General Studies Paper -3

Context: The Budget, tabled in Parliament by the Finance Minister, is the Government’s blueprint on expenditure, taxes it plans to levy, which affect the economy and lives of citizens.

About

• The Union Budget of India, referred to as the annual Financial Statement in Article 112 of the Constitution of India, is the annual budget of the Republic of India, presented each year by the Finance Minister.
• The budget has to be passed by the House before it can come into effect on April 1, the start of India’s financial year.
• After being presented separately for 92 years, the Railway budget was merged in the Union Budget in 2017 and presented together on the recommendation of the Bibek Debroy Committee.
• In 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman became the second woman to have presented the budget after Indira Gandhi.

Components of Budget

• There are three major components — expenditure, receipts and deficit indicators.
• Total Expenditure can be divided into capital and revenue expenditure.
• Capital expenditure is incurred with the purpose of increasing assets of a durable nature or of reducing recurring liabilities.
• Expenditure incurred for constructing new schools or new hospitals are classified as capital expenditure as they lead to creation of new assets.
• Revenue expenditure involves any expenditure that does not add to assets or reduce liabilities.
• Includes expenditure on the payment of wages and salaries, subsidies or interest payments.
• The receipts of the Government have three components — revenue receipts, non-debt capital receipts and debt-creating capital receipts.
• Revenue receipts involve receipts that are not associated with increase in liabilities and comprise revenue from taxes and non-tax sources.
• Non-debt receipts are part of capital receipts that do not generate additional liabilities, it includes recovery of loans and proceeds from disinvestments.
• Debt-creating capital receipts are ones that involve higher liabilities and future payment commitments of the Government.
• Fiscal deficit is the difference between total expenditure and the sum of revenue receipts and non-debt receipts.
• It indicates how much the Government is spending in net terms.
• Positive fiscal deficits indicate the amount of expenditure over and above revenue and non-debt receipts, it needs to be financed by a debt-creating capital receipt.

Implications of Budget on Economy

• Economic Growth: It stimulates growth through government spending on infrastructure, welfare, and reforms that boost private investment.
• Inflation Control: The budget’s fiscal policies influence inflation through subsidy changes, tax adjustments, and debt management.
• Fiscal Deficit and Debt: A high fiscal deficit leads to increased borrowing and higher debt, affecting inflation and interest rates, while efforts to reduce it help fiscal stability.
• Taxation and Reforms: Changes in taxes affect consumer behavior, business investment, and government revenue. Reforms like GST and direct tax changes improve efficiency.
• Employment: Budget allocations for infrastructure, skill development, and welfare programs create jobs and reduce poverty.
• Foreign Investment: Favorable policies attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by improving the ease of doing business.
• Social Welfare: Increases in welfare spending and subsidies help reduce poverty and improve living standards.
• Stock Market Impact: The budget influences market sentiment based on policy changes related to taxation, industry incentives, and reforms.
• Sustainability: Investments in green infrastructure and renewable energy promote sustainable growth and address environmental concerns.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 revealed that enrolment in both government and private schools has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)

• The word aser means ‘impact’ in Hindustani.
• It is a nationwide citizen-led household survey that provides a snapshot of children’s schooling and learning in rural India.
• It captures data from all children, including those who are not in school or are absent.
• It tracks children aged 3 to 16 for schooling status, and children aged 5 to 16 are tested for basic reading and arithmetic abilities.
• The survey is coordinated by ASER Centre and facilitated by the Pratham network.
• The first ASER survey was conducted in 2005 and repeated annually for 10 years (2005-2014).
• 2016 Onwards: Shifted to an alternate-year model:
  • Basic ASER Survey: Conducted every alternate year to assess foundational learning in children.
  • Gap Years: Instead of a full survey, ASER explores specific age groups or new dimensions of children’s learning using a different research lens.

Focus

• Enrollment status was collected for all children aged 3-16.
• Children aged 5-16 were tested for basic reading and arithmetic skills.
• Older children (14-16) were asked about digital access and usage, and also completed smartphone-based tasks to assess digital abilities.

