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Subject: Indian Society

  • [28th August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Play Based Learning for India’s Future

    PYQ Linkage

    [UPSC 2016] Examine the main provisions of the National Child Policy and throw light on the status of its implementation.

    Linkage: The National Child Policy envisions ensuring survival, development, protection, and participation of every child. Initiatives like Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, Aadharshila, and Navchetna operationalise this by transforming Anganwadis into learning hubs and focusing on early stimulation. This reflects concrete implementation of policy goals through structured ECCE and parental involvement.

    Mentor’s Comment

    India’s vision of Viksit Bharat depends on nurturing its youngest citizens. By placing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) at the core of policy, Anganwadi centres are being reimagined as the first classrooms, not just nutrition hubs. This editorial highlights the significance of play-based learning, the reforms underway, and their impact on social, economic, and human capital development.

    Introduction

    Nation-building begins where learning begins, in Anganwadis and playschools where children first explore and imagine. Since 85% of brain development occurs before six, India has prioritised structured, play-based learning. Initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, Aadharshila curriculum, and Navchetna framework mark a decisive shift: education is no longer seen as starting at school, but from birth itself.

    Why in the News?

    Play-based learning has become a national policy priority under the present government. Anganwadi workers are being trained in ECCE, and centres are evolving into early learning hubs. This marks a historic policy turn, shifting focus from higher education to the earliest years of life, where investments yield the highest returns. Evidence shows ECCE can raise IQ levels by up to 19 points and deliver 13–18% returns (Heckman), making it one of the most impactful reforms in recent times.

    Reimagining Anganwadis as Learning Hubs

    1. Anganwadis as First Schools: Transition from nutrition centres to vibrant learning hubs.
    2. Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi: A flagship initiative introducing structured ECCE and play-based learning.
    3. Training of Workers: First-ever systematic training of Anganwadi workers in ECCE methods.
    4. Budgetary Support: Enhanced allocations for teaching-learning materials.
    5. Community Trust: Parents now view Anganwadis as the foundation of their child’s education.

    Scientific Evidence Supporting ECCE

    1. Brain Development: NEP 2020 highlights 85% of brain growth occurs before six years.
    2. CMC Vellore Study: Children exposed to 18–24 months of ECCE gained up to 19 IQ points by age five, and 5–9 points by age nine.
    3. Global Research: Nobel Laureate James Heckman shows 13–18% returns on early childhood investments.

    Ensuring Holistic Development in Early Childhood

    1. Aadharshila Curriculum: National ECCE framework for children aged 3–6 years.
    2. 5+1 Weekly Plan: Balance of free play, structured learning, creativity, motor skills, social interaction, and values.
    3. Focus Beyond Cognitive Skills: Emotional, social, and physical development equally emphasised.
    4. Outdoor Play & Emotional Bonds: Ensuring resilience, socialisation, and value-building.

    Birth-to-Three: The Neglected but Crucial Stage

    1. Navchetna Framework: National framework for Early Childhood Stimulation.
    2. Parental Involvement: Empowering caregivers with play-based activities at home.
    3. Equity Focus: State as equaliser for low-income families lacking resources.

    Play-Based Learning as a Tool for Nation-Building

    1. Human Capital Formation: Better prepared children ensure stronger productivity.
    2. Social Inclusion: ECCE bridges gaps between privileged and underprivileged children.
    3. Nation’s Future: Early learning reduces dropout rates and improves long-term educational outcomes.

    Conclusion

    If India is to realise its vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, it must begin where life begins. By making play a policy, and not merely leisure, India is reshaping its future workforce and citizens. Anganwadis as learning hubs, structured ECCE, and parental engagement are steps that will yield dividends not just in GDP growth, but in nurturing empathetic, curious, and resilient human beings. Play is no longer child’s play, it is nation-building.

