- Launch: Introduced as the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in 1978 and expanded as the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) in 1985.
- Ministry: Implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
- Objective: To provide free vaccination against vaccine-preventable diseases to all eligible children and pregnant women across India.
- Coverage: One of the largest public immunisation programmes in the world, targeting approximately 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants annually.
- National Immunisation Schedule (NIS): Vaccines are administered as per the schedule recommended by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).
- Mission Indradhanush: Launched in 2014 to increase full immunisation coverage among children and pregnant women.
- Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI): Focuses on districts and urban areas with low immunisation coverage.
- Digital Platform: U-WIN (Universal Immunisation Win) is India’s digital platform for recording and tracking vaccination of pregnant women and children.
- Disease Elimination: UIP has played a key role in India being declared Polio-free in 2014 and Maternal & Neonatal Tetanus elimination in 2015.
UPSC Prelims Question (English)
Q. With reference to India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), consider the following statements:
- It was launched as the Universal Immunisation Programme in 1985.
- It is implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Mission Indradhanush was launched to improve immunisation coverage under UIP.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. UIP was launched in 1985 (after EPI in 1978).
- Statement 2: Correct. It is implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Statement 3: Correct. Mission Indradhanush (2014) was launched to improve immunisation coverage under UIP.
