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Q12 (IAS/2014) Science & Technology › Biotechnology & Health › Public health epidemiology Official Key

Consider the following diseases : 1. Diphtheria 2. Chickenpox 3. Smallpox Which of the above diseases has/have been eradicated in India?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

Smallpox was eradicated in India in 1979, a year before its global eradication.[1] This makes smallpox the only disease among the three options that has been eradicated in India.

Diphtheria and chickenpox have not been eradicated in India. While India has made significant progress in controlling diphtheria through its Universal Immunization Programme (which includes the DPT vaccine), the disease has not been eradicated and cases still occur. Similarly, chickenpox (varicella) continues to be present in India, though vaccines are available.

The key distinction here is between "eradication" (complete elimination of a disease globally or in a specific region) versus "control" through vaccination and public health measures. Only smallpox has achieved true eradication status in India, making option B the correct answer for this 2014 UPSC question.

Sources
  1. [1] https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-03/Vision-2035-Public-Health-Surveillance-in-India.pdf
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Q. Consider the following diseases : 1. Diphtheria 2. Chickenpox 3. Smallpox Which of the above diseases has/have been eradicated in India? …
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 · 6.7/10
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This question was directly triggered by India being declared 'Polio-free' in March 2014. The examiner tested if you could distinguish between the newly eradicated disease (Polio), the historically eradicated one (Smallpox), and common endemic diseases (Chickenpox, Diphtheria). It is a classic 'Current Affairs derived Static' question.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Has diphtheria been eradicated in India as of 2014?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Small pox was eradicated in India in 1979, a year before its global eradication. India was declared ‘Polio free’ in 2014, three years after the last case detection in India in 2011."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states which diseases were eradicated in India (smallpox) and that India was declared polio-free in 2014.
  • Does not list diphtheria among the diseases described as eradicated, implying diphtheria was not eradicated by 2014.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Smallpox was eradicated worldwide and Polio has been eliminated in India."
Why this source?
  • States India’s progress in elimination: 'Smallpox was eradicated worldwide and Polio has been eliminated in India.'
  • Again identifies eradicated/eliminated diseases but does not include diphtheria among them, supporting that diphtheria was not eradicated by 2014.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > Application > p. 38
Strength: 5/5
“Mass vaccination eventually helped eradicate smallpox worldwide. 38”
Why relevant

States the general rule that mass vaccination can eradicate a disease (example: smallpox).

How to extend

A student could use this to infer that checking diphtheria vaccination coverage and historical vaccination campaigns in India would be relevant to judging eradication status.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > India's Role in Vaccine Production > p. 39
Strength: 4/5
“India is one of the world's largest vaccine producers. It manufactures vaccines on a massive scale and supplies them to many countries. Indian vaccine companies played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to support global health efforts. Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan was a well-known Indian doctor and scientist. As Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, he helped promote science and innovation in India. He played a key role in developing the Rotavirus vaccine, which protects children from diarrhoea. He believed in using research to create affordable healthcare and made a big difference in India's health and biotechnology sectors.”
Why relevant

Notes that India is a major vaccine producer, implying capacity to run large immunisation programmes.

How to extend

A student could combine this with knowledge of national immunisation policy and WHO data to assess whether sufficient vaccine supply existed to eliminate diphtheria by 2014.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Dengue and Chikungunya > p. 79
Strength: 4/5
“In India, the dengue virus was frst isolated during the 1950s. Outbreaks have been reported from the various parts of the country, primarily from the urban areas. Te main areas of concentration of dengue epidemic are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi,”
Why relevant

Describes that infectious diseases (here dengue) have recurring outbreaks in India despite long awareness, indicating diseases can persist.

How to extend

A student might treat this as a caution that presence of outbreaks for other diseases suggests one should check surveillance data for ongoing diphtheria cases rather than assume eradication.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Buffaloes > p. 36
Strength: 3/5
“implemented. The scheme was launched to eradicate the diseases of Rinderpest and Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia. In the third week of May 2017, the Ministry of Environment, Government of India, introduced rules to regulate cattle trade. This law has been made to reduce cruelty towards livestock. The restrictions on cattle trade will hurt farmers and threaten jobs. Thus this law will have an adverse effect on farmers and industries which use livestock products as raw materials. India's thriving buffalo meat exports, which recorded Rs. 26684 crore, will be crippled. Other industries such as meat, leathergoods, soap, automobile-grease will suffer. Moreover, vigilante groups which have functioned unchecked may choke even the limited livestock trade permitted by the new law.”
Why relevant

Mentions government schemes aimed at eradicating animal diseases (rinderpest), showing that eradication is a specific policy goal that can be targeted by authorities.

How to extend

A student could extend this by looking for whether a similar targeted national eradication programme or official declaration existed for human diphtheria by 2014.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Failures of Planning > p. 11
Strength: 2/5
“The Indian planning has miserably failed to achieve some of its important objectives: • 1. India failed to evolve a society based on equity and social justice that is free from tyranny of exploitation.• 2. India could not eradicate poverty as about 26% of the total population is below the poverty line.• 3. The planning process could not eradicate poverty, malnutrition, hunger, unemployment, exploitation, child labour, tyranny, intolerance, and injustice.• 4. The planning could not provide an equal status to females. Much efforts need to be made to remove gender bias.• 5. Black money has generated a parallel economy.• 6.”
Why relevant

Points out that large-scale planning has often failed to eradicate major social/health problems, implying eradication is difficult in practice.

How to extend

A student could use this to justify consulting empirical surveillance or WHO/Ministry reports for diphtheria rather than assuming eradication based on policy goals alone.

Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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