UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cervical Cancer Vaccination Campaign Launched

Question 1

With reference to the Gardasil vaccine deployed under India's 2026 HPV vaccination campaign, consider the following statements:
1. It is administered as a single dose under the current campaign.
2. It offers 93-100% effectiveness against the HPV types that cause cervical cancer.
3. Girls turning 15 within 90 days of the launch are also eligible for the vaccine.
4. It is a bivalent vaccine.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 2

The recommendation to introduce the HPV vaccine into India's Universal Immunization Programme, with a one-time catch-up for girls aged 9-14, was made by which one of the following bodies?

Accepted Answer

National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI)

Answer

Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)

Answer

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Answer

National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)

Question 3

In the context of India's HPV vaccination programme, the term 'U-WIN' refers to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

A digital platform used for registration, recording and reporting of vaccinations

Answer

An indigenously developed quadrivalent HPV vaccine

Answer

A cold-chain logistics network for vaccine storage

Answer

A school-based cervical cancer screening initiative

Question 4

Under the WHO cervical cancer elimination strategy, elimination is defined as reducing incidence to how many new cases per 1,00,000 women per year?

Accepted Answer

4 or fewer

Answer

10 or fewer

Answer

15 or fewer

Answer

70 or fewer

Question 5

In WHO's 90-70-90 cervical cancer elimination strategy, the '70' target refers to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again by 45

Answer

70% of adolescent girls fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15

Answer

70% of women with cervical disease receiving treatment

Answer

70% reduction in cervical cancer deaths by 2030

Question 6

With reference to CERVAVAC, consider the following statements:
1. It is India's first indigenously developed quadrivalent HPV vaccine.
2. It is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
3. It protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
4. It was developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

3 and 4 only

Question 7

Under the 2026 nationwide HPV vaccination programme, the vaccine is delivered free of cost to eligible girls at government facilities through the Universal Immunization Programme, which is implemented by which one of the following Union ministries?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Answer

Ministry of Women and Child Development

Answer

Ministry of Science and Technology

Answer

Ministry of AYUSH

Question 8

Consider the following statements comparing the cervical cancer burden in India with that elsewhere:
1. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India.
2. India records a higher number of cervical cancer cases and deaths than China.
3. Cervical cancer accounts for the highest number of new cancer cases among Indian men.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 9

In the context of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the types 16 and 18 are best described as which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

High-risk (oncogenic) types responsible for most cervical cancers

Answer

Low-risk types that primarily cause genital warts

Answer

Types present only in vaccines and not found in natural infection

Answer

Non-oncogenic types that are cleared without causing infection

Question 10

The Government of India first announced its intent to encourage HPV vaccination for girls aged 9-14 years to prevent cervical cancer in which one of the following Union Budget presentations?

Accepted Answer

Interim Budget 2024-25

Answer

Union Budget 2022-23

Answer

Union Budget 2023-24

Answer

Union Budget 2025-26

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cervical Cancer Vaccination Campaign Launched

Q2. The recommendation to introduce the HPV vaccine into India's Universal Immunization Programme, with a one-time catch-up for girls aged 9-14, was made by which one of the following bodies?

Q3. In the context of India's HPV vaccination programme, the term 'U-WIN' refers to which one of the following?

Q4. Under the WHO cervical cancer elimination strategy, elimination is defined as reducing incidence to how many new cases per 1,00,000 women per year?

Q5. In WHO's 90-70-90 cervical cancer elimination strategy, the '70' target refers to which one of the following?

Q7. Under the 2026 nationwide HPV vaccination programme, the vaccine is delivered free of cost to eligible girls at government facilities through the Universal Immunization Programme, which is implemented by which one of the following Union ministries?

Q9. In the context of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the types 16 and 18 are best described as which one of the following?

Q10. The Government of India first announced its intent to encourage HPV vaccination for girls aged 9-14 years to prevent cervical cancer in which one of the following Union Budget presentations?