Key Findings: Recent Survey

• Improvement in Learning: The proportion of Class 3 students in government schools able to read a Class 2 text rose to 23.4% in 2024, up from 16.3% in 2022.
  • Basic arithmetic skills also improved across both government and private schools.
  • For Class 3, two-thirds could not solve subtraction problems, and only 30.7% of Class 5 students could solve division problems. Class 8 students saw slight improvement, with 45.8% mastering basic arithmetic.
• Regional Variations: States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Odisha saw notable gains in reading levels. Uttar Pradesh had the largest increase, with a 15-percentage-point rise in reading skills.
• Government vs Private Schools: Learning recovery has been stronger in government schools, while private schools still lag behind their pre-pandemic levels. Despite improvements, 30% of children still struggle with reading a Class 2 text.
• Enrolment Trends: School enrolment for children aged 6-14 is at 98.1%, close to pre-pandemic levels. However, government school enrolment, which rose during the pandemic, has dropped to 66.8% in 2024 from 72.9% in 2022. The proportion of underage children in Class 1 also declined to 16.7%, the lowest ever recorded.
• Digital Literacy: Smartphone access has increased significantly in rural areas, with 84% of households owning smartphones in 2024. Among teenagers, 57% use smartphones for educational purposes, but 76% use them for social media. There is a gender gap in smartphone use, with more boys reporting smartphone use and ownership than girls.
• Factors Driving Learning Trends: The report credits the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Nipun Bharat Mission for improvements in foundational literacy. Digital tools, especially smartphones, have played a key role in continuing education during and after the pandemic.

Suggestions

• The recovery in learning outcomes is evident, substantial gaps in literacy and numeracy persist, particularly in government schools.
• Efforts like the NEP 2020 and the use of digital tools continue to drive improvements, but challenges such as uneven access to educational resources and digital skills remain.
• School readiness programs and the increasing role of digital literacy are helping, but more work is needed to bridge these gaps.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: The Commerce and Industry Minister will travel to Oman, to give “further impetus” to the free trade agreement (FTA) talks between India and Oman.

About

• The talks focused on advancing negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), strengthening trade and investment ties, and exploring avenues to further deepen bilateral partnership.
• FTA: In such agreements, two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on a maximum number of goods traded between them.
• They also ease norms to promote trade in services and attract investments.
• This visit underscores the importance that India attaches to its trade and investment ties with Oman, one of the important trading partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
• India already has a similar agreement with another GCC member UAE which came into effect in 2022.

India-Oman Ties

• Trade Relations: Oman is India’s 30th largest trading partner in FY 2023-2024 with total trade of US$ 8.947 billion.
  • India is among Oman’s top trading partners.
  • India is the 4th largest market for Oman’s crude oil exports for the year 2023.
• Defence Cooperation: India and Oman conduct regular biennial bilateral exercises between all three services.
  • Army exercise: Al Najah
  • Air Force exercise: Eastern Bridge
  • Naval Exercise: Naseem Al Bahr
• Maritime Cooperation: Oman is at the gateway of Strait of Hormuz through which India imports one-fifth of its oil imports.
  • India signed a pact with the country in 2018 to access the Duqm port of Oman.
  • The Port of Duqm is situated on the southeastern seaboard of Oman, overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is strategically located, in close proximity to the Chabahar port in Iran.

About GCC

• It is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
• It was established in 1981.
• It aims to achieve unity among its members based on their common objectives and their similar political and cultural identities, which are rooted in Arab and Islamic cultures.
• The presidency of the council rotates annually.

Way Ahead

• Realpolitik and strategic interests have been instrumental in bringing India closer to the Gulf countries, with both sides willing to overlook some of their ideological differences lately.
• In the long run, defense industrial cooperation and technology transfers will likely come to form a pivotal component of their strategic cooperation.
• The convergences of interests – political, economic, technological and military-security – therefore, could pave the way for the furtherance of India’s military diplomacy with the Gulf states.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: The government’s lateral entry scheme was put on hold last year after the Opposition and allies objected to the absence of quotas.

About

• 63 appointments have been made under it since 2019.
• In 2020 an Indian Forest Service officer challenged the Lateral Entry scheme on the ground that it lacked legal sanctity and procedural rigour.

