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
231 articles in this topic
Articles on Social Issues
India’s Fertility and Birth Rates Continue to Decline
Context The latest Sample Registration Survey (SRS) Statistical Report 2023, released by the Office of the Registrar General of India, points to falling fertility and birth rates, improved survival outcomes, and a rising elderly population. Significance of Sample Registration Survey (SRS) Report 2023 Reliable Vital Statistics: Indicators like Birth rate, Death rate, IMR, MMR, and TFR are essential for tracking population growth, health outcomes, and development goals. For example, decline in TFR
Empowered Women are Foundation of Viksit Bharat
Context PM Modi launched the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, highlighting that “empowered women are the foundation of Viksit Bharat.” About Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited Jeevika Nidhi is a state-level cooperative financial institution established to support women entrepreneurs in Bihar. Objective: To provide timely credit at lower interest rates, reducing dependence on microfinance institutions (MFIs) that charge 18%–24%. Membership: All registered cluster-leve
WHO Released New Reports on Mental Health
Context The World Health Organisation has published two new reports ‘World Mental Health Today’ and ‘Mental Health Atlas 2024.’ Challenges in Psychiatric Healthcare in India Poor Conditions in Psychiatric Hospitals: Often associated with cruelty, neglect, abuse, and substandard living conditions. Reflects systemic neglect and inadequate accountability mechanisms. Scant Funding: Mental health receives extremely low budget allocation, about 1% of the total health budget, with most going to institu
Giving Wings to India’s Youth: A Vision for Viksit Bharat
India possesses a demographic dividend, with over 65% of its population under the age of 35. This latent potential needs to be harnessed and transformed into tangible prosperity.
Harnessing India’s Demographic Dividend
India’s youth is often hailed as the nation’s greatest asset, but this so-called ‘demographic dividend’ could become a liability without relevant skills and may spiral into crisis if systemic issues remain unaddressed.
Results of Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education, 2025
Context The Comprehensive Modular Survey (CMS: Education) conducted under the 80th Round of the National Sample Survey (NSS), April–June 2025, has revealed that households spend nearly nine times more per child in private schools compared to government schools. Reasons for Such a Trend Rural–Urban Divide: Rural households are more dependent on government schools due to affordability, but urban families often choose private schools. Perceived Quality Gap: Parents usually prefer private schools du
Census To Count Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Separately: MoTA
Context The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has written to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, urging that particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) be separately enumerated in the upcoming census. Why the Census Matters? Better Resource Allocation: Helps the government to channel resources effectively for infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
Understanding India’s Internal Diasporas
Context The concept of being a ‘foreigner or videshi’ typically reserved for international migrants, is increasingly used by internal migrants in India to describe their experience of cultural displacement. Defining Diaspora The term ‘diaspora’ has become central in policy and academic discussions after the High-Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora published its report in 2001–02. It has been defined through national borders, and evokes images of overseas communities — Punjabis in Canada, Tami
STEM Education & Students with Disabilities
India has nearly 63 million people with disabilities (NFHS-5), yet their representation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education remains marginal.
Migration is Essential To Globalisation: Amartya Sen
Context Nobel laureate Amartya Sen recently stressed that migration has been a major source of global progress, enabling exchange of knowledge, culture, and values. Way Ahead Humane Inclusive Policies: Recognise migration as a right and opportunity, not a threat. Safeguard voting rights (Amartya Sen’s concern on SIR).
Gender Disparity in Organ Donation in India
Context The National Organ Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has issued a 10-point advisory stating that women patients and relatives of deceased donors awaiting organ transplants will get priority as beneficiaries. Status of Organ Donation Organ Transplantation/ Donation is a surgical procedure in which an organ/s, tissue or a group of cells are removed from one person and surgically transplanted into another person. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 1,30,000 solid or
Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan
In News The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, envisaged as the world’s largest tribal grassroots leadership programme. Core Philosophy Guided by Sewa (Service), Sankalp (Resolve), Samarpan (Dedication). Embodies the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas.” Read More
Shaping the Urban Challenge Fund: Steps to Strengthen Delivery
Nearly one-third of the population in India living in urban areas, with a projection of 40% by 2036 and over 800 million urban population by 2050 presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
How ‘Honour’ Killings in India are Reinforced and Legitimised?
Context In India, caste remains a deeply rooted social structure, and ‘honour’ killings are emerging as a violent yet socially legitimised tool to preserve caste hierarchies, especially against inter-caste unions. About Honour Killings Definition: Honour killings refer to the murder of individuals (mostly young couples) by family or community members for allegedly bringing “dishonour” through relationships that defy caste, community, or gender norms. Geographical Pattern: States like Tamil Nadu,
SC Had Issued a Notice to Centre on a plea for ‘creamy layer’ Within SC, ST Reservation
Context The Supreme Court has decided to examine a petition to introduce a “system”, similar to the