    Value Addition

    Anganwadis

    • Scale and Reach: Over 13.9 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) functioning under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), covering nearly every village/urban ward.
    • Holistic Role: Provide nutrition, health check-ups, immunisation, pre-school non-formal education, and referral services — making them the convergence point for child and maternal welfare.
    • Policy Integration: Central to schemes like Poshan Abhiyaan, Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, and the Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0.
    • Early Childhood Development: With Aadharshila curriculum and Navchetna framework, AWCs are being repositioned as first schools ensuring ECCE and holistic growth.
    • Empowerment of Women: Run largely by women workers (anganwadi sevikas), providing local employment, social recognition, and female leadership at the grassroots.
    • Challenges: Issues of infrastructure gaps, irregular honorarium, workload burden, training deficits, and low community awareness remain barriers.
    • Global Alignment: Echoes UNICEF and UNESCO emphasis on early childhood care as foundational to human capital and demographic dividend.

  • Addiction, Not Play

    Introduction

    Online real-money gaming is no longer an innocent form of entertainment. With mechanics borrowed from gambling, variable rewards, high engagement loops, and rapid gratification, these games are engineered to create dependency. For India’s youth, this shift has manifested in addiction, financial losses, academic decline, and severe mental health crises. The government’s ban may seem like a safeguard, but the issue is deeper: India’s children deserve not just a firewall, but also psychological care, awareness, and structured support.

    Online Gaming Addiction as a Pressing Concern

    1. Gambling-like mechanisms: Real-money games mirror casino psychology, using reward loops to sustain engagement.
    2. Rising cases of harm: Children have drained family bank accounts, hidden debts, and even attempted suicide due to gaming stress.
    3. Mental health crisis: Anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among adolescents point to an urgent public health issue.

    The Fallout of Gaming Addiction on Families

    1. Toxic home environments: Addiction leads to secrecy, conflict, and breakdown of trust.
    2. Academic decline: Falling grades and inability to concentrate fuel further parental distress.
    3. Financial stress: Unexpected credit card bills or loans worsen family relations.

    The Limits of Gaming Bans

    1. Immediate relief: Bans reduce household conflicts and financial shocks.
    2. Partial bans & age-gating: Allowing adults while protecting minors can delay addiction onset.
    3. Psychological displacement: Without therapy, children may shift to pornography, substance abuse, or compulsive social media use.

    Towards a Comprehensive Strategy Against Gaming Addiction

    1. School-based interventions: Routine mental health screenings and workshops on digital addiction.
    2. Parental guidance: Training parents to spot early warning signs and encourage healthy digital habits.
    3. Child-friendly counselling: Access to therapy services designed for adolescents.
    4. Awareness campaigns: Multi-stakeholder efforts targeting students, caregivers, and teachers.

    Gaming Addiction as a Behavioural Health Challenge

    1. Beyond discipline: Punishment or restriction alone worsens secrecy and aggression.
    2. Long-term healing: A behavioural approach can repair family rifts and promote healthy tech use.
    3. Balanced future: Children should grow up with resilience, not dependency, in digital spaces.

    Way Forward: Towards a Balanced Approach

    1. Public Health Lens: Treat gaming addiction as a behavioural health issue with school screenings, awareness drives, and accessible counselling.
    2. Smart Regulation: Use age-gating, spending caps, and parental consent instead of blanket bans.
    3. Global Lessons:
      • China: Strict weekly limits → relief but drove youth to unregulated platforms.
      • UK/EU: Regulate loot boxes as gambling → targeted, flexible control.
      • South Korea: Late-night gaming ban + rehab centres → balance of restriction and support.
    4. India’s Path: A middle way combining safeguards with education and digital literacy, avoiding both overregulation and laissez-faire neglect.

    Conclusion

    India’s youth deserve more than prohibitionist measures. A firewall can block access, but not heal emotional wounds. True protection lies in combining thoughtful regulation with robust mental health programmes, counselling, and awareness. Only then can families find balance and children grow with a healthier relationship to technology.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2023] “Child cuddling is now being replaced by mobile phones. Discuss its impact on the socialization of children.”