Lateral Entry Scheme in Bureaucracy

• It is a practice that involves recruiting individuals from outside the traditional government service cadres to fill mid and senior-level positions.
• Introduced: First set of vacancies announced in 2018.
• Eligibility: These people would be domain experts and help fill critical gaps.
  • They could be from private companies, public sector utilities and state governments.
• Aim: To address complex governance and policy implementation challenges by tapping into external expertise.
• Tenure: Candidates are typically hired on contracts ranging from three to five years, with potential extensions based on performance.
• Background: It was initially recommended by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) established in 2005.
  • These recommendations emphasised recruiting professionals from the private sector, academia and PSUs to improve policy implementation and governance.
  • In 2017, NITI Aayog, recommended the recruitment of personnel from outside the All India Services for the central government’s bureaucracy.

Arguments in Favour

• Deputation Posts: There are no mandatory reservations for appointments on deputation, and the current process of filling posts through lateral entry is considered a close approximation of deputation.
• Addressing Personnel Shortages: The Baswan Committee (2016) highlighted the reluctance of large states (e.g., Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan) to send officers for central deputation due to shortages at the state level. Lateral entry helps fill these critical gaps at the central level.
• Short Duration: The lateral-entry officers are a small pool for a short duration (up to 5 years), so, reservation doesn’t make much sense.
• Expertise in the Governance: The government introduced it as a means to bring in specialised talent and expertise in governance and policy making.
• Efficiency: Professionals with private sector experience may bring in better management practices, technological know-how, and strategic decision-making skills.
• Strengthening Participatory Governance: Provides the private sector and NGOs an opportunity to contribute directly to governance, making it more inclusive and participatory.

Arguments Against the Scheme

• Constitutionality : Under Article 309 recruitment to Central government jobs can only be through an Act of Parliament or a statutory Rule framed under the authority of the President.
• Ambiguities in Recruitment: Lack of transparency in determining vacancies, shortlisting candidates, and evaluation criteria creates distrust in the process.
• Sidelining Reservation Policies: The absence of reservations for SCs, STs, OBCs, and other vulnerable sections has drawn criticism for neglecting inclusivity.
  • For instance, the 13-point roster system of reservation is not implemented in lateral entry.
• Lack of Familiarity with Bureaucratic Processes: Civil servants spend decades mastering the bureaucratic system and protocols. Lateral entrants often lack practical experience and understanding of these processes, leading to inefficiencies.
• Short Tenure and Limited Impact: Contracts are typically for 3–5 years, giving lateral entrants little time to adapt and deliver impactful results. Their integration into the bureaucratic structure is often incomplete.
• Potential Conflict of Interest: Entrants from private sectors may prioritize profit maximization over public welfare, raising concerns about policy bias.

Way Ahead

• Establishing a Public Administration University: Train aspiring civil servants and improve knowledge in governance, economics, and management.
  • Enable serving bureaucrats to gain domain expertise and advanced managerial skills.
• Deputation to Private Sector: Allow IAS and IPS officers to work in private sector organizations.
  • Promote cross-sectoral learning, enhance expertise, and foster competition.
• Institutionalizing Goal Setting and Tracking: Regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure accountability and progress.
• Utilizing Capacity Building Commission and Mission Karmayogi: Provide mid-career training to officers and lateral entrants for skill enhancement.
  • Focus on modern governance practices, policy implementation, and leadership development.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: India’s journey towards eliminating tuberculosis (TB) by 2025, under the ambitious ‘EndTB’ campaign, has been fraught with challenges and complexities.

• Despite significant strides, the road to achieving the targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) remains steep and winding.

About the Tuberculosis (TB)

• It is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• It spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze or spit.
  • It is the world’s leading infectious disease killer. It is the leading cause of deaths among people with HIV and a major contributor to deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance.
• Treatment: It is preventable and curable with antibiotics.
  • TB Vaccine: The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine remains the only licensed vaccine against TB; it provides moderate protection against severe forms of TB (TB Meningitis) in infants and young children.

