India's Nationwide HPV Drive Targets 14-Year-Old Girls, 8.73 Crore Women Screened
According to Health Minister Prataprao Jadhav, as of 17 February 2026, around 8.73 crore women have been screened for cervical cancer.
India’s Nationwide HPV Drive Targets 14-Year-Old Girls, 8.73 Crore Women Screened
The Indian government is running a nationwide vaccination campaign to protect 14-year-old girls against human papillomavirus (HPV), a major cause of cervical cancer. According to WHO, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India, with over 1,20,000 new cases and nearly 80,000 deaths reported each year.
According to the Ministry of Health, the program is being conducted at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandir centers, primary health centers, community health centers, sub-district hospitals, district hospitals, and government medical colleges.
According to Health Minister Prataprao Jadhav, as of 17 February 2026, around 8.73 crore women have been screened for cervical cancer.
Data from the National Cancer Registry Program under the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research shows that in 2025, India recorded an estimated 79,239 cases of cervical cancer. The highest number of cases was reported in Uttar Pradesh with 11,530, followed by Tamil Nadu (8,389), Bihar (8,250), and West Bengal (6,437).