Vulnerable Sections (Role of NGOs, SHGs, Welfare schemes, Laws, Mechanisms and Bodies)
- Even though non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are an integral part of a nation’s developmental ethos, the State has legitimate interest, legal authority and constitutional duty to curb the activities of those NGOs, which attempt to hamper national development at the behest of the forces inimical to India. Discuss.
- Civil society movements advocate for various causes and bring about change in established systems. How far do you think civil society organisations in India have fulfilled this role?
- “Micro-Finance as an anti-poverty vaccine is aimed at asset creation and income security of the rural poor in India”. Evaluate the role of Self-Help Groups in achieving the twin objectives along with empowering women in rural India.
- Decades after independence reservation policy has failed to achieve its intended objectives. In this context examine the need for sub-categorization of caste-based reservation.
- Considering different policies, plans, and recommendations of committees and commissions, different schemes have been developed from time to time to resolve the problems of vulnerable sections. What are the mechanisms in place to ensure the effective implementation of these schemes?
- Adequate measures are required to overcome the challenges and vulnerabilities associated with undertaking social accountability initiatives and institutionalising them. Elaborate.
- Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are not just engaged in charitable work but also involved in political processes for building a just, peaceful, humane, and sustainable future. Discuss with examples.
- Self-help groups (SHGs) have contributed towards rural development and women empowerment, but their uneven geographical impact and rising loan defaults are serious challenges that need to be addressed. Discuss.
Women
- Women SHGs possess the incredible potential for promoting the growth of not just rural women but boost the complete socio-economic development scenario in rural India. Discuss.
- Clarify whether legislative modernity is enough to tackle the cases of domestic abuses and violence?
- What are the emerging forms of violence against women? Suggest suitable measures to contain this problem.
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) remain critical for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, discuss the impediments in the fulfilment of SRHR in India. Also, mention the steps that can be taken in this regard.
- In view of the prevailing issues, discuss the need for reforming the urban infrastructure and mobility services in India through a gender lens.
- Unsafe abortions are a critical issue affecting the reproductive and maternal health of women in India. Identify the reasons behind the same and suggest remedial measures as well.
- Enumerate the factors driving feminization in agriculture and discuss its effects. Also, state the ways in which women can be empowered in this regard.
- Recent developments have brought to light the issue of criminalizing marital rape in India. Analyse the implications of ensuring legal protection for victims of marital rape in the country.
- To reduce the prevalence of ‘zero food’ children in India, maternal nutrition needs to be made a priority. Comment.
Children
- Despite initiatives to curb child marriage, it continues to persist in India. Explaining the reasons behind this, analyse its impact. What further measures can be taken by the government to eliminate the practice of child marriage in India?
- What started out as a health crisis snowballed into a larger child rights crisis. In this context, discuss the efficacy of the role played by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in upholding child rights.
- In light of various issues being faced, discuss the need for a revamped and need-based PDS in India.
- Though the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme has given much-need attention to gender discrimination, it has failed to yield desired results due to poor implementation and monitoring. Discuss.
- Discuss the different determinants of the occurrence of child labour in India. What measures can be taken to tackle the issue of child labour in the country?
- Education is everyone’s right but is not being provided to many. What is your opinion and tips on this?
PwDS
- Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) experience the impact of disasters disproportionately. Discuss. Also, mention the steps taken by the government to make disaster management more inclusive.
- Discuss the numerous challenges faced by Divyangjans, i.e. Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in India. Also, mention the legislative provisions for Divyangjans and the initiatives taken by the government to uplift this section of the society.
Transgender
- How far do you think that the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 fail to live up to the expectations of progressive Supreme Court judgments over the years in this regard?
- In India, transgender individuals face a range of challenges due to societal stigma, discrimination, and lack of legal recognition. While legal measures are taken, their effective implementation is crucial. Discuss.
Elderly
- Social security of senior citizens is still in its nascent stage. Critically analyse?
- In India, the rate of growth of elderly population in 2011-21 was about three times the rate of growth of the general population. In this context, discuss why policies for the elderly are a crucial aspect for India’s overall development.
Indigenous People
Social Sector/Services
- The deeply embedded economic and social inequality that co-exists with political equality marks a life of contradiction for the marginalised. In this context, discuss the major challenges to effective social security measures in India.
- How far do you think the Aspirational District Programme has been able to achieve its objectives since its inception?
- Integration with the global trends and opening up of the economy has resulted in diversified challenges for the civil services, which require holistic reforms for efficient service delivery. Discuss.
Human Resource and Human Capital
- Despite Consistent experience of high growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive.
- The existing legal provisions related to the prevention of human trafficking were impracticable and punitive in nature. How far the recent law on human trafficking is comprehensive and progressive?
- Recent findings of the national family health survey say that India’s population is stabilizing and the nation does not need a ‘two-child policy’. In light of the above statement critically examine the population stabilisation initiatives in India.
- What do you understand by human capital? Explain how human capital formation contributes to economic growth and development.
Education
- Explain the salient features of National education policy, 2020. Do you think it is effective enough to resolve the long-standing pending issues in the education sector?
- What is social exclusion? Examine the correlation between education and social exclusion.
- Despite initiatives taken by the Indian government to achieve critical goals in the education sector, major interventions are required to tackle learning poverty as well as the persisting inequalities. Discuss.
- While the participation of the private sector in the higher education system of India is a necessity, it creates issues that need careful redress. Discuss.
- Do you agree with the view that the deep-rooted problems in India’s school education system cannot be solved by digital transformation alone?
- One of the most important indicators of the research ecosystem in any country is the quality and quantity of the doctorates it produces. Discuss the issues in this regard in India. To what extent will the new rules on PhD degrees, notified recently by the University Grants Commission (UGC), help in addressing these issues?
- In what ways does the New Education Policy reflect the principles of equity and inclusion?
- Discuss the implications associated with the entry of foreign educational institutions for technical and higher education in India.
Health, Sanitation & Nutrition
- The nutritional status of India has been a matter of long standing public threat. Discuss. Also, suggest measures to overcome the problem of nutritional crisis in India.
- While there is an urgency to focus on all the three levels of healthcare, it is imperative that the government looks towards improving primary healthcare as a public good. Comment.
- The public health system has limitations in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that the private sector can help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives do you suggest?
- The stigma and taboo around mental health issues have led to an unaddressed health crisis. In this context highlight the factors that have contributed to gaps in mental health service and the need for a robust policy.
- Ayushman Bharat is a conscious attempt to holistically address health, encompassing prevention, promotion, and ambulatory care at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Critically evaluate?
- While the Mid-Day Meal scheme was aimed at fulfilling the nutritional needs of students, it is far behind in achieving this objective. Discuss. Also, suggest remedial measures in this context.
- Digital healthcare has the potential to address the perennial issues pertaining to accessibility and affordability of healthcare in India. In this context, discuss the role of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission in putting the country at the cusp of a ‘digital health’ revolution.
Poverty & Hunger
- India produces enough food grains to feed its entire 1.38 billion population but still stands poor in the Global Hunger Index. Critically examine.
- Eradication of hunger depends on the adequacy of policy intervention to curb the menace of hunger and starvation. In this context, discuss the concerns raised by recent reports on the hunger situation in India.
- What are the risks posed by droughts? Identify the risk reduction measures that can be used to combat droughts.
- Examine the impact of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on the effectiveness and transparency of welfare schemes for the vulnerable sections in India.
- What are the social, economic and environmental benefits of diversifying the food basket under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India?
- Poverty entails more than lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods. In this regard, discuss the dynamic nature of poverty existing in India and highlight the measures taken by the Indian government to address the problem.