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Subject: Social Justice

  • Poshan Tracker

    Why in News?

    The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) highlighted the achievements of the Poshan Tracker, India’s real time nutrition monitoring platform under Mission Poshan 2.0.

    What is Poshan Tracker?

    • Mobile based application launched in March 2021.
    • Developed by MoWCD with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD).
    • Digital backbone of POSHAN Abhiyaan.
    • Enables real time monitoring of nutrition, beneficiaries, and Anganwadi services.

    About POSHAN Abhiyaan

    • Launched on 8 March 2018.
    • India’s flagship National Nutrition Mission.
    • In 2021, merged with Anganwadi Services and Scheme for Adolescent Girls under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.

    Key Features

    • Aadhaar based beneficiary authentication.
    • Facial Recognition System (FRS) for service verification.
    • Digital home visit scheduler.
    • Poshan Calculator based on WHO Child Growth Standards.
    • Tracks stunting, wasting, underweight, SAM, MAM, and obesity.
    • Provides ECCE learning content and Poshan Helpline (1515).

    Achievements (May 2026)

    • Covers 28 States and 8 UTs.
    • 8.93 crore beneficiaries registered.
    • 7.7 crore children tracked through Aadhaar authenticated database.
    • 6.3 crore children (0 to 5 years) monitored for growth (about 94% coverage).
    • 5.5 crore beneficiaries received Supplementary Nutrition for at least 15 days.

    Significance

    • Enables evidence based nutrition governance.
    • Reduces leakages and duplicate beneficiaries.
    • Strengthens Anganwadi service delivery.
    • Supports Digital India and Viksit Bharat.

    Prelims Facts

    • POSHAN Abhiyaan: 2018.
    • Poshan Tracker: March 2021.
    • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development.
    • Uses WHO Child Growth Standards.
    • Operates under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.

    [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

  • AISHE 2023-24: India’s Higher Education Enrolment Reaches 4.5 Crore

    Why in News?

    The Ministry of Education has released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2022-23 and 2023-24, showing that India’s higher education enrolment has reached 4.5 crore, reflecting significant improvements in access, gender parity, and participation of socially disadvantaged groups.

    Key Highlights

    • Total higher education enrolment reached 4.5 crore in 2023-24.
    • Enrolment increased by 31.5% from 3.42 crore in 2014-15.
    • Data was collected from 59,533 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
    • Institutional participation in the survey exceeded 90%.

    Gender Parity

    • Gender Parity Index (GPI) stood at 1.08 in 2023-24.
    • Female participation has remained higher than male participation for seven consecutive years.
    • Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): Overall GER: 30, and Female GER: 31.2
    • Female teachers increased to 7.78 lakh, constituting 44.9% of the total teaching workforce.

    Inclusion of Marginalised Communities

    • Scheduled Castes (SC): Enrolment increased by 51.4% since 2014-15. Total enrolment reached 69.72 lakh. GER increased from 18.9 to 27.8.
    • Scheduled Tribes (ST):Enrolment increased by 75.7%. Total enrolment reached 28.83 lakh. GER increased from 13.5 to 22.8.
    • Other Backward Classes (OBC): Enrolment increased by 60.2%. Student strength rose from 1.13 crore to 1.80 crore.

    STEM Education

    • STEM enrolment crossed 1.02 crore students.
    • Female share in STEM increased from 38.4% in 2014-15 to 44% in 2023-24.
    • Total teachers in higher education increased to 17.32 lakh.

    About AISHE

    • All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) was launched in 2011 by the Ministry of Education.
    • It is India’s primary database on higher education.
    • Covers: Universities, Colleges, and Standalone institutions
    • Collects information on: Student enrolment, Teachers, Infrastructure, Courses, Examination results, and Finance
    • Data is self-reported by institutions through an online Data Capture Format (DCF) portal.
    • The Ministry conducts validation and scrutiny, while data accuracy is the responsibility of the participating institutions.

    Key Indicators Used in AISHE

    • Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): Percentage of students enrolled in higher education compared to the total population in the 18 to 23 years age group.
    • Gender Parity Index (GPI): Ratio of female GER to male GER. GPI = 1 indicates equal participation. GPI > 1 indicates higher female participation.

    [2017] What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’?

    [a] Achieving 100% literacy by promoting collaboration between voluntary organizations and government’s education system and local communities.

    [b] Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.

    [c] Strengthening India’s scientific research institutions in order to make India a scientific and technological power.

    [d] Developing human capital by allocating special funds for health care and education of rural and urban poor, and organizing skill development programmes and vocational training for them.

    1. 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

    2. 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

    3. 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.

    4. The concept of Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme is almost a century old in India with early beginnings in Madras Presidency in pre-independent India. The scheme has again been given impetus in most states in the last two decades. Critically examine its twin objectives, latest mandates and success.

    5. The Central Government frequently complains on the poor performance of the State Governments in eradicating suffering of the vulnerable sections of the society. Restructuring of Centrally sponsored schemes across the sectors for ameliorating the cause of vulnerable sections of population aims at providing flexibility to the States in better implementation. Critically evaluate.

    6. 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.

    7. 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.

    8. Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economics?