Indian Society
Social Issues
Welcome to the comprehensive study hub for Social Issues, a critical component of the Indian Society syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. This section delves into
219 articles in this topic
Articles on Social Issues
Reforms in Transgender Healthcare in India
Context Tamil Nadu has emerged as a national leader in transgender healthcare, launching inclusive policies and specialized clinics that aim to dismantle long-standing barriers faced by the community. About Transgender Person Issues Related To Health Transgender people are considered a gender minority in India due to their distinct identity, historical marginalization, and systemic exclusion from mainstream social, economic, and political life. According to the Census (2011), over 4.87 lakh indi
Degradation of Social Platforms
Context ‘Enshittification’ is a term increasingly being used to describe how your digital experiences, services, and transactions have become worse over time. What is Enshittification? In 2022, the Canada-born author and activist Cory Doctorow coined the term “enshittification.” It refers to the systematic decline in quality and fairness of digital platforms due to profit-maximizing behaviour by tech companies.
150 Years of Foundation of Arya Samaj
In News The Prime Minister addressed the International Arya Mahasammelan 2025 in New Delhi, praising Arya Samaj’s 150-year legacy in social reform, education, and Vedic thought. About Arya Samaj Swami Dayanand Saraswati, inspired by Vedic teachings, established Arya Samaj with ten principles in 1875 in Bombay, which were finalized in Lahore in 1877. The movements core principles are based on the infallible authority of the Vedas, emphasizing rationality and a return to Vedic values, encapsulate
Workforce Crisis in India’s Healthcare System
Recent strikes by National Health Mission (NHM) staff and ASHA workers across multiple states, including Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Kerala, have highlighted a deep-rooted crisis in India’s public healthcare workforce.
Rising Elderly Population in India
Context Indias senior citizen population is projected to surge to around 230 million by 2036, making up about 15% of the total population. Elderly Population in India The sex ratio among the elderly stands at 1,065 females per 1,000 males, with women accounting for 58% of the elderly population, out of which 54% are widows. Furthermore, the overall dependency ratio is 62 dependents per 100 working-age individuals, highlighting the increasing socio-economic implications of population ageing in In
STEM Brain Drain in India: Beyond Incentives, Towards Ecosystem
Context India has long faced the challenge of brain drain in STEM migration abroad for better research opportunities, which has led to a gap between India’s intellectual potential and the resources available domestically. Brain Drain in India Brain Drain refers to the emigration of highly skilled and educated individuals from one country to another, usually in search of better opportunities. In India engineers, doctors, scientists, IT professionals, and academics move to developed countries like
SC Forms Panel on Transgender Persons
In News The Supreme Court set up a committee under former Justice Asha Menon to formulate an equal opportunity policy for transgender individuals and to suggest measures for inclusive medical care and protection for gender non-conforming and gender-diverse persons. Supreme Court’s Recent Observations SC highlighted systemic barriers in employment, healthcare, education, and public institutions, including the lack of a ‘third gender’ option and the expectation for transgender individuals to conce
Addressing Caste-Based Atrocities in India
Caste-based atrocities, from rural villages to urban institutions, discrimination and violence against SCs and STs, continue to plague India’s social fabric, despite constitutional guarantees of equality and justice.
Civil Registration System (CRS) 2023 Report
Context The Registrar General of India (RGI) released the “Vital Statistics of India Based on the Civil Registration System (CRS)”, highlighting key demographic trends, a decline in births, a marginal rise in deaths, and regional variations in sex ratio at birth and registration levels. Key Findings of the CRS 2023 Report Births Registered: 2.52 crore births were registered in 2023, around 2.32 lakh fewer than in 2022. Overall birth registration stood at 98.4%, indicating near-complete coverage.
India’s Demographic Mission
In the Independence Day Address, 2025, the Prime Minister stated that a high-powered Demographic Mission would be launched to address illegal influx migration to meet Indias developing demographic challenges.
World Mental Health Day
Context On October 10, every year, World Mental Health Day highlights the extent of mental illness in the world. About Global Mental Health Issue (as per WHO): More than a billion people are living with mental health disorders. An estimated 727,000 people across all ages lost their lives to suicide in 2021, with one suicide death happening in over 20 suicide attempts.
India’s Mental Health Crisis
Every year, October 10 marks World Mental Health Day — a reminder of the global burden of mental illness affecting over a billion people.
Reforming Passive Euthanasia in India
Context Despite the legal validity of passive euthanasia, its implementation remains mired in procedural complexity, institutional gaps, and ethical ambiguity. About Euthanasia in India Euthanasia — often termed ‘mercy killing’ — refers to the intentional ending of a person’s life to relieve suffering, usually from terminal illness or irreversible conditions. Passive Euthanasia: Involves withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (e.g., ventilators, feeding tubes) when recovery is medi
WHO Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use
In News The WHO Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 presents estimates of tobacco use prevalence among the population aged 15 years and older from 2000–2024, with trends projected to 2030. India’s Measures To Curb Tobacco Consumption Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003: Prohibits smoking in public places, bans tobacco advertising, restricts sales to minors, regulates packaging and labeling. Prohibition of Electronic Cigaret
Visvesvaraya, Muthulakshmi and Mahalanobis
In Context Recent national commemorations and public discussions have revisited the enduring legacies and highlighted the continued influence of Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, Muthulakshmi Reddy, and Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in 2025. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya He was born on September 15, 1861 and is regarded as one of India’s greatest engineers whose pioneering work revolutionised infrastructure development. He also served as the Diwan of Mysore and president of the All-India Manufacturers’ Orga
Sports as a Unifying Force, Not a Privilege: Supreme Court
Context The Supreme Court, in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) case, recently emphasised that sports are not merely recreational activities but vital institutions of “national life.” Key Observations by Supreme Court of India Fraternity Through Sport: Team sports compel individuals to set aside caste, class, gender, or linguistic distinctions and work collectively towards shared goals. Sports as Community Resources: Sporting facilities and opportunities should be recognised as ‘material
India Expands Medical Education
Context The Union Cabinet has approved the addition of 10,023 medical seats with an investment of Rs. 15,034 crore, as part of the goal to create 75,000 medical seats within the next five years. About The Cabinet approved 5,000 post-graduate and 5,023 undergraduate (MBBS) seats in government colleges and hospitals by 2028-29.
Rising Cancer Burden: Lancet Study
Context An analysis of the ‘Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2023’, published in The Lancet, presents updated estimates of the cancer burden in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, along with projections up to 2050. Global Cancer Burden (2023) New Cancer Diagnoses projected to increase by 60.7%, 30.5 million cases annually by 2050; Cancer deaths are projected to increase by 74.5%, amounting to 18.6 million per year by 2050, with low and middle income countr
India’s Urban Definition is Failing Its Growing Towns
Context India’s next Census in 2027 is set to retain the 2011 definition of “urban,” as announced by the Registrar General of India. How India Defines Urban Areas? In the 2011 Census, an urban unit was defined as either a statutory town or a census town.
Trans People Deserve Better
Transgender individuals in India remain disconnected from policy promises and continue to face systemic neglect, as the lack of inclusive, enforceable, and humane policies results in a persistent denial of dignity.