    Linkage: Online real-money gaming, like mobile phones, is replacing natural child–parent interaction with addictive digital engagement. This weakens socialization, fuels secrecy and conflict within families, and erodes trust. Both highlight how technology-driven dependence disrupts healthy emotional development in children.

  • Census 2027 and Urban Area Definition

    Why in the News?

    The Registrar General of India (RGI) has announced that the same definition of “urban area” used in Census 2011 will be retained in Census 2027 to ensure comparability of data and analysis of urbanisation trends.

    Background and Urbanisation Trends:

    • Census 2011 Data: India’s population was 121 crore – 68.8% rural (83.3 crore) and 31.2% urban (37.7 crore).
    • Trend: Urban share grew from 17.3% in 1951 to 31% in 2011, showing rapid urbanisation.
    • Units: 6,40,867 villages and 15,870 urban units recorded in 2011.

    Definition of Urban Area:

    • Statutory Towns: Include municipal corporations, nagar palikas, town panchayats, cantonment boards, and notified town area committees.
    • Census Town Criteria:
      • Minimum population of 5000;
      • Population Density ≥ 400 persons per sq. km;
      • Workforce: ≥ 75% of male workers in non-agricultural activities.
    • District HQs: Headquarters not legally notified as towns will be Census Towns only if they meet criteria.
    • Exclusions: Plantations and orchards outside statutory towns will not be treated as “forests” under this definition.

    Special Features of Census 2027:

    • Caste Data: For the first time, caste enumeration included (approved April 2024).
    • Worker Classification: Male agricultural workers (cultivators, labourers, livestock, forestry, fishing, hunting, plantations) excluded when calculating non-agricultural engagement.
    • Error Correction: Grouping multiple villages into one Census Town discontinued; identification now at village level.

    Preparatory Work and Timelines:

    • Jurisdiction Updates: All changes in villages/towns/wards updated till 31 December 2025.
    • Boundary Freeze: Administrative boundaries fixed on 1 January 2026.
    • Village Review: Villages with 4,000+ population in 2011 re-examined to meet 5,000 threshold by 2027.
    • Phases:
      • Houselisting & Housing Census (HLO) – April 2026.
      • Population Enumeration (PE) – February 2027.
    [UPSC 2002] Consider the following statements about the megacities of India:

    I. Population of each megacity is more than 5 million.

    II. All the megacities are important sea ports.

    III. Megacities are either national or State capitals.

    Which of these statements are correct?

    (a) I, II and III

    (b) I and II

    (c) II and III

    (d) I and III *

     

  • In news: Kerala’s Muthuvan Tribe

    Why in the News?

    The Muthuvan Adivasi Samudaya Sangam organised a convention on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

    In news: Kerala’s Muthuvan Tribe

    About Muthuvan Tribe:

    • Location: Indigenous tribe recognized as STs of the Anaimalai Hills (Kerala & Tamil Nadu); concentrated in Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur districts.
    • Etymology: Name means “one who carries weight on the back”, linked to migration from Madurai carrying children and the king.
    • Origins: Traced to the Pandya Kingdom; divided into Malayalam Muthuvan and Pandi Muthuvan dialect groups.
    • Settlements: “Kudis” deep in hill forests; houses made from reeds, leaves, mud.
    • Population: Around 15,000–25,000; among Kerala’s least educated tribes.
    • Governance: Kani System (village headman) and Chavadis (dormitory for unmarried youth).

    Distinct Features:

    • Language: Tamil-related dialect; endangered; preservation efforts underway.
    • Livelihood: Traditionally shifting cultivation (“Virippukrishi”); now grow cardamom, ginger, pepper, lemongrass.
    • Religion: Animism & spirit worship; reverence for Subramanya, Hindu deities, and Kannagi tradition.
    • Customs: Matrilineal descent, tribe endogamy & clan exogamy; collective eating (“koodithinnuthu”); herbal medicine knowledge kept within tribe.
    • Culture: Distinct attire; strong ecological ethics, harmonious forest–wildlife coexistence.
    • Festivals: Thai Pongal is main religious & harvest festival.
    [UPSC 2014] Which one of the following statements is not correct about Scheduled Tribes in India?

