Rabies is a significant health issue in India, which is a vaccine-preventable viral infection and is mostly caused by bites from dogs. With nearly no progress in eliminating rabies, India is an endemic country that has a proportion of approximately 36 percent of deaths caused by rabies in the world, with estimates available showing that this is 18,000 to 20,000 deaths in the country each year. The children have the highest burden since they form a great percentage of cases. Although this can be prevented by timely vaccination after exposure and vaccination of dogs, due to the lack of awareness, timely access to medical care, and overall dog vaccination, the level of mortality remains high. The prevention, mass dog vaccination, and surveillance efforts should be strengthened to enable the elimination of human deaths caused by rabies.

What are the Key Facts About Rabies?

• Rabies is a contagious virus that causes infections in the central nervous system and is lethal upon symptom development, which is preventable by vaccination. Up to 99 percent of human rabies incidences are a result of dog attacks and scratches. Children below 15 are the worst hit.

• Rabies is also endemic in India and has a large share of the global rabies deaths, in India with tens of thousands dying every year.

• The rabies fatalities can be brought down to zero by acting in time. Washing of the wound immediately, post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with anti-rabies vaccine and, if needed, rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) may prevent the development of the virus in the nervous system.

• These modes of control are the One Health approach, including mass vaccination of dogs, awareness of bite prevention, better access to PEP, health worker training, surveillance, and control of dog populations.

• The National Action Plan of rabies elimination, as part of the Indian state vision, is the NAPRE; the national priority lies in the coordination of actions such as mass immunization of dogs and the reinforcement of veterinary and human systems, with the ultimate vision of eradicating human rabies by 2030, which is carried out by dogs by 2030.

PYQs Based on Rabies 

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Conclusion of Rabies in India

Rabies is a significant but preventable health hazard to the Indian population, as it kills thousands of citizens each year. Proper prevention by means of vaccination of dogs immediately after exposure, mass dog vaccination, and enlightenment of people is important. The national action plans can be used to coordinate the eradication of human rabies using an integrated strategy to protect the vulnerable populations, particularly children, and decrease deaths at the national level.

Researchers at Banaras Hindu University have created the first systematic molecular classification of oral cancer worldwide, providing a precision therapy roadmap for personalised treatment. On the 25th of December 2025, the journal Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research published the study, which used genomic data and literature to define five molecular subtypes of oral cancer, each associated with specific genes and pathways. The new framework now transcends standard morphology-based diagnosis, allowing clinicians to model specific therapies rather than apply standard chemotherapy. It has major India-specific relevance, as the incidence of oral cancer is high in India because of the consumption of tobacco and betel quid.

Five Key Molecular Pathways Identified for Precision Oral Cancer Therapy

• The first systematic molecular classification of oral cancer was developed by researchers at Banaras Hindu University, who analyzed genomic data and literature to arrive at the classification.

• The study has established five distinct biological pathways in the development of oral cancer, namely Cell-Cycle Dysregulation, Immune-Mediated, Xenobiotic Metabolism-Associated, Inflammatory Pathway Activation, and Viral Protein Activation.

• Each pathway is associated with specific genes or molecular processes, all of which are amenable to new treatments.

• The model enables oncologists to customize precision treatments rather than rely on existing homogeneous chemotherapy.

• The model is particularly applicable to high-incidence areas, including India, as it focuses on tobacco- and betel quid-related pathways.

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Conclusion 

BHU pioneered a significant advance in more precise oncology by the development of a molecular classification of oral cancer. It reveals five different pathways, which allow individualized treatment by enhancing the results and decreasing non-productive treatments. This innovation is especially essential to high-incidence areas such as India that will ensure guided and effective management of cancer.