Education

2020

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, introduced after 34 years, aims to transform the Indian education system to make it equitable, inclusive, and globally competitive.

NEP 2020 in alignment with SDG-4

Free and Universal Education

NEP promotes free primary and secondary education and universal literacy.

Targets universalisation of education with 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by 2030.

Proposes extension of Right to Education up to 18 years.

Elimination of Discrimination in Education (SDG 4.5) – Focuses on inclusion of 2 crore out-of-school children into mainstream education.

Equal Access to Quality Pre-primary Education (SDG 4.2)

Affordable and Quality Vocational Training for Women (SDG 4.3)

Qualified and Trained Teachers (SDG 4.c) – NEP proposes National Professional Standards for Teachers and regular training.

Reorientation and Restructuring of the Indian Education System

School Education Reforms

5+3+3+4 model aligns learning outcomes with cognitive development stages.

National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) ensures universal literacy by Grade 3.

Integration of vocational training from Class 6 bridges the gap between education and employability.

Higher Education Transformation

Vision to create a multidisciplinary and research-driven system with HECIs (Higher Education Commission of India) as a single regulator.

Establishment of National Research Foundation (NRF) to boost innovation.

Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) target of 50% by 2035-aligns with SDG-4’s focus on higher education accessibility.

Technology Integration – Creation of National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) and expansion of DIKSHA platform for digital content.

Focus on Teachers – Teacher education to become integrated and professionalized (B.Ed. as a 4-year degree).

Challenges

Federal Issues as Education is a concurrent subject. Eg- TN opposition to 3 language

Funding Constraints – NEP targets 6% of GDP expenditure on education, but current allocation is around 2.9% (Union Budget 2024-25).

Digital Divide – over 40% rural households lack internet access (NFHS-5).

Limited industry-academia linkage hampers employability outcomes of vocational programs. (only 55% employability)

Learning poverty – Over 70% of Class 3 students cannot read age-appropriate texts (ASER 2025)

Teacher Shortage – Over 9 lakh vacancies (MoE, 2025); only 15% of teachers trained under NISHTHA

Poor Infrastructure in Schools – 35% of schools lack reliable electricity and digital tools (UDISE+, 2021-22).

Way Forward

Establish State Curriculum Frameworks (SCFs) aligned with NEP timelines.

Increase Public Investment: Achieve 6% of GDP target with transparent utilization and outcome monitoring.

Digital Equity: Expand PM eVIDYA, public Wi-Fi, and digital resource centers in rural schools.

Public-Private Partnerships: Leverage CSR, EdTech collaborations, and local institutions for inclusive access.

Teacher Empowerment: Strengthen continuous teacher training and monitoring under PARAKH assessment framework.

If effectively realized, NEP 2020 can transform India from a literacy-focused to a learning and innovation-oriented society, essential for achieving Viksit Bharat @2047.

Answer

Introduction: Briefly define the key concept in the question and set the context with a relevant fact, report or constitutional provision.

Body: Examine the issue across 3–4 dimensions — constitutional, political, administrative and social. Support each point with an example, a committee recommendation or a Supreme Court judgment.

Challenges: Highlight the main gaps or criticisms, with data where possible.

Way forward: Suggest practical, specific reforms drawn from expert committees and best practices.

Conclusion: Close with a balanced, forward-looking statement that links back to the question.

Health

Social Justice › Health

2020

Social development rests on improving human well-being, equity, and inclusivity. Health care is a key determinant of human capital formation and social progress.

Importance of Geriatric Care

India’s elderly (60+ years) population is projected to reach 19.5% by 2050 (UNFPA).

A larger elderly population implies growing dependency ratios and burden on families and social welfare

Healthy and active elderly contribute to knowledge transfer, social cohesion, and community engagement.

Reduces healthcare expenditure through preventive and primary care, enhancing productivity of caregivers.

Healthy ageing aligns with the SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Key Interventions

National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) – dedicated geriatric units in district hospitals.

Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) – integrated senior citizen welfare.

Ayushman Bharat – provides insurance for elderly with chronic diseases.

Importance of Maternal Healthcare

Foundation of Human Development – Maternal health directly influences infant mortality, child nutrition, and family welfare.

Promotes inter-generational well-being, preventing malnutrition and anaemia cycles.

Economic Impact – Reduces healthcare costs, improves labour participation of women,

Healthier mothers mean healthier children and better learning outcomes, strengthening the human capital base.

Key Interventions

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) – incentives for institutional deliveries and nutrition.

POSHAN 2.0 – integration of health and nutrition for pregnant and lactating women.

LaQshya and SUMAN – focus on quality maternal and newborn care.

Challenges in Maternal and Geriatric Healthcare

Shortage of geriatric specialists, gynaecologists, and ASHA workers in rural areas.

Regional Disparities – Maternal mortality in Assam (195) vs. Kerala (19).

Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) remains 40%, pushing poor households into poverty.

Focus remains on curative rather than preventive health.

Social and Cultural Barriers

Patriarchal norms restrict women’s access to healthcare and nutrition.

Elderly often face neglect, isolation, and financial insecurity.

Way Forward

Increase Public Health Expenditure to 2.5% of GDP as per National Health Policy 2017.

Strengthen Home-Based Care Models and palliative services for the elderly.

Decentralize Planning and Monitoring via Panchayati Raj Institutions. (Kerala Model)

Strengthen ASHAs, ANMs, and geriatric caregivers at village level.

Use of telemedicine (eSanjeevani) and digital records for continuum of care.

A life-cycle approach to health is essential to achieve equitable and sustainable development and achieve Viksit Bharat @2047.

Answer

Introduction: Briefly define the key concept in the question and set the context with a relevant fact, report or constitutional provision.

Body: Examine the issue across 3–4 dimensions — constitutional, political, administrative and social. Support each point with an example, a committee recommendation or a Supreme Court judgment.

Challenges: Highlight the main gaps or criticisms, with data where possible.

Way forward: Suggest practical, specific reforms drawn from expert committees and best practices.

Conclusion: Close with a balanced, forward-looking statement that links back to the question.

Poverty

Social Justice › Poverty

2020

As per World Bank, Poverty is a “pronounced deprivation in well-being” which includes low incomes and the inability to acquire basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity.

Incidence (H): The proportion of the population who are multidimensionally poor (i.e., deprived in a set share of weighted indicators).

Intensity (A): The average share of deprivations experienced by the multidimensionally poor.

MPI value (H × A): Combines incidence and intensity, capturing both how many are poor and how deprived they are beyond the income dimension.

Why Incidence and Intensity Matter More than Income Alone

Comprehensive Understanding: Income tells how much money people have, while incidence and intensity show what capabilities they lack.

Reveals Depth of Deprivation: Two people may have the same income, but one may suffer more due to lack of education or sanitation – intensity captures this depth.

Targets Policy Better: Helps governments identify which dimensions (health, education, housing) need priority investment.

Explains Poverty Despite Income Growth: India’s poverty rate has declined (2.35% extreme poverty, World Bank 2024), yet hunger, malnutrition, and illiteracy persist – showing income growth doesn’t equal welfare growth.

Measures Human Development, Not Just Economics: Aligns with Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach – poverty is deprivation of basic freedoms and opportunities, not just low income.

Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Report 2025

Global Poverty Statistics – 1.1 billion (18.3%) people in acute multidimensional poverty. Majority are young, rural, and living in low human development countries

MPI Reduction Trends – Of 88 countries with comparable data, 76 saw a decline in MPI at least once

Multidimensional Poverty in India

Poverty fell from 55.1% (2005-2006) to 16.4% (2019-2021)

About 415 million people exited multidimensional poverty

Poverty and Climate Interlinkages

32 million people displaced by climate-related shocks in 2022

309 million poor people live in regions with three or four overlapping climate hazards

Without strong climate action, extreme poverty could nearly double by 2050

MPI Across Income Levels

64.5% of global poor live in middle-income countries

55.5% in lower-middle-income nations

9% in upper-middle-income nations

Common Global Deprivations

Clean cooking fuel: 970 million deprived

Adequate housing: 878 million deprived

Sanitation: 830 million deprived

Undernutrition: 635 million deprived

Children out of school: 487 million deprived

Limitations of the Global MPI

Data Gaps: Many countries rely on outdated or incomplete household surveys; MPI data lags actual conditions.

Uniform Weights and Indicators: Equal weighting (health, education, living standards) may not reflect local priorities or contexts.

Intra-country Variations: National averages mask disparities between rural-urban areas, genders, and regions.

No Vulnerability Capture: MPI measures current deprivation but not people at risk of falling back into poverty.

Way Forward

Social Determinants Approach: Integration of hunger and poverty with nutrition, sanitation (Swachh Bharat), and clean energy (Ujjwala Yojana).

Adopt data-driven local interventions under Aspirational Districts Programme to target high-burden regions.

Adopt Brazil’s Bolsa Família conditional cash transfer scheme

Poverty is the worst form of violence – Mahatma Gandhi.

A whole of government and whole of society approach is needed to achieve SDG-1

Answer

Introduction: Briefly define the key concept in the question and set the context with a relevant fact, report or constitutional provision.

Body: Examine the issue across 3–4 dimensions — constitutional, political, administrative and social. Support each point with an example, a committee recommendation or a Supreme Court judgment.

Challenges: Highlight the main gaps or criticisms, with data where possible.

Way forward: Suggest practical, specific reforms drawn from expert committees and best practices.

Conclusion: Close with a balanced, forward-looking statement that links back to the question.