UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Health Minister to Launch Tetanus and Adult Diphtheria (Td) Vaccine at Central Research Institute, Kasauli on 21st February 2026
Q1. In the designation of the newly launched Td vaccine as 'Adsorbed, Reduced D-Antigen Content', the phrase 'reduced D-antigen content' specifically refers to which one of the following?
- A. A lower quantity of diphtheria toxoid than in the paediatric diphtheria formulation, used to minimise reactogenicity in adolescents and adults
- B. A reduced quantity of tetanus toxoid to make the vaccine safer for repeat booster use
- C. A smaller total injection volume achieved by concentrating both antigens
- D. The removal of the pertussis antigen that is present in the paediatric DPT vaccine
Q2. In which year did the World Health Organization recommend that countries transition from the Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine to the Td vaccine — the recommendation India is now operationalising?
- A. 1985
- B. 2006
- C. 2015
- D. 2017
Q3. India's Universal Immunization Programme, under which the Td vaccine will be supplied free of cost to States, is implemented by which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- B. Ministry of Women and Child Development
- C. Ministry of AYUSH
- D. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Q4. With reference to the Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, consider the following statements:
1. It was established in 1905.
2. It is located in Himachal Pradesh.
3. It functions under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
4. It is the first Central Government Institute to have cGMP-compliant vaccine manufacturing infrastructure.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It was established in 1905.
- It is located in Himachal Pradesh.
- It functions under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
- It is the first Central Government Institute to have cGMP-compliant vaccine manufacturing infrastructure.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 4 only
- D. 3 only
Q5. The Central Research Institute, Kasauli, which manufactured the indigenous Td vaccine, functions directly under which one of the following?
- A. Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- B. Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Health Research
- C. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
- D. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
Q6. With reference to the February 2026 launch of the Td vaccine, consider the following statements:
1. It was launched on 21 February 2026 by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare.
2. It is India's first indigenously manufactured Td vaccine, produced by a government PSU.
3. The Central Research Institute is committed to supply 55 lakh doses to the UIP by April 2026.
4. It is the world's first-ever Td vaccine, marking the global replacement of TT for the first time.
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?
- It was launched on 21 February 2026 by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare.
- It is India's first indigenously manufactured Td vaccine, produced by a government PSU.
- The Central Research Institute is committed to supply 55 lakh doses to the UIP by April 2026.
- It is the world's first-ever Td vaccine, marking the global replacement of TT for the first time.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the newly launched Td vaccine with the monovalent Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine it replaces:
1. Unlike TT, the Td vaccine protects against both tetanus and diphtheria.
2. The Td vaccine contains a reduced diphtheria antigen content relative to the paediatric diphtheria formulation.
3. Unlike TT, the Td vaccine additionally contains an acellular pertussis component.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike TT, the Td vaccine protects against both tetanus and diphtheria.
- The Td vaccine contains a reduced diphtheria antigen content relative to the paediatric diphtheria formulation.
- Unlike TT, the Td vaccine additionally contains an acellular pertussis component.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. Consider the following statements about the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI):
1. It is the highest advisory body on immunization in India, whereas the corresponding global body advising WHO on vaccine policy is the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE).
2. It recommended replacing the TT vaccine with the Td vaccine for all age groups, including pregnant women.
3. It is a statutory body constituted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It is the highest advisory body on immunization in India, whereas the corresponding global body advising WHO on vaccine policy is the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE).
- It recommended replacing the TT vaccine with the Td vaccine for all age groups, including pregnant women.
- It is a statutory body constituted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. Which one of the following is the apex (highest) advisory body on immunization in India, whose recommendation underpinned the TT-to-Td transition?
- A. National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI)
- B. National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC)
- C. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
- D. National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW)
Q10. With reference to diphtheria and tetanus, consider the following statements:
1. Diphtheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
2. Tetanus is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani.
3. Both diseases are prevented using toxoids, i.e., bacterial toxins chemically inactivated to lose toxicity.
4. Like diphtheria, tetanus also spreads directly from person to person through respiratory droplets.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- Diphtheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
- Tetanus is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani.
- Both diseases are prevented using toxoids, i.e., bacterial toxins chemically inactivated to lose toxicity.
- Like diphtheria, tetanus also spreads directly from person to person through respiratory droplets.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q11. With reference to India's public sector (government) vaccine manufacturing institutes, consider the following institute–location pairs:
1. Central Research Institute — Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh
2. Pasteur Institute of India — Coonoor, Tamil Nadu
3. BCG Vaccine Laboratory — Guindy, Chennai
4. Haffkine Institute — Kolkata, West Bengal
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- Central Research Institute — Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh
- Pasteur Institute of India — Coonoor, Tamil Nadu
- BCG Vaccine Laboratory — Guindy, Chennai
- Haffkine Institute — Kolkata, West Bengal
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4