Economy
Social Issues
Welcome to the UPSC Study Hub for Social Issues, a critical and often underestimated domain in your civil services preparation. Far from being a mere collection of problems, "Social Issues"
10 articles in this topic
Articles on Social Issues
Economic Survey 2025–26: Social Sector Paradox
In News The Economic Survey 2025–26 flags a social sector paradox in India: strong gains in health outcomes alongside stagnation or uneven progress in education quality and urban capacity. What is the Social Sector Paradox? The social sector paradox describes a scenario where surface-level metrics like enrolment rates or life expectancy rise, but underlying quality, learning outcomes, and service delivery capacities do not keep pace with population growth, economic needs, or urban expansion.
Employment and Social Trends 2026 Report: ILO
Context Recently, the International Labour Organization (ILO) released its latest World Employment and Social Outlook (WESO) Report highlighting persistent inequalities in the global labor market. Key Findings of Report Global Unemployment: The global unemployment rate is projected to remain at 4.9% in 2026, equivalent to 186 million people. However, progress toward decent work has stagnated, with millions still lacking access to quality, secure employment.
Worrying Trends in Economic Inequality in India
Published on: 08 January, 2026 Economic inequality has sharply increased across the world, both between and within countries.
Evolving Dimensions of Poverty in India
Context Economists from the RBI have updated the poverty line established by the Rangarajan Committee in 2014, for 20 major states of India using the latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23. What is a Poverty Line? A poverty line is a threshold level of income or consumption used to determine whether an individual or household is poor.
Unemployment of the Educated Indian
In Context India faces a surge in educated unemployment, with degree holders applying for low-skilled jobs, revealing deep labor market distress and the issue reflects mismatch between education and job market needs. Current Trends Mass overqualification: Degree-holders applying for sanitation and peon roles indicate scarcity of dignified entry-level formal work. Campus placement stress: A substantial share of graduates at elite institutes remain unplaced, reflecting weak high-skill absorption a
Creative Capitalism: Redefining Capitalism with Compassion
The legacy of Ratan Tata, whose first death anniversary falls on October 9, continues to shape the contours of Indian industry and social enterprise through what has come to be known as Creative Capitalism — a philosophy that blends market forces with moral responsibility to uplift the underserved.
Women Leading India’s Economic Transformation Story
In News The Ministry of Labour and Employment has emphasized that Women’s employment rate in India has nearly doubled between 2017-18 to 2023-24. Recent Trend in Women’s Labour Participation As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 the women’s employment rate (WPR) has increased from 22% in 2017-18 to 40.3% in 2023-24, and unemployment dropping from 5.6% to 3.2%. Rural female employment surged by 96%, and urban by 43%.
Changing Landscape of Employment in India
India faces persistent challenges in integrating these graduates into meaningful, stable employment, despite the large talent pool graduated across India every year.
India’s Poverty Decline: A World Bank Analysis
Recently, the World Bank’s released Poverty and Equity Brief on India offers a complex picture of the socio-economic landscape of India, and raises questions about broader economic inequality and the reliability of data in capturing socio-economic trends.
Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) - Economy Notes for UPSC 2025
The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) offers a comprehensive measure of poverty, going beyond income to include deprivations in health, education, and living standards. Learn about its components, calculation, and significance for UPSC exams.