Archive · 22 Jul 2026
UPSC Weekly Concepts Snapshot: Dengue Vaccine, Tax Test, and POPs Explained
The UPSC Weekly Concepts Snapshot explains three important current themes: the approval of India's first dengue vaccine, Qdenga, the Principal Purpose Test in tax treaties, and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
Qdenga, approved by the Drug Controller General of India, is designed to protect against all four dengue virus strains and can be administered to individuals aged 4 to 60 years.
The Principal Purpose Test is an anti-avoidance tool in tax treaties to prevent treaty abuse and ensure benefits are used for genuine economic activities.
POPs are hazardous chemicals that resist environmental degradation, accumulate in the food chain, and pose significant health risks.
The snapshot also includes UPSC-style questions and answers to help students prepare for the Civil Services Examination.
India's first dengue vaccine, Qdenga, has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).
Qdenga is designed to protect against all four dengue virus strains and can be administered to individuals aged 4 to 60 years.
The Principal Purpose Test (PPT) is an anti-avoidance tool in tax treaties to prevent treaty abuse and ensure benefits are used for genuine economic activities.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are hazardous chemicals that resist environmental degradation, accumulate in the food chain, and pose significant health risks.
The UPSC Weekly Concepts Snapshot includes UPSC-style questions and answers to help students prepare for the Civil Services Examination.
- Who
- Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)
- What
- Approval of Qdenga, India's first dengue vaccine
- When
- Recent approval
- Where
- India
- Why
- To combat the increasing dengue cases and public health threat
Public Health Advocates
Skeptics
Dengue Vaccine Approval
Public Health Advocates
The approval of Qdenga is a significant step forward in combating dengue, which has seen an 11-fold increase in cases over the past two decades in India.
Skeptics
Skeptics argue that the long-term efficacy and safety of the vaccine need more extensive real-world data before widespread implementation.
- Dengue Vaccine
- Qdenga
- Vaccine Manufacturer
- Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India
- Approval Authority
- Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)
- Dengue Cases Increase
- 11-fold over the past two decades
- Dengue Transmission
- Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes
- Vaccine Strains Covered
- DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4
- Vaccine Age Group
- 4 to 60 years
- Vaccine Dosage
- Two doses of 0.5 mL each, three months apart
