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Mission Indradhanush — Govt Scheme for UPSC | Vaidra
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Mission Indradhanush

Ministry of Health & Family WelfareactivehealthLaunched: 2014-12-25

About the Scheme

Mission Indradhanush aims to achieve full immunization coverage of children under 2 years and pregnant women against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) phases focus on low-coverage districts. IMI 5.0 (2023): targeting districts for 90%+ immunization coverage. India''s routine immunisation covers 12 vaccines.

Target Beneficiaries: 3 crore children under 2 years annually; pregnant women; focus on 250 low-coverage districts

Implementing Agency: National Health Mission (NHM) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with State Health Departments and District Administrations.

Official Website →

✦Key Features

  • 12 vaccine-preventable diseases covered: BCG, OPV, IPV, Penta, PCV, Rota, MR, JE, DPT, TT, Hep B, Vitamin A
  • IMI 5.0 (2023): focused in 272 districts across 33 states/UTs
  • U-WIN platform: universal immunization tracking app for all children
  • Special drives reaching unreached populations: migrants, tribal, hard-to-reach areas
  • Full Immunization Coverage (FIC): increased from 62% (2014) to 93.4% (NFHS-5, 2021)
  • 12 vaccines in the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
  • Cold chain infrastructure upgraded: 27,000+ cold chain points

✓Eligibility Criteria

  • Children up to 2 years of age who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
  • Pregnant women who have missed their routine vaccinations.
  • Individuals residing in identified high-priority districts or areas with low immunization coverage.
  • Any eligible beneficiary needing missed vaccine doses.

★Benefits

  • Protection of children and pregnant women from life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases.
  • Significant reduction in infant and child mortality rates.
  • Improved maternal health outcomes and reduced risks during pregnancy.
  • Contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being.
  • Strengthening of primary healthcare services and public health infrastructure across the country.

▶Application Process

  • Beneficiaries are identified through household surveys and community outreach by health workers.
  • Immunization sessions are conducted at designated health facilities, outreach sites, and mobile camps.
  • Vaccines are administered free of cost by trained health personnel.
  • Immunization status is recorded on the MCP card for future reference and follow-up.
  • Community mobilization and awareness campaigns are conducted to encourage participation.

₹ Budget Allocation

2000

Funding Ratio (Centre:State): Funded under National Health Mission (60:40 for general states)

Exam Relevance

GS Paper: GS2

Prelims Relevance8%
Mains Relevance8%

Syllabus Tags

HealthImmunizationChild HealthVaccinesGS2

Historical Context

Launched in February 2021 as a 15-day campaign in 250 districts across 29 States/UTs to reach children and pregnant women who missed their doses during COVID-19.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Children above 2 years (unless they fall under specific catch-up categories)
  • Pregnant women who have already completed the TT/Td schedule
  • Districts with already high (90%+) routine immunization coverage

Sub-Schemes

Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)

The base program providing 12 life-saving vaccines

Challenges

  • Vaccine hesitancy in specific urban pockets and rural belts
  • Accurately tracking migratory populations and 'headcount' in urban slums
  • Fatigue of frontline workers (ASHAs) due to multiple health campaigns
  • Cold chain maintenance in remote and difficult terrains
  • Data discrepancies between physical records and digital portals

Reforms & Recommendations

  • Transitioning from campaign mode to a robust digital-led routine immunization (U-WIN)
  • Strengthening localized communication strategies to combat vaccine hesitancy
  • Integrating immunization with nutrition and sanitation awareness

Performance Statistics

Metric

9.5 Lakh+

Source: MoHFW Report

Metric

1.9 Lakh+

Source: MoHFW Report

Critical Analysis

IMI 3.0 was a strategic 'catch-up' campaign designed to address the immunization gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is continuous, the 'Mission Mode' of IMI brings political will and intensive resource mobilization to reach 'hard-to-reach' populations. A critical analysis reveals that while it successfully boosts short-term coverage, the reliance on intensive campaigns highlights weaknesses in the routine immunization system. The focus on 'zero-dose' children (those who haven't received any vaccine) is a significant move toward equitable health outcomes, but sustaining these gains requires strengthening the frontline health workforce (ASHA/ANM).

SDG Linkages

SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

Constitutional Backing

Article 47 (Duty of the State to improve public health)

Technology Used

eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network)U-WIN (Vaccine tracking portal)Co-WIN architecture leveraged for immunization tracking

Success Stories

High Coverage in Tribal Belts

Key Takeaways

  • Focus on 250 pre-identified districts/urban areas
  • Targets children under 2 and pregnant women
  • Mission mode approach: 15-day intensive rounds
  • Focus on reaching the 'unreached' and 'last mile'

Probable Questions

Evaluate the role of Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 3.0 in bridging the immunization gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

EasyMedium

Mains Answer Fodder

Relevant for: 1. Public Health: Reaching 90% Full Immunization Coverage (FIC). 2. Governance: Mission-mode intervention for service delivery. 3. COVID-19 Impact: Lessons in resilient health systems. 4. Vulnerable Sections: Health equity for migratory populations and tribal areas.

Convergence Schemes

  • National Health Mission (NHM)
  • ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services)
  • Poshan Abhiyaan
  • U-WIN (Digital Platform for Vaccination)

Sector Tags

HealthChild Development