Burden of TB in India

• According to the WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, India continues to lead the global TB burden, accounting for 26% of all TB cases and deaths, and remains a hub for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).
• India is followed by Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%), and Pakistan (6.3%).
• Multidrug-Resistant TB: India represents 27% of the world’s multi-drug-resistant TB cases.

‘EndTB’ Strategy of WHO

• It aims for a 90% reduction in TB deaths, an 80% reduction in new cases, and zero TB-affected families facing catastrophic costs by 2030.
• The United Nations SDGs include ending the TB epidemic by 2030 under Goal 3.
  • SDG Target 3.3: It aims to ‘End the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases, and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases by 2030’.

India’s Specific Targets and Performance

• India pledged to achieve these targets on an accelerated timeline by 2025, but the COVID-19 pandemic significantly hampered these efforts.
• There has been a decline of only 18% in TB cases between 2015 and 2023 as against the target of 50% by 2025.
  • TB deaths have declined by 24% as against a target of 75% by 2025.

Towards a TB-Free India

• National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP): It has been at the forefront of an ambitious goal to achieve WHO Targets by the end of 2025, but the COVID-19 pandemic significantly hampered these efforts.
  • It has been implementing the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB Elimination (2017–2025).
• Key Achievements of NTEP:
• Decline in TB Incidence: India has achieved a noteworthy 17.7% decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023, surpassing the global average decline of 8.3%.
• Expanded Diagnostic Reach: In 2023, India conducted approximately 1.89 crore sputum smear tests and 68.3 lakh nucleic acid amplification tests, reflecting the programme’s commitment to expanding access to early diagnosis.
• Shorter Treatment Regimens: The introduction of new, shorter regimens for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) has improved treatment adherence and reduced the burden of prolonged therapy.
  • Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP)
• Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMBA): To provide people with TB with additional nutritional, diagnostic and vocational support.
• Ni-kshay Portal: It has been set up to track the notified TB cases.
  • Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana provides financial support for TB patients by disbursing nearly Rs. 2,781 crores to around 1 crore beneficiaries.
  • Notably, over 1.5 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras have committed to supporting individuals affected by TB.
  • Ni-kshay SAATHI (Family caregiver model) to further enhance patient support systems.
• Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST): To identify drug-resistant strains of TB early and tailor treatment accordingly.
• New Drugs: Bedaquiline and Delamanid for the treatment of drug-resistant TB have been included in the government’s basket of drugs provided free TB patients.

Challenges on the Ground

• Undernutrition and Comorbidities: High-risk groups, such as individuals exposed to factors like silicosis, undernutrition, overcrowding, and comorbidities like diabetes, alcohol use disorders and smoking are particularly vulnerable to TB.
• Migrant Workers: They face additional challenges due to poor access to healthcare and difficulty continuing treatment when moving back to their native places.
• Supply Chain Disruptions: A country-wide break in the supply chain in 2023 led to shortages of key drugs, disrupting treatment and risking antibiotic resistance.
• Diagnostic Delays: Despite efforts to expand diagnostic capabilities, delays in diagnosis remain a significant challenge.
  • While the NTEP’s main focus has been on pulmonary TB, Extrapulmonary TB (EP-TB), which affects organs other than the lungs, accounts for about 24% of notified cases.
  • EP-TB is often missed or diagnosed late due to vague symptoms resembling other diseases.

Way Forward

• Multisectoral Approach: Tackling TB requires a multisectoral approach, addressing not only undernutrition but also other contributory factors in each geography.
• Community Engagement: Successful interventions have shown the importance of community participation and advocacy in achieving TB targets.
  • Successful interventions, such as the collaboration with Kudumbashree, a women’s self-help network in Kerala, have shown the importance of community participation and advocacy in achieving TB targets.
• Continued Political Commitment: The strong political commitment shown by the Government of India, including the reaffirmation of the ‘End TB by 2025’ goal, is crucial for sustained progress.

Conclusion

• India’s journey to ‘EndTB’ is a testament to the country’s commitment to tackling one of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
• While the path is fraught with obstacles, continued efforts, multisectoral action, and community engagement are crucial to achieving the ambitious targets set by the WHO.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: The recent state visit of the Indonesian President to India and his role as the Chief Guest for India’s 76th Republic Day mark the 75th anniversary of India-Indonesia diplomatic relations, covering the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation.