    (a) There is no definition of the Scheduled Tribe in the Constitution of India. (b) North-East India accounts for a little over half of the country’s tribal population. (c) The people known as Todas live in the Nilgiri area. (d) Lotha is a language spoken in Nagaland

     

  • Government approves MERITE Scheme 

    Why in the News?

    The Union Cabinet has approved the Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) Scheme for implementation in 275 technical institutions across India.

    About MERITE Scheme:

    • Objective: Enhance quality, equity, and governance in technical education across all States and Union Territories, aligned with National Education Policy 2020.
    • Funding: Central Sector Scheme with ₹4,200 crore outlay (2025–26 to 2029–30), including ₹2,100 crore as World Bank loan.
    • Beneficiaries: About 7.5 lakh students; aims to boost institutional capacity in technical education.
    • Collaborations: Works with Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management, All India Council for Technical Education, and National Board of Accreditation for implementation support.

    Key Features:

    • Institutional Coverage: Includes National Institutes of Technology, State Engineering Colleges, Polytechnics, and Affiliating Technical Universities.
    • Fund Transfer: Direct funding from a Central Nodal Agency to institutions.
    • Academic Focus: Multidisciplinary programs, updated curriculum, faculty training.
    • Gender Inclusion: Special programs for women faculty and reducing gender disparity.
    • Skill Alignment: Launch of labour market-oriented courses and blended learning models.
    [UPSC 2018] With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements:

    1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.

    3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Options: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only* (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

  • Age Cap for Surrogacy in India

    Why in the News?

    The Supreme Court of India has reserved its judgment (i.e. final decision is pending) in a set of petitions challenging the age-related eligibility criteria under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.

    These cases involve couples who had initiated the surrogacy process prior to the enactment of the law on January 25, 2022, but are now disqualified due to the new age limits.

    About the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

    • Objective: To regulate surrogacy in India, prohibit commercial surrogacy, and promote ethical, altruistic surrogacy based on medical necessity.
    • Scope:

    Key Provisions:

    • Type Permitted: Only altruistic surrogacy (unpaid surrogate mother) is allowed; commercial surrogacy is banned.
    • Eligibility Criteria for Intending Couples:
      • Legally married for at least 5 years.
      • Woman must be 23–50 years of age; man must be 26–55 years.
      • Must not have any living biological, adopted, or surrogate child.
    • Eligibility for Single Women:
      • Only widows or divorcees between 35–45 years are eligible.
      • Unmarried women are not eligible (currently under challenge).
    • Surrogate Mother Criteria:
      • Must be a close relative, married, and have at least one biological child.
      • Age: 25–35 years.
    • Certification Requirement: A Certificate of Essentiality is required, including:
      • Proof of infertility
      • Court order for parentage and custody
      • Insurance for the surrogate mother
    • Penalties: Commercial surrogacy invites imprisonment (up to 10 years) and fines (up to ₹10 lakh).
    • Regulatory Structure:
      • National Surrogacy Board at the central level.
      • State Surrogacy Boards at the state level.

