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Cervical Cancer Prevention & HPV Vaccination in India

Social Justice & Development

  • PYQs8
  • Articles1
I

Background

Addresses a major public health issue, highlights the government's role in preventive healthcare, showcases challenges in implementing welfare schemes, and touches upon social determinants of health and women's health.

Cervical cancer is a significant public health challenge in India, being the second most common cancer among Indian women. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for nearly 95% of cervical cancer cases, making vaccination a crucial preventive measure.

II

Facts & tables

India's Burden
Bears a quarter of the global cervical cancer burden, with over 1.2 lakh new cases and 80,000 deaths annually.
Primary Cause
Nearly 95% of cases are caused by high-risk HPV strains.
Government Initiative
Government of India launched a nationwide campaign on Feb 28, 2026, providing free HPV vaccinations to 1.15 crore girls aged 14-15 years.
Challenges
Low awareness, social stigma around sexual health, gender bias, and vaccine hesitancy.
Static syllabus anchors
Type Reference
Conceptual area Public Health
Conceptual area Women's Health
Institutions & roles
Body Role
Government of India Implements
Mandsaur District Administration Implements
III

Prelims angle

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Prelims angle: Policy measures

  • Cervical cancer: 2nd most common among Indian women, high global burden.
  • HPV: Primary cause (95%), vaccine offers significant prevention.
  • GoI campaign: Free HPV vaccination for 14-15 year old girls.
  • Challenges: Awareness, stigma, gender bias, hesitancy.
  • Mandsaur model: Data-driven, decentralised, adaptive strategy.
High-confidence PYQ links
Year Framing tags
2026 Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
2026 Conceptual understanding, Terminology-based question
2023 Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
2023 Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
2020 Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
2018 Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
2018 Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
2017 Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures

Timeline

  1. Public Health

    Conceptual area

  2. Women's Health

    Conceptual area

  3. Prelims 2017

    Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures

  4. Prelims 2018

    Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

  5. Prelims 2018

    Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

  6. Prelims 2020

    Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

  7. Prelims 2023

    Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

  8. Prelims 2023

    Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures

  9. Prelims 2026

    Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

  10. Prelims 2026

    Conceptual understanding, Terminology-based question

  11. A shot at life, Mandsaur’s model for HPV vaccination

    India faces a high burden of cervical cancer, largely preventable by HPV vaccination. The government's nationwide free vaccination campaign aims to address this, tackling challenges like low awareness and social stigma through targeted strategies.

See also

Cervical Cancer Prevention & HPV Vaccination in India

No related topics linked yet.

Past papers

In the news

thehindu.com

A shot at life, Mandsaur’s model for HPV vaccination

India faces a high burden of cervical cancer, largely preventable by HPV vaccination. The government's nationwide free vaccination campaign aims to address this, tackling challenges like low awareness and social stigma through targeted strategies.

Try these PYQs

UPSC Prelims 2023 medium Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana:
1. It is safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

UPSC Prelims 2026 easy Indian Polity Open full page

Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare.

Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X's actions?

UPSC Prelims 2017 hard Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’?

1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers.
2. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women.
3. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice.
4. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

UPSC Prelims 2018 medium Economy Open full page

With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013 consider the following statements:
1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC Prelims 2023 medium Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy:
1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women.
2. It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of child-birth.
3. It provides for periodic deworming to children and adolescents.
4. It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Show 3 more PYQs
UPSC Prelims 2020 medium Science & Technology Open full page

What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India?
1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.
2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced.
3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

UPSC Prelims 2018 medium Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements
1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.
3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC Prelims 2026 medium Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct ?

1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2018, mandates reservation in education and employment, places a legal duty on Governments to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination.
2. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains — built infrastructure, transport systems and information and communication technology.
3. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a public sector organisation set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a not-for-profit company to promote entrepreneurship among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Select the answer using the code given below :