India-Indonesia Relations

• Historical and Cultural Ties:
  • Ancient Connections: Evidence of trade and cultural exchanges between India and Indonesia dates back to the 2nd century BCE.
  • Cultural Influence:
    • The Ramayana and Mahabharata epics have shaped Indonesian folklore, dance, music, and theater.
    • Hindu-Buddhist influences contributed to the rise of the Srivijaya and Majapahit empires, leaving landmarks like Borobudur and Prambanan temples.
  • Trade Links: The Kalingas maintained trade relations with Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Bali, and Burma.
    • Cultural Exchange Programme (2025–2028): Strengthens people-to-people ties.
• Political Relations:
  • Shared colonial experiences, democracy, and pluralism.
  • Indonesia’s President Sukarno was the Guest of Honour for India’s first Republic Day in 1950.
  • Collaborated on Bandung Conference (1955) and Non-Aligned Movement (1961).
  • India’s Act East Policy (2014) complements Indonesia’s Global Maritime Fulcrum Vision.
• Economic Partnership:
  • Indonesia is one of India’s largest trading partners in ASEAN.
  • Bilateral Trade: USD 38.8 billion in April 2022–March 2023.
  • Both nations desired that the 2nd meeting of the Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI), as well as the 4th Biennial Trade Ministers’ Forum (BMTF) be convened to resolve outstanding tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade.
  • Both leaders agreed to the expedited conclusion of the ongoing review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) by 2025.
  • MoU on Local Currency Settlement Systems (LCSS) between the Reserve Bank of India and Bank Indonesia.
• Strategic Partnership: The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed in 2018, aims to enhance cooperation in defense, trade, investment, and maritime security.
  • Key Mechanisms include India–Indonesia Security Dialogue, Consular Dialogue and Policy Planning Dialogue.
  • ‘1st ‘Track 1.5 Dialogue’ at Mumbai in September 2024
  • Both leaders agreed to an early establishment of Bilateral Maritime Dialogue and Cyber Security Dialogue.
• Defense Cooperation: Shared Vision on Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific (2018).
  • Joint exercises:
    • Ex Garuda Shakti (Army) and Ex Samudra Shakti (Navy).
    • Multilateral exercises: Milan, Komodo, Tarang Shakti, and Super Garuda Shield.
    • White Shipping Information Exchange (WSIE) Agreement.
• Food Security: India’s support in Indonesia’s new mid-day meal scheme through the sharing of knowledge and experience
  • India’s commitment to supporting the initiative and invited more Indonesian officials to benefit from the expertise of the Food Corporation of India in managing the Public Distribution System.
• Energy Security: Both sides have shown interest in joint exploration and mining related projects, particularly relating to critical minerals such as nickel, bauxite, silica, tin etc. with a focus on the downstream sectors.
• Nunukan Gas Block Project: India’s Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) plans to invest $121 million in Indonesia’s Nunukan oil and gas block.
  • Indonesia positively welcomes India’s invitation to join the Global Biofuels Alliance.
• Infrastructure and Connectivity: Expanded bilateral Air Services Agreement to enhance trade, tourism, and exchanges.
  • Collaboration under the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).
  • Discussions on QR-based cross-border payments for financial inclusivity.
• Science, Technology, and Space Cooperation: Renewed MoU on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
  • Collaboration on STEM research and the Biak Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Facility agreement between ISRO and Indonesia’s BRIN.
• Climate Change and Disaster Resilience:
  • Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): Indonesia has joined this initiative.
  • Invitations extended to join the International Solar Alliance and International Big Cat Alliance.
  • Strengthened cooperation in disaster management and capacity building.
• Multilateral Cooperation:
  • UN & G20: Advocating for the Global South and South-South cooperation.
  • ASEAN: Strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and implementing the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on the Indo-Pacific.
  • BRICS: India welcomed Indonesia’s membership to strengthen regional cooperation.
  • IORA: Joint efforts on the Blue Economy.

