UPSC CARE Mains Practice 26th February 2026
Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- India’s nationwide HPV vaccination programme is a key preventive intervention to eliminate cervical cancer. Discuss its significance, implementation strategy, and challenges. (GS Paper II – Health/Government policies & interventions)
- Elephants are considered keystone and flagship species in India’s forest ecosystems. Discuss the importance of elephant conservation in India. Also examine the challenges associated with conservation and suggest measures to address human–elephant conflict. GS-III (Environment & Ecology / Conservation)
Q. India’s nationwide HPV vaccination programme is a key preventive intervention to eliminate cervical cancer. Discuss its significance, implementation strategy, and challenges. (GS Paper II – Health/Government policies & interventions)
Introduction:
Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, with about 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths annually. Scientific evidence shows that persistent infection with high-risk HPV types—especially HPV 16 and 18—causes nearly all cervical cancer cases, accounting for over 80% of cases in India. In this context, India’s planned nationwide, free and voluntary HPV vaccination programme for 14-year-old girls is a major preventive public health intervention to reduce disease burden and advance cervical cancer elimination goals.
Significance
- Primary prevention at the right age: Targeting girls aged 14 ensures maximum benefit before potential exposure, thereby preventing infection before it progresses to cancer.
- High effectiveness and safety: HPV vaccines are extensively studied, showing 93–100% effectiveness against vaccine-covered types; the vaccine is non-live and has a strong global safety record with 500 million+ doses since 2006.
- Equity and access: Free vaccination nationwide reduces socio-economic barriers and supports women’s health equity.
- Alignment with global targets: The programme supports WHO’s cervical cancer elimination strategy (90% vaccinated by 15; 70% screened; 90% treated).
Implementation Strategy
The programme will use Gardasil (quadrivalent) covering HPV 16/18 and 6/11, adopting a single-dose regimen backed by global and Indian evidence, with procurement supported through a transparent mechanism under India’s partnership with Gavi and maintained via stringent cold-chain standards. Vaccination will be provided only at designated government facilities (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs/PHCs, CHCs, district hospitals, government medical colleges). Sessions will be conducted under trained medical officers with post-vaccination observation, readiness for rare adverse events, and linkage to 24×7 facilities. Coverage is proposed as a special campaign tracked through U-WIN.
Challenges
Key challenges include misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, ensuring last-mile delivery and cold-chain integrity, and the risk of complacency where people may wrongly assume vaccination replaces screening. Since no vaccine covers all oncogenic HPV types and vaccination cannot eliminate existing infections, screening remains essential.
Way Forward
India should integrate vaccination with strengthened screening (Pap smear/HPV DNA testing pathways), run sustained behaviour-change communication, and use U-WIN for monitoring coverage gaps and safety reporting.
Conclusion:
If implemented with high coverage, robust safety systems, and strong screening integration, India’s HPV vaccination programme can substantially reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality and move the country closer to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat.
Q. Elephants are considered keystone and flagship species in India’s forest ecosystems. Discuss the importance of elephant conservation in India. Also examine the challenges associated with conservation and suggest measures to address human–elephant conflict. GS-III (Environment & Ecology / Conservation)
Introduction:
Elephants, particularly the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), are India’s National Heritage Animal and are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. India hosts over 60% of the world’s wild Asian elephants, making their conservation critical for biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
Importance of Elephant Conservation
1. Ecological Significance
- Elephants act as keystone species, shaping ecosystems through seed dispersal and maintaining forest structure.
- They function as ecosystem engineers, helping regenerate forests and maintain grasslands.
- Their movement creates pathways benefiting other wildlife.
2. Conservation and Biodiversity Role
- As an umbrella species, protecting elephants also protects coexisting species and habitats.
- They are a flagship species, promoting public support for conservation.
3. Environmental and Climate Role
- Help in carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling.
- Maintain perennial river systems and forest ecosystems.
Challenges in Elephant Conservation
1. Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
- Infrastructure, agriculture, and urban expansion disrupt elephant corridors.
2. Rising Human–Elephant Conflict
- Causes 400–500 human deaths annually and retaliatory elephant killings.
3. Infrastructure Threats
- Train collisions, electrocution from power lines, and open wells cause elephant mortality.
4. Poaching and Illegal Trade
- Targeted poaching for ivory and body parts affects population structure.
5. Climate Change
- Alters food and water availability, increasing conflict.
Government Initiatives and Measures
- Project Elephant (1992) for habitat protection and conflict mitigation.
- 33 Elephant Reserves and 150 identified corridors for safe movement.
- Project RE-HAB (bee fences) to reduce conflict.
- MIKE Programme to monitor illegal killings.
- Use of GPS tracking, geospatial tools, and early warning systems.
Way Forward
- Strengthen corridor protection and habitat connectivity.
- Use technology such as GPS collars and intrusion detection systems.
- Promote community participation and compensation mechanisms.
- Implement wildlife-friendly infrastructure like underpasses.
- Enhance forest staff capacity and anti-poaching measures.
Conclusion:
Elephant conservation is vital not only for protecting a species but also for maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity. A combination of scientific management, habitat protection, technological interventions, and community participation is essential to ensure sustainable coexistence between humans and elephants.