor uniformity
C. Complex machinery
D. High speed

Correct Answer: B. Low accuracy and poor uniformity

18. In soft gelatin capsule manufacturing, sealing occurs by:

A. Heat fusion
B. Compression
C. Adhesion of gelatin ribbons
D. Chemical reaction

Correct Answer: C. Adhesion of gelatin ribbons

19. Capsule-filling machines used in industry are generally

A. Manual
B. Semi-automatic
C. Automatic
D. Hand-operated

Correct Answer: C. Automatic

20. Which method is best suited for high-dose powders?

A. Dosator method
B. Punch method
C. Tamping pin method
D. Hand filling

Correct Answer: C. Tamping pin method

For GPAT + AIIMS + HSSC + ESIC, repeatedly asked concepts:

• Dosator → vacuum + powder plug

• Tamping pin → compression + multiple pins

• Punch method → small scale

• Rotary die → soft gelatin capsules

• Poor flow → prefer tamping pin method

• Pellet filling → modified dosator

Dr. Alok Bains

Assertion–Reason MCQ set on capsule filling methods, designed for GPAT / pharmacist exams. These focus on mechanism-based reasoning, traps, and cause–and–effect logic.

Directions:

Choose the correct option:
A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
C. A is true, but R is false
D. A is false, but R is true

1.

Assertion (A): The dosator method is widely used in automatic capsule filling machines.
Reason (R): It allows precise filling of powder plugs using vacuum assistance.

Answer: A

2.

Assertion (A): The punch method is unsuitable for large-scale production.
Reason (R): It lacks automation and gives poor weight uniformity.

Answer: A

3.

Assertion (A): The tamping pin method improves weight variation control.
Reason (R): Powder is compressed into plugs using multiple tamping pins.

Answer: A

4.

Assertion (A): The dosator method is preferred for poorly flowing powders.
Reason (R): It compresses powder mechanically into slugs.

Answer: D
(A tamping pin is preferred; a dosator relies more on flow + vacuum.)

5.

Assertion (A): The rotary die process is used in soft gelatin capsule manufacturing.
Reason (R): It simultaneously forms, fills, and seals capsules.

Answer: A

6.

Assertion (A): In the dosator method, powder enters the tube due to a vacuum.
Reason (R): Vacuum helps draw powder into the dosator tube.

Answer: A

7.

Assertion (A): The tamping pin method is suitable for high-dose formulations.
Reason (R): It allows multiple compression steps to accommodate more powder.

Answer: A

8.

Assertion (A): The rotary die method is used for hard gelatin capsules.
Reason (R): It uses gelatin ribbons for encapsulation.

Answer: D

9.

Assertion (A): Pellet filling into capsules can be done using modified dosator systems.
Reason (R): Dosator systems can be adapted for multiparticulate filling.

Answer: A

10.

Assertion (A): Capsule filling by hand provides high accuracy.
Reason (R): Manual methods ensure precise control over each capsule.

Answer: D

11.

Assertion (A): Fusion sealing is used for liquid-filled hard gelatin capsules.
Reason (R): It prevents leakage by sealing capsule joints.

Answer: A

12.

Assertion (A): The tamping pin method is also called compression filling.
Reason (R): Powder is densified before being filled into capsules.

Answer: A

13.

Assertion (A): The dosator method forms powder plugs before filling.
Reason (R): Powder is lightly compacted inside the dosator tube.

Answer: A

14.

Assertion (A): The rotary die process cannot handle liquid fill materials.
Reason (R): Liquids cannot be injected between gelatin ribbons.

Answer: D

15.

Assertion (A): Capsule filling machines improve production efficiency.
Reason (R): They operate at high speed with consistent fill weight.

Answer: A

16.

Assertion (A): Poor flow of powder affects dosator filling efficiency.
Reason (R): Dosator relies on uniform powder flow into the tube.

Answer: A

17.

Assertion (A): The tamping pin method reduces air entrapment in powder.
Reason (R): Compression removes void spaces in the powder bed.

Answer: A

18.

Assertion (A): Rotary die process produces hermetically sealed capsules.
Reason (R): Gelatin ribbons fuse during the process.

Answer: A

19.

Assertion (A): The dosator method is unsuitable for low-dose drugs.
Reason (R): It cannot provide accurate small quantities.

Answer: C
(The dosator can handle low doses with precision.)

20.

Assertion (A): Tamping pin machines use multiple stations for compression.
Reason (R): Multiple pins gradually increase powder density.

Answer: A

To crack these:

• Focus on the mechanism difference
  Dosator = vacuum + plug
  Tamping = compression + pins

• Identify trap statements
  “Dosator for poor flow” ❌

• Understand why a method is used, not just what

  Dr. Alok Bains