Key Challenges

• Trade Imbalances: Indonesia’s trade surplus with India is driven by its exports of commodities like coal and palm oil.
• Regulatory Hurdles: Streamlining permits, quotas, and non-tariff measures remains a challenge.
• Logistical Constraints: Infrastructure and transportation bottlenecks hinder deeper economic integration.
• Geopolitical Dynamics: Indo-Pacific challenges, including China’s influence, require joint efforts to ensure regional stability.

Conclusion and Way Forward

• India and Indonesia share a robust historical foundation and growing strategic and economic ties. Cooperation in the blue economy, digital technologies, and maritime security presents new opportunities to enhance bilateral relations.
• Addressing trade imbalances, fostering joint ventures, and leveraging cultural ties can help strengthen the partnership, benefitting both nations and contributing to regional peace and prosperity.

General Studies Paper -3

Context: 33 industrial clusters from 16 countries, including five from India, joined the World Economic Forum’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative.

About

• The new Indian clusters include Gopalpur Industrial Park, Kakinada Cluster in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala Green Hydrogen Valley, Mundra Cluster in Gujarat and Mumbai Green Hydrogen Cluster.
• Industrial clusters: They are geographically concentrated areas or hubs where interconnected industries; companies and institutions collaborate to drive economic growth.
  • These are innovative and collaborative business models, within and across clusters, including those harnessing the power of digital technologies.
  • They can advance the deployment of clean-energy infrastructure worldwide.

WEF Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative

• The initiative was first launched at COP26 climate summit in 2021, and developed in collaboration with Accenture and EPRI.
• Aim: Pledging to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while boosting economic growth and job creation.
• Partners: It now comprises 33 clusters in 16 countries and five continents.
  • The 33 signatories together represent potential carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions reductions of 832 million tonnes — approximately the annual emissions of Saudi Arabia.
• Contribution: They also make a direct contribution of USD 492 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) and support 4.3 million jobs.
  • The initiative is also strengthening its network of port-anchored clusters by adding Cluster from Europe; the Ports of Açu and the Cartagena Industrial Cluster in South America; and the port-based Jubail Industrial City, the first member in the Middle East.

Conclusion

• The initiative aims to promote economic growth and employment while striving towards ambitious CO2e emissions reductions.
• By convening leading public and private industrial entities, the initiative prepares them to apply competitively for funding, gain regulatory support, and embark on comprehensive developmental activities that support the transition of industrial clusters.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: The excerpt from “Mission Possible” by Swami Subramanian and Aparajithan Srivathsan presents a visionary roadmap for achieving UHC in India, emphasizing the importance of technology, team-based care, and a strong public health system.

About Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

• It is a global health objective aimed at ensuring that everyone can access essential health services without facing financial hardship. It encompasses the full range of health services, from health promotion and prevention to treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care, and is a critical component of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3).

Key Components of UHC

• Availability: Adequate health services in sufficient quantity.
• Accessibility: Equal access regardless of location or socio-economic status.
• Affordability: Health services without financial strain.
• Quality: High-quality services meeting population needs.

Challenges in Achieving UHC in India

• High Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE): Despite government health expenditure rising to 1.84% of GDP (2021-22), OOPE remains a significant burden for many households.
• Limited Health Insurance Coverage: The ‘missing middle’—a segment of the population without insurance—remains financially vulnerable to medical expenses.
• Resource Constraints: Shortages in financial, clinical, and infrastructural resources, especially in low-income regions, hinder healthcare delivery.
• Rising Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Growing prevalence of NCDs demands a shift toward preventive care and long-term management.
• Public-Private Collaboration: Stronger partnerships are needed to expand healthcare access and improve service delivery.
• Digital Transformation: While promising, implementing digital solutions in healthcare faces challenges like infrastructure gaps and digital literacy.

