National Rollout of Indigenous Cervical Cancer Vaccine 'Cervavac'
The Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide immunization drive using 'Cervavac', India's first indigenous HPV vaccine.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- National rollout of 'Cervavac', India's first indigenous HPV vaccine.
- Developed by Serum Institute of India and DBT.
- Targeted at girls aged 9-14 under the Universal Immunization Programme.
- Aims to prevent cervical cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths in Indian women.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 4–8 | Basic science, space missions, ISRO launches, and defence technology are standard SSC GK topics. |
| UPSC / State PCS | Medium | 5–8 | UPSC tests Science & Technology through governance: space policy, biotech regulations, cyber security. |
| State PCS / PSC | Medium | 3–5 | Space missions, defence acquisitions, and health research appear regularly. |
| Banking (IBPS / SBI) | Low | 1–2 | Occasionally tested via banking technology, fintech, or climate-science crossovers. |
What to Memorize from This Topic
- ISRO missions: satellite name, purpose, launch date, orbit type
- Defence acquisitions: system name, origin country, inducted into which force
- COVID/health research: vaccine names, institutes involved, approval status
- Technology achievements: first-ever milestones, world records, India-specific achievements
- Scientific organizations: HQ, head, purpose (CSIR, DRDO, BARC, ICAR)
Practice Questions
Q1. What is the name of India's first indigenous vaccine for cervical cancer?
- Covaxin
- Cervavac
- HPV-Guard
- Nari-Shakti
Explanation: Cervavac is the first indigenous Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine developed in India.
Q2. Which age group is being targeted for the Cervavac vaccine under the national program?
- 5-10 years
- 9-14 years
- 18-25 years
- Above 45 years
Explanation: The vaccine is primarily targeted at girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years.
How to Prepare Science & Technology for Government Exams
For Railway exams, make flashcards for every major ISRO launch — name, payload, purpose, date. These repeat frequently.
For SSC, focus on defence acquisitions and their strategic significance rather than technical specs.
For UPSC, connect every scientific development to policy — climate targets, digital India, health policy.
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