Theme T110 · Governance

Pandemics & global health: COVID-19, WHO, vaccines

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What UPSC asks

UPSC asks about WHO's performance in COVID-19, how vaccines work and the platforms Indian manufacturers used, and technology for pandemic management.

Prepare these

• WHO: IHR, delays, funding dependence, pandemic treaty
• Vaccine principle: antigen and immune memory; platforms (inactivated, viral vector, mRNA, DNA)
• Indian vaccines: Covaxin, Covishield, ZyCoV-D; Vaccine Maitri
• Technology: CoWIN, Aarogya Setu, genome sequencing (INSACOG), telemedicine (eSanjeevani)

Answer writing

• Combine science (GS3) with governance (GS2)

Directive words in these PYQs: Examine (1), Critically (1).

Linked themes

Builds on: study these first

These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.

Syllabus lines covered

• GS2-L20 — Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
• GS3-L13 — Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

All 3 PYQs, newest first

1. GS3202215 marks · 250 wordsGS3-SCI-04-M2022-Q16

   What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines?

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2. GS22020GS2-IR-06-M2020-S01

   Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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3. GS32020GS3-SCI-04-M2020-S02

   COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was sought to aid management of the pandemic.

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