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GS Paper: GS2-13.Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 Comes into Force
Why in News?

The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Act, 2025 came into force across India on 1 July 2026, replacing and expanding the rural employment guarantee framework.

What is VB-G RAM G?
- A statutory rural employment guarantee programme aimed at strengthening livelihoods and creating durable rural assets.
- Guarantees 125 days of wage employment annually to eligible rural households, replacing the earlier 100-day guarantee.
- Focuses on Rural livelihood security, Natural resource conservation, Agricultural productivity, Women-led development, and Creation of durable community assets
Key Features
- Statutory guarantee: 125 days of wage employment.
- Minimum daily wage: No notified wage below ₹300.
- National average wage: Increased from ₹298.8 to ₹327.4 per day (over 10% increase).
- Wage hikes of 15 to 25% in States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
- Interim allocation: ₹95,692.31 crore released to States/UTs for implementation.
Objectives
- Enhance rural employment security.
- Promote sustainable livelihood opportunities.
- Strengthen climate-resilient and productive rural assets.
- Improve agricultural productivity through resource conservation.
- Increase women’s participation and economic empowerment.
- Ensure transparent, technology-driven implementation.
Implementation Measures
- Launch of the VB-G RAM G software platform.
- Distribution of Rural Employment Guarantee Cards.
- Digital monitoring and timely wage payments.
- Focus on outcome-based asset creation.
[2021] With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements:
1. All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund Coverage.
2. All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime payment.
3. The government can by a notification specify that an establishment or industry shall pay wages only through its bank account.
Which of the above statement are correct?

[A] 1 and 2 only

[B] 2 and 3 only

[C] 1 and 3 only

[D] 1, 2 and 3
July 2, 2026
Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (Revised Guidelines)
Why in News?

The Union Health Ministry has launched the revised operational guidelines for Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB), upgrading it to Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan with a strengthened 7×7×7 framework, digital monitoring and expanded beneficiary coverage.

What is Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB)?
- Launched in 2018 under the National Health Mission (NHM).
- Aims to reduce anaemia through a life-cycle approach.
- Supports the POSHAN Abhiyaan and Anemia Reduction Strategy.
Key Changes
- 7×7×7 Strategy (Earlier 6×6×6): Added Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies (0 to 6 months) as the 7th beneficiary group.
- New Intervention: Introduces “Eating Right” to promote: Iron-rich diets, Dietary diversity, and Nutrition counselling
- Digital Monitoring: New institutional mechanism for digital tracking and programme monitoring.
- T4 Strategy (Earlier T3): Test, Treat, Talk, and Track (new addition)
- Better Clinical Management: Severe anaemia in pregnant/lactating women: Ferric Carboxymaltose and Iron Sucrose (IV therapy)
- Integrated Digital Ecosystem:
  - JANANI Portal: Pregnant women
  - RBSK Portal: Children
  - U-WIN Portal: Child health records
  - Integrated into a unified AMB Abhiyaan Portal
Causes of Anaemia
- Iron deficiency, Folate deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Worm infestations, Infections, Inherited blood disorders, and Poor dietary diversity
NFHS-5 Highlights
- Children (6 to 59 months): 67.1%
- Women (15 to 49 years): 57%
- Pregnant women: 52.2%
- Adolescent girls (15 to 19 years): 59.1%
Significance
- Early intervention for vulnerable infants.
- Improved diagnosis and follow-up.
- Promotes nutrition-sensitive interventions.
- Strengthens digital health governance.
- Supports reduction in maternal and child morbidity.
[2023] Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy:
1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women.
2. It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of child- birth.
3. It provides for periodic deworming to children and adolescents.
4. It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

[A] Only one

[B] Only two

[C] Only three

[D] All four
June 29, 2026
Identify the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that are related to health. Discuss the success of the actions taken by the Government for achieving the same.

June 22, 2026
Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges.

June 22, 2026
An athlete participates in Olympics for personal triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement.

June 22, 2026
The quality of higher education in India requires major improvements to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign educational institutions would help improve the quality of higher and technical education in the country? Discuss.

June 22, 2026
Public health system has limitations in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that the private sector could help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives would you suggest?

June 22, 2026
Demographic Dividend in India will remain only theoretical unless our manpower becomes more educated, aware, skilled and creative. What measures have been taken by the government to enhance the capacity of our population to be more productive and employable?

June 22, 2026
Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms in the realms of primary education and primary health care. What are your suggestions to improve their status and performance?

June 22, 2026
‘To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of beneficiary segments is to be synchronized with the anticipated outcomes’ Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme.

June 22, 2026