1. National HPV Vaccination Drive


The Union Health Ministry is launching a nationwide, voluntary, and free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign targeting girls aged 14. This initiative follows the 2024 Interim Budget announcement and seeks to reduce the high burden of cervical cancer in India.

Key Highlights of the Scheme

  • ​Target Group: Girls aged 14 years (approximately 1.2 crore adolescents annually).
  • ​Vaccine Used: Gardasil (a quadrivalent vaccine by MSD).
  • ​Administration: A single-dose regimen (supported by NTAGI and WHO evidence for this age group).
  • ​Cost & Accessibility: Free of cost at government facilities (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, PHCs, District Hospitals).
  • ​Digital Tracking: Use of the U-WIN portal (similar to CoWIN) for registration and tracking.
  • ​International Support: Procurement supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Medical & Scientific Dimensions

  • ​The Virus: HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses. High-risk types 16 and 18 are responsible for over 70-80% of cervical cancers globally and in India.
  • ​The Vaccine (Quadrivalent): Gardasil protects against four types:
  • ​16 & 18: Oncogenic (cancer-causing).
  • ​6 & 11: Cause genital warts.
​Why Age 14? Vaccination is most effective when administered before sexual debut (exposure to the virus). Scientific data shows a stronger immune response in younger adolescents compared to older groups.

India's Cervical Cancer Burden

  • ​Ranking: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India.
  • ​Statistics: India accounts for nearly one-quarter of global cervical cancer deaths, with approximately 80,000 new cases and 42,000 deaths annually.
  • Prevention: It is one of the few cancers that can be almost entirely prevented through vaccination and early screening (Pap smear/HPV DNA tests).

Potential Prelims Question (2026)

​Q. With reference to the National HPV Vaccination Programme in India, consider the following statements:
  1. ​The programme primarily targets boys and girls between the ages of 18 and 25 to ensure adult immunity.
  2. ​India is using the quadrivalent vaccine Gardasil, which provides protection against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.
  3. ​The vaccination is being integrated into the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) as a mandatory shot for all school-going children.
  4. ​The U-WIN digital platform is being utilized for registration and tracking of the vaccination.
​Which of the statements given above are correct?
A) 1 and 3 only
B) 2 and 4 only
C) 2, 3, and 4 only
D) 1, 2, and 4 only



Correct Answer: B
​

2. Union Cabinet clears proposal to Rename Kerala as Keralam


The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the proposal on February 24, 2026.
  • ​Linguistic Roots: The name "Keralam" is used in the Malayalam language. The state was formed on November 1, 1956 (Kerala Piravi), based on linguistic lines, but the First Schedule of the Constitution recorded it as "Kerala" (the anglicized version).
  • ​The Demand: The Kerala Assembly passed a unanimous resolution in June 2024 seeking this change to reflect the state's cultural and linguistic identity.

Constitutional Mechanism

The process for renaming a state is governed by Article 3 of the Indian Constitution. Unlike a typical constitutional amendment under Article 368, changing a state's name is considered a simple legislative process.
Steps-
  • Step 1- Presidential Recommendation: A bill for renaming a state can only be introduced in Parliament with the prior recommendation of the President.
  • Step 2 - State Consultation: Before recommending the bill, the President must refer it to the concerned State Legislature (Kerala Assembly) for its views within a specified period.
  • Step 3 - Non-Binding Views: The views of the State Legislature are not binding on the President or the Parliament. Parliament can proceed even if the state opposes it (though in this case, the state initiated it).
  • Step 4- Parliamentary Approval: The Bill must be passed by both Houses of Parliament by a Simple Majority.
  • Step 5 - Presidential Assent: Once passed, the President signs the bill, and the name is officially changed in the First and Fourth Schedules.

Potential Prelims Question

​Q. With reference to the procedure for renaming a State in India, consider the following statements:
  1. ​A Bill for renaming a state can be introduced in either House of Parliament only on the prior recommendation of the President.
  2. ​The President is bound by the views expressed by the concerned State Legislature regarding the name change.
  3. ​Such a bill must be passed by a Special Majority in both Houses of Parliament as per Article 368.
​Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2, and 3



Correct Answer: A