    Issues Highlighted by the Supreme Court:

    • No Transitional Provision: The Act lacks a grandfather clause to protect couples who began the surrogacy process (e.g., embryo freezing) before the law came into effect in January 2022.
    • Rigid Age Limits: The court questioned the fairness of disqualifying couples solely on age grounds, especially when natural pregnancies at older ages are not prohibited.
    • Violation of Fundamental Rights: Petitioners argued the age restrictions violate Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 21 (right to reproductive autonomy and personal liberty).
    • Exclusion of Unmarried Women: The law permits only widows or divorcees (35–45 years) to pursue surrogacy, which the court noted may be arbitrary and discriminatory.
    • Law’s Intent vs. Impact: The court stressed that while the law aims to prevent commercial surrogacy, it should not unreasonably prevent genuine intending parents from having children.
    [UPSC 2020] In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for:

    Options: (a) fertilization of egg in vitro by the donor sperm (b) genetic modification of sperm producing cells (c) development of stem cells into functional embryos (d) prevention of mitochondrial diseases in offspring*

     

  • Arrest and unrest: Communal agenda is behind the arrest of nuns for human trafficking

    Why in the News?

    Recently the arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion has sparked widespread political and religious backlash.

    Why are anti-conversion laws controversial in tribal regions?

    • Misuse Against Voluntary Conversions: These laws, intended to curb conversions through force or fraud, are often misused to harass tribal Christians and missionaries involved in voluntary and lawful religious activities. Eg: In Chhattisgarh, two Catholic nuns were arrested for alleged forced conversion, despite the tribal girls and their families confirming it was voluntary.
    • Targeting of Minority Rights: Anti-conversion laws disproportionately affect Christian and Muslim minorities, leading to surveillance, fear, and restricted religious freedom, especially among tribal converts. Eg: Several tribal states like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha have used these laws to criminalise conversions, even when done without coercion.
    • Threat of Delisting ST Converts: There is a growing debate on removing Scheduled Tribe status from tribals who convert to Christianity, threatening their constitutional safeguards and entitlements. Eg: In Chhattisgarh, such debates have intensified, questioning the identity and rights of Christian Adivasis.

    What is the Sarna Religious Code?

    The Sarna religious code is a demand by tribal (Adivasi) communities in India to recognize Sarnaism as a distinct religion in official government records, especially in the Census.

    Key Features:

    • Nature Worship Tradition: Sarna followers worship nature — like sacred groves (called Sarnas), hills, rivers, and the Earth. They follow traditional Adivasi customs, not Hindu, Christian, or Muslim practices.
    • Cultural Assertion and Legal Recognition: Recognizing the Sarna code would safeguard tribal culture, language, and identity, and protect their constitutional and land rights from religious assimilation.

    What constitutional rights to religious freedom are being undermined?

    • Right to Freedom of Religion (Article 25): Citizens have the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate any religion. This is undermined when voluntary conversions are falsely labelled as forced or illegal, especially among tribals and minorities.
    • Right to Personal Liberty (Article 21): The right to make autonomous choices—including choosing one’s religion—is a part of personal liberty. Anti-conversion laws infringe on this by criminalizing voluntary decisions, often without evidence of coercion.
    • Equality Before Law (Article 14): These laws are selectively enforced against Christians and Muslims, leading to discriminatory treatment. This violates the principle of equality and non-discrimination, a core part of India’s secular constitutional framework.

    What are the actual conversions happened in India?

    • Mass Dalit Conversions to Buddhism (1956 and after): Led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, over 5 lakh Dalits converted to Buddhism in 1956 to escape caste-based oppression and reclaim dignity. Eg: Ambedkar’s historic mass conversion in Nagpur triggered a broader movement of religious shift rooted in social reform.
    • Christian Conversions in Tribal Regions: In states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, many tribal communities have converted to Christianity, often due to access to education, healthcare, and social support from missionaries. Eg: The Kandhamal district in Odisha has seen a significant rise in Christian population over decades, leading to communal tensions.
    • ‘Ghar Wapsi’ or Reconversion to Hinduism: Organised by Hindu groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), ‘Ghar Wapsi’ aims to reconvert people who earlier embraced other faiths back to Hinduism. Eg: In Uttar Pradesh (2014), VHP claimed hundreds of Muslims and Christians were brought back to Hinduism through Ghar Wapsi drives, raising ethical and legal concerns.

    Do Conversions Impact Indian Society Negatively?

