India has reached a monumental public health milestone, completing 15 years since its last reported case of wild poliovirus on January 13, 2026. This significant achievement underscores the nation's extraordinary efforts in public health. The last wild poliovirus case in India was detected on January 13, 2011, in Howrah, West Bengal, involving an 18-month-old girl. Historically, India faced an immense challenge, accounting for a staggering 60% of the global polio cases in 2009, with 741 reported cases. In the mid-1980s, India alone experienced an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 annual polio cases, making it a hyperendemic region. Despite these daunting statistics, the country implemented an unprecedented scale-up of resources and vaccination campaigns. The success of India's polio elimination program is attributed to robust government leadership, a dedicated health workforce, strong partnerships with international organizations like WHO and UNICEF, and active community participation. Through initiatives like the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme, millions of children were reached with life-saving vaccines, even in remote and hard-to-reach areas. This sustained effort led to India being officially certified polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 27, 2014, following three consecutive years without any wild poliovirus cases. This 15-year milestone is celebrated as a triumph of political will and community-level execution, transforming India from a polio hotspot into a global leader in immunization. India now contributes its expertise and strategies to global efforts aimed at achieving a polio-free world, demonstrating that eradication is achievable even under the most challenging conditions. The nation continues to maintain strict vigilance through regular immunization days and robust surveillance systems to safeguard its polio-free status.