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Vaccine Diplomacy

Part of International Relations — India's Foreign Policy — Concepts, Doctrines & Diplomacy. Common notes for UPSC Mains GS-II.

UPSC

📌 Background & Key Features

  • Context: Leveraging India's status as the world's largest vaccine manufacturer (Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech) to supply COVID-19 vaccines free/at cost to developing nations during the pandemic.
  • Strategic logic: Reinforced India's "first responder" image in its neighbourhood (Bhutan, Maldives given early priority), supported its UNSC non-permanent seat campaign, and advanced South-South cooperation.
  • India, with South Africa, pushed a WTO TRIPS waiver proposal for COVID-19 vaccines/patents — a parallel track combining vaccine diplomacy with multilateral IP-equity advocacy.

📋 Quick Facts

InitiativeVaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship), launched January 2021
Scale300+ million doses to 100+ countries during COVID-19
Nickname earned“Pharmacy of the World”

📰 Current Affairs Linkage (2025-26)

  • Post-pandemic, the Vaccine Maitri model has evolved into broader health/humanitarian diplomacy — India's rapid disaster relief (e.g., earthquake/flood aid to neighbours) and medical-team deployments are now framed as its successor.
  • India continues to be referenced globally as a case study in equitable pandemic-preparedness diplomacy, feeding into ongoing WHO Pandemic Treaty negotiations on vaccine-equity and technology transfer.

🔖 60-Second Revision

  • Initiative: Vaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship), launched January 2021
  • Scale: 300+ million doses to 100+ countries during COVID-19
  • Nickname earned: “Pharmacy of the World”

📝 PYQs for Practice (Mains)

YearQuestionMarks
2021Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the Covid-19 pandemic.10
2022COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty. Justify with examples, also discussing India’s vaccine diplomacy as a soft-power response.15