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SC Directs Centre to Formulate No-Fault Compensation for Covid Vaccine Injuries Under Article 21

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
12 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:March 10, 20260.001 per one lakh dosesRs 50,000 ex-gratia (2021 guidelines)
Bodies:Supreme CourtMinistry of Health and Family WelfareNDMA
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What This Article Covers

1.SC directs Centre to formulate a 'no-fault' compensation policy for serious adverse effects or deaths after Covid vaccination.

2.The Court invoked constitutional principles (Article 21 and Article 14) and 'no-fault liability', rejecting the government's stance that families should seek relief through civil courts.

3.This judgment mirrors the SC's earlier pandemic intervention on Covid death compensation and clarifies the State's positive obligation in state-led public health drives.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The Supreme Court has directed the government to create a no-fault compensation policy for serious Covid-19 vaccine injuries, ruling that forcing families to prove negligence in civil courts violates constitutional rights. This landmark judgment leverages Article 21's right to health and Article 14's equality guarantee, establishing a state responsibility for public health interventions.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Judgment DateMarch 10, 2026
SC BenchJustices Vikram Nath & Sandeep Mehta
Key Constitutional ArticlesArticle 21 & Article 14
Related 2021 CaseGaurav Kumar Bansal vs Union of India
Related 2022 CaseJacob Puliyel vs Union of India

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Judgment Date: March 10, 2026
  • ›SC Bench: Justices Vikram Nath & Sandeep Mehta
  • ›Target this Data: The Supreme Court order was issued on March 10, 2026.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is directed to formulate the policy.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The judgment is based on Article 21 (Right to Life/Health) and Article 14 (Equality).

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Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which ministry has been directed by the Supreme Court to formulate the no-fault compensation policy for Covid vaccine injuries?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's judgment on Covid vaccine compensation:

1. The Court directed the establishment of a new expert medical board to investigate vaccine-related deaths.

2. The judgment invoked the legal principle of 'no-fault liability', which is also recognized in laws concerning motor vehicle accidents.

3. The Court ruled that the State has a positive constitutional obligation under Article 21 to provide compensation for grave outcomes from state-led vaccination drives.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

As cited by the Union government in the Supreme Court, what was the reported rate of certain clotting disorders per one lakh vaccine doses in India?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was the primary constitutional rationale used by the Supreme Court to reject the government's suggestion that families approach civil courts for vaccine injury claims?

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