    • Social Polarisation and Communal Tensions: Conversions whether into or out of a religion often become flashpoints for communal conflict, especially when framed as threats to majority identity. This can disrupt social harmony and lead to violence, as seen in Kandhamal (Odisha, 2008) and other conflict-prone areas.
    • Political Exploitation and Fear-Mongering: Conversion is frequently politicised, used to mobilise vote banks or target minority communities, which undermines democratic values and diverts focus from genuine socio-economic development.
    • Distrust and Fragmentation in Local Communities: Conversions may sometimes lead to social alienation or loss of community ties, especially in tightly-knit rural or tribal areas, where religious identity is deeply linked with cultural belonging.

    Way forward: 

    • Strengthen Constitutional Safeguards: Ensure that anti-conversion laws align with Articles 25-28 of the Constitution by protecting voluntary religious choicewhile penalizing only coercive or fraudulent practices.
    • Promote Interfaith Dialogue and Tribal Autonomy: Encourage community-level engagement and interfaith dialogue, and recognize tribal cultural rights including support for demands like the Sarna religious code to prevent polarization and protect indigenous identities.

    Mains PYQ:

    [UPSC 2024] Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased, to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss.

    Linkage: The arrest of the nuns and the subsequent clarification by the girls’ kin that there was “no forceful conversion” directly touches upon the sensitive issue of interreligious interactions and alleged conversions, which anti-conversion laws are often used to criminalize, especially in the context of interfaith marriages.

  • Five years of National Education Policy (2020)

    Why in the News?

    It has been five years since the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which replaced the 1986 National Policy on Education.

    About the National Education Policy, 2020:

    • Origin: Drafted by a committee chaired by Dr. K. Kasturirangan under the Ministry of Education.
    • 5 Core Pillars: Based on Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability.
    • Vision: Seeks to build a knowledge society by unlocking every learner’s potential.
    • Global Link: Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 (Education for All).

    Key Provisions:

    • [A] School Education:
      • Curriculum Structure: Introduces 5+3+3+4 design (Foundational to Secondary), replacing 10+2.
      • ECCE Focus: Early Childhood Care and Education via Jaadui Pitara kits and play-based learning.
      • Vocational Training: Begins from Grade 6 with internships.
      • Basic Literacy & Numeracy: Achieved through National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy.
      • Language Medium: Emphasis on mother tongue/regional language up to Grade 5.
      • Assessment Reform: Launch of Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) as a national evaluation centre.
    • [B] Higher Education:
      • Four-Year Degree: Multidisciplinary courses with multiple exit points.
      • Credit Bank: Academic Bank of Credit ensures credit mobility across institutions.
      • Research Boost: National Research Foundation supports innovation and research.
      • Single Regulator: Higher Education Commission of India proposed (pending law) to replace multiple bodies.
      • Language Promotion: Establishment of Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation for Indian languages.

    Implementation Initiatives:

    • Foundational Mission: NIPUN Bharat aims to achieve basic literacy and numeracy by Class 3.
    • Unified Credit System: Rollout of Academic Bank of Credit and National Credit Framework.
    • Common Entrance: Common University Entrance Test introduced for fair UG admissions.
    • Early Prep: Vidya Pravesh – a 3-month play-based module for Grade 1 entrants.
    • Tech Education in Regional Languages: Promoted by the All-India Council for Technical Education.
    • Digital Backbone: National Digital Education Architecture launched to support e-learning.
    • SAFAL Assessments: Structured competency-based testing in Grades 3, 5, and 8 by Central Board of Secondary Education.

