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Epidemic Preparedness and Response in India

Social Justice & Development

  • PYQs8
  • Articles1
I

Background

This concept is central to governance, public administration, disaster management, and social justice (right to health). UPSC examines the effectiveness of government policies and institutional mechanisms in addressing national challenges.

Epidemic preparedness and response in India involves a multi-sectoral approach to strengthen the country's capacity to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to infectious disease outbreaks. It includes robust surveillance systems, laboratory networks, rapid response teams, and public health communication strategies.

II

Facts & tables

Lessons Learned
India has strengthened its preparedness based on lessons from past outbreaks like COVID-19, Nipah, Zika, HIV, H1N1, and Mpox.
Key Components
Strategies include intensified airport screening, activation of isolation facilities, issuance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and genomic monitoring.
Institutional Role
The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, plays a crucial role in testing, research, and surveillance for infectious diseases.
Public Engagement
Public awareness, adherence to official advisories, and trust in health authorities are vital for effective containment and response.
Static syllabus anchors
Type Reference
Conceptual area Public Health
Conceptual area Disaster Management
Conceptual area Governance
Institutions & roles
Body Role
National Institute of Virology (NIV) Testing, research, surveillance
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Policy formulation, coordination
III

Prelims angle

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Prelims angle: Policy measures

  • Multi-sectoral approach for prevention, detection, response.
  • Lessons from COVID-19 and other outbreaks.
  • Key elements: surveillance, lab networks, rapid response, airport screening, isolation.
  • NIV's role in testing and research.
  • Importance of public trust and communication.
Constitutional vs statutory — Distinguish between constitutional provisions for health and statutory bodies/policies for epidemic control.

Check if created by Constitution or by Parliament.

High-confidence PYQ links
Year Framing tags
2024 Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
2023 Statement-based questions, Multi-statement analysis
2023 Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
2023 Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
2022 Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
2020 Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
2018 Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
2017 Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures

Timeline

  1. Public Health

    Conceptual area

  2. Disaster Management

    Conceptual area

  3. Governance

    Conceptual area

  4. Prelims 2017

    Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures

  5. Prelims 2018

    Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

  6. Prelims 2020

    Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

  7. Prelims 2022

    Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

  8. Prelims 2023

    Statement-based questions, Multi-statement analysis

  9. Prelims 2023

    Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures

  10. Prelims 2023

    Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

  11. Prelims 2024

    Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

  12. On Ebola, India must stay alert, not alarmed

    India's epidemic preparedness involves a comprehensive system of surveillance, lab networks, rapid response, and public communication, continuously evolving based on past experiences.

See also

Epidemic Preparedness and Response in India

No related topics linked yet.

Past papers

In the news

thehindu.com

On Ebola, India must stay alert, not alarmed

India's epidemic preparedness involves a comprehensive system of surveillance, lab networks, rapid response, and public communication, continuously evolving based on past experiences.

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UPSC Prelims 2023 medium Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana:
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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.
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How many of the statements given above are correct?

UPSC Prelims 2023 hard Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

Consider the following statements :
Statement-I :India's public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care.
Statement-II: Under India's decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

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.
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Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC Prelims 2020 easy International Relations Open full page

Consider the following pairs

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|--------------------------|----------------------------|
| 1. Alma-Ata Declaration | Healthcare of the people |
| 2. Hague Convention | Biological and chemical weapons |
| 3. Talanoa Dialogue | Global climate change |
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Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

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UPSC Prelims 2022 hard Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

Consider the following statements:

1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization.
2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government
of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India.

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?

UPSC Prelims 2024 medium Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

With reference to the 'Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan', consider the following statements:

1. This scheme guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy and six months post-delivery health care service in any government health facility.
2. Under this scheme, private sector health care providers of certain specialities can volunteer to provide services at nearby government health facilities.

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