Key Recommendations

• Leveraging Modern Technology: Technology acts as the “glue” binding a network of healthcare workers, from community health workers to specialists in tertiary hospitals.
  • Integrated health teams using tools like mobile phones and electronic medical records can enhance efficiency and accessibility.
• Strengthening the Public Health System: The Bhore Committee report (1946) laid the foundation for India’s public health system with its three-tier model integrating preventive and curative care.
  • Improving public health as the primary provider of promotive, preventive, and curative services, reducing health expenditure while ensuring quality.
  • Integration of private healthcare with the national system can improve access and outcomes.
• Creating an Integrated Health System: The Public Health Foundation of India recommends:
  • Universal Health Insurance to protect against financial hardship.
  • Establishing autonomous organizations for evidence-based healthcare practices.
  • Training appropriately skilled healthcare workers.
  • Decentralizing and coordinating health governance.
  • Legislating health entitlement for all Indians.
• Community Health Worker Teams: Community health workers can perform 75% of a doctor’s duties, enabling local access to healthcare.
  • Each worker would serve a population of 40,000, supported by a 75-bed district hospital for tertiary care.
  • Training MBBS and MSc biotech students in community medicine for three months would prepare them for grassroots healthcare.
• Indian Medical Service (IMS): Proposal for creating an Indian Medical Service (IMS) similar to the IAS, with advanced certification (MD) holders managing state-level healthcare.
  • This would improve governance and ensure professional management of public health systems.
• Role of Private and Specialty Care:
  • Private medical centers and foundations should coexist with public healthcare to expand quality care.
  • Examples from South India’s ophthalmology institutions demonstrate the success of a pyramidal four-tier model, where local eyecare workers connect with world-class research centers using advanced technologies for diagnosis and treatment.
• Road to UHC: Aadhaar-like identification systems for healthcare delivery.
  • World-class medical facilities in each state (e.g., AIIMS, Delhi; NIMS, Hyderabad).

General Studies Paper -2

Context: The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti recently released the Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024, prepared by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). This comprehensive report sheds light on the state of India’s groundwater resources, their quality, usage trends, and challenges, while emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable management practices.

Key Findings of the Report

• Groundwater Quality Trends:
  • Positive Indicators:
  • 81% of groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation.
  • 100% of groundwater samples in North-Eastern states were rated as excellent for agriculture.
• Contamination Concerns:
  • Regions show contamination by nitrates, fluoride, and arsenic, posing health risks.
• Seasonal Trends:
  • Post-monsoon recharge improves groundwater quality in many regions.
• Agricultural Suitability:
  • Favorable levels of Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) enhance irrigation potential.
  • However, high sodium content in some regions could lead to soil degradation, necessitating targeted interventions.

Challenges to Groundwater Sustainability

• Over-Extraction: India is the world’s largest extractor of groundwater, accounting for 25% of global withdrawals.
  • 256 out of 700 districts are classified as critical or overexploited.
• Agricultural Dependency: Unsustainable agricultural practices contribute significantly to groundwater depletion, with traditional crops demanding excessive water.
• Projected Water Crisis: By 2030, 21 Indian cities are expected to exhaust their groundwater reserves.
• Climate Change: Erratic monsoons, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and population growth exacerbate groundwater stress.
• Policy Gaps: Inefficiencies in implementation and lack of stringent regulations continue to hinder groundwater management.

Government Initiatives to Address the Crisis

1. Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY): Focuses on water-stressed Gram Panchayats in 80 districts across seven states.

• Emphasizes community-led water management, including:
• Water budgeting.
• Rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge.
• Encouraging water-efficient cropping patterns.

2. Rainwater Harvesting: Promoted through various state-level programs and urban regulations.

• Examples:
• Rooftop harvesting in Tamil Nadu.
• Large-scale recharge structures in Gujarat.

3. Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain (5th Phase): Encourages rainwater harvesting and water conservation in both rural and urban districts.
4. Participatory Groundwater Management (PGWM): Encourages local governance, collaboration between communities, and NGOs to monitor and conserve groundwater.
5. Technological Innovations: Adoption of GIS, remote sensing, and AI for mapping and predicting groundwater availability.

• Partnerships with ISRO for aquifer mapping and resource planning.

6. Community-Led Success Stories:

• Rajasthan: NGOs like Tarun Bharat Sangh revived rivers and aquifers through traditional water harvesting techniques such as johads.
• Maharashtra’s Pani Foundation: Mobilized villages to adopt watershed management, significantly improving groundwater levels.
• Gujarat’s Jyotirgram Yojana: Separated electricity feeders for agriculture and domestic use, incentivizing judicious groundwater utilization.

