Eliminating Cervical Cancer Risk

The move aims to eliminate cervical cancer risk among women in the country, as it is the second most common cancer after breast cancer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to launch the HPV vaccine campaign from Ajmer, Rajasthan, on 28 February, sources said.

With nearly 80 thousand new cases reported annually, cervical cancer is estimated to cause the deaths of over 42,000 women every year in India. According to the ICMR – National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, one woman dies of cervical cancer every eight minutes in India. 

Sources said that the landmark move to strengthen women’s health and eliminate preventable cancer marks a decisive step in the country’s public health journey by providing the vaccine free of cost. "The initiative aims to protect adolescent girls against cervical cancer, one of the most common yet preventable cancers affecting women in India," sources said.

In India, we lose a woman to cervical cancer every few minutes, an entirely avoidable tragedy. The launch of the national HPV vaccination drive in 2026 marks our 'Polio moment' for women’s health. Through HPV vaccination, we aren't just giving them a shot; we are giving them a future free from a devastating malignancy

— Dr. Atul Gogia, Senior Consultant and Head of Infectious Diseases Unit, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

"Science has given us a shield that is safe, effective, and now accessible to every household, regardless of income. It is the collective responsibility of parents, educators, and doctors to ensure an active vaccination drive so that no girl is behind in this mission to eliminate cervical cancer in India," Dr. Gogia told The Secretariat. 

Target Population

Under the nationwide HPV vaccination programme, girls from 14 years of age will be covered. A special HPV vaccination campaign is expected to cover nearly 1.15 crore girls of 14 years every year.

The upcoming nationwide rollout is a significant milestone towards achieving the vision of “Swastha Nari”, proposed by Prime Minister Modi. 

The free HPV vaccination programme marks a landmark step in cervical cancer prevention, as it remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Indian women

— Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit, Director and Head, Medical Oncology, Medanta 

"This is a commendable proactive policy for prioritising prevention over treatment, reducing future healthcare burdens, promoting equity across socioeconomic groups, and saving countless lives through evidence-based vaccination. Widespread awareness, community participation, and sustained integration into the national immunisation schedule will be key to its success," Dr. Rajpurohit told The Secretariat.

Procurement, Implementation

The government is procuring approximately 2.6 crore doses, in partnership with the UN and the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccine will be administered under a single-dose schedule.

More than one crore doses have already been received and distributed across all 36 States and Union territories, where training of healthcare technicians for the programme is complete.

The vaccine is considered safe, and more than 500 million doses of the HPV vaccine have been administered globally since 2006.

What Is HPV?

The HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection. In the majority of cases, the body clears the virus naturally within one or two years.

However, the virus can cause abnormal cell changes in the cervix, first appearing as pre-cancerous lesions. If undetected and untreated, these lesions can develop into cervical cancer over 10 to 15 years.

Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types causes around 95% of cervical cancer cases globally. Cervical cancer is one of the most common yet preventable cancers affecting women in India.   

Risk Factors For HPV Infection:

• Early marriage
• Sexually active at a younger age
• Having multiple sexual partners
• Poor genital hygiene
• Smoking
• Multiple pregnancies
• Weakened immune system
• Malnutrition
• Prolonged use of Oral Contraceptive Pills

How Will It Work?

Parents will be able to register and book appointments through U-WIN, the government’s digital immunisation platform. Doses will be administered at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (primary health centres), community health centres, district hospitals, and government medical colleges. Every vaccination site will be linked to round-the-clock health facilities to manage any rare adverse events.

The programme has been designed using national disease data and recommendations from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI). With this rollout, India will join more than 160 countries that have already included HPV vaccination in their national immunisation programmes.