    Key Achievements:

    • Curriculum and Textbooks: NCERT released new content for Classes 1–8.
    • ECCE Adoption: Early childhood curriculum implemented in several states.
    • Language Expansion: Regional language instruction expanded at foundational levels.
    • Academic Flexibility: Credit-based transfer systems in use via Academic Bank of Credit and National Credit Framework.
    • Global Presence: Indian Institutes such as Indian Institute of Technology (Zanzibar) and Indian Institute of Management (Dubai) now abroad.
    • International Collaboration: Foreign universities invited to set up campuses under new regulations.
    [UPSC 2016] “SWAYAM’, an initiative of the Government of India, aims at

    Options:

    (a) promoting the Self-Help Groups in rural areas

    (b) providing financial and technical assistance to young start-up entrepreneurs

    (c) promoting the education and health of adolescent girls

    (d) providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free*

     

  • National Population Register (NPR)

    Why in the News?

    The Government of India recently clarified in the Lok Sabha that no final decision has been taken regarding the updation of the National Population Register (NPR) during the upcoming Population Census 2027.

    What is the National Population Register (NPR)?

    • Overview: NPR is a register of “usual residents” in India—individuals who have lived in an area for 6 months or intend to stay for the next 6 months.
    • Conducted by: Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI), Ministry of Home Affairs.
    • Legal Basis: Prepared under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and Citizenship Rules, 2003.
    • Mandatory Nature: Registration in NPR is compulsory for all usual residents.
    • Exclusion: Assam is excluded as it has completed the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process.
    • Historical Background:
      • First Created: In 2010 during the House Listing phase of Census 2011.
      • Updated: Again in 2015–16 via door-to-door survey.
      • Database Size: Contains data of around 119 crore residents.
      • Aadhaar Link: Biometric data collection is linked to Aadhaar; however, ration card data collection was dropped in the 2020 plan.
      • Current Status: NPR update plans (2020) are on hold. NPR’s priority has reduced due to Aadhaar’s expanded utility in benefit delivery.
    • Scope and Data Collected:
      • Coverage Levels: Conducted at local, sub-district, district, state, and national levels.
      • Demographic Data: Includes name, age, gender, relationship, marital status, etc.
      • Biometric Data: Sourced via Aadhaar enrolment—fingerprints, iris scan, and photo.

    NPR vs National Register of Citizens (NRC):

    Feature National Population Register (NPR) National Register of Citizens (NRC)
    Purpose Record of all usual residents Register of Indian citizens
    Coverage Includes citizens and non-citizens Only Indian citizens
    Legal Basis Citizenship Act, 1955 & Rules (2003) Citizenship Rules (2003)
    Primary Use Welfare schemes, demographic data Citizenship verification
    Mandatory? Yes Not uniformly across India

     

    [UPSC 2009] Consider the following statements:

    1. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times.

    2. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2*

     

  • State of Food and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025, Report

    Why in the News?

    The 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report highlights alarming levels of child malnutrition and anaemia among women in India.

    About the SOFI Report:

    • Full Name: State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World
    • Published by: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
    • Started in: 1999
    • Purpose: Tracks global hunger, food insecurity, and nutrition. Monitors SDG-2 (Zero Hunger).

    Global Highlights (2025):

    • Hunger Rate: Dropped from 8.5% (2023) to 8.2% (2024)
    • Undernourished People: 735 million globally
    • Double Burden: Undernutrition and obesity rising simultaneously
    • Healthy Diets: Cost rising due to inflation and climate impacts

    India-Specific Findings:

    • Wasting (Under-5): 18.7% – highest globally (21+ million affected)
    • Stunting (Under-5): 37.4 million children
    • Overweight Children: 4.2 million (up from 2.7 mn in 2012)
    • Anaemia in Women (15–49): 53.7% (203 million affected)
    • Undernourished Population: 172 million (12% of population)
    • Unaffordable Healthy Diet: 42.9% can’t afford; cost rose from $2.77 (2017) to $4.07 (2024)
    • Adult Obesity: Doubled in a decade – now 71.4 million
    [UPSC 2016] Which of the following is/are the indicator/ indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report?

    1. Undernourishment             2. Child stunting             3. Child mortality

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    Options (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3* (d) 1 and 3 only