Other Significant Programs

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Expands irrigation coverage with a focus on water-use efficiency.
  • Includes components like Har Khet Ko Pani and watershed development.
• Mission Amrit Sarovar: Aims to create or rejuvenate 75 waterbodies per district to enhance rainwater harvesting.
• National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM): Completed for over 25 lakh sq. km, aiding in recharge and conservation planning.
• Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE): Promotes improved water use efficiency across sectors, including irrigation, power generation, and domestic water supply.

Key Recommendations for Groundwater Revival

• Strengthening Policies and Regulations: Introduce stringent laws to prevent over-extraction.
  • Ensure accountability in policy implementation at the local level.
• Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Encourage micro-irrigation, drip systems, and crop diversification to reduce water demand.
• Scaling Up Successful Models: Expand initiatives like Atal Bhujal Yojana and PGWM nationwide.
• Technology-Driven Solutions: Invest in advanced technologies like AI and GIS for real-time monitoring and predictive planning.
• Public Awareness and Behavioral Change: Raise awareness about groundwater conservation through education and community participation.
• Climate-Resilient Water Management: Develop contingency plans for regions vulnerable to erratic rainfall and droughts.

Conclusion

India’s dependence on groundwater necessitates a holistic approach that integrates policy reforms, technological innovation, and community-led efforts. While initiatives like ABY, rainwater harvesting, and aquifer mapping are steps in the right direction, challenges such as over-extraction, policy gaps, and climate variability require urgent attention. By fostering collective responsibility and embracing sustainable practices, India can ensure water security for its 1.4 billion citizens and preserve this critical resource for future generations.

General Studies Paper -1

Context: The National Tribal Health Conclave 2025 was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

About Tribal communities

• Tribal communities have rich traditions, cultures, and heritage, with unique lifestyles and customs.
• Tribes often live in geographical isolation and are more homogeneous and self-contained compared to non-tribal communities.

Status In India

• Tribes in India are considered to be one of the oldest ethnological groups, often referred to as “Adivasis” (original inhabitants).
• The term “Adivasi” is recognized internationally, with the International Labour Organization classifying them as “indigenous.”
• India has the second largest tribal population in the world, with nearly 100 million tribal people (Adivasis).
• As per the Census 2011, the tribal population constitutes about 8.9% of the total population in India.
• Settlement: Northeastern States are home to tribes with distinct ethnicity, and they are generally more isolated from mainstream society.
• More than 80% of India’s tribes live in the Central and Southern Regions:; these tribes have greater interaction with non-tribal communities compared to northeastern tribes.

Government Initiatives for Tribal Development:

• The Government of India has launched several initiatives to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities.
• TRIFED : TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited)  was established in 1987 under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to support tribal communities.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY) aims to provide basic infrastructure in villages with a significant tribal population.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), launched in 2023, to improve the socio-economic conditions of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
• National Tribal Health Conclave : It is organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW).
• It is part of the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan aimed at improving the health and well-being of India’s tribal communities.
• National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eradicate sickle cell anemia by 2047.
• Bhagwan Birsa Munda Chair of Tribal Health and Haematology established at AIIMS Delhi for research on tribal health.
• Constitutional Provisions for Tribals: The Indian Constitution includes special provisions for the protection of tribal communities, their culture, and development.
• Funds are allocated to states under Article 275(1) of the Constitution to promote tribal welfare and development.

Challenges:

• Indian tribal communities face several challenges, including preserving their cultural heritage, addressing economic and social disparities, and protecting their rights and resources.
• Many tribes face poverty, limited access to education, healthcare, and unemployment.
• Discrimination, lack of representation in decision-making, and loss of traditional knowledge further exacerbate their vulnerabilities.

Conclusion and Way Forward

• Tribal areas are largely underdeveloped and home to a significant portion of India’s population.
• To promote their well-being, it is essential to respect and understand their cultural heritage, recognize their traditional knowledge and practices, and involve them in decisions regarding their lands and resources.
• Government policies and initiatives are crucial for addressing these challenges and preserving their unique cultural identity.
• And a comprehensive plan is needed to enhance healthcare delivery in tribal regions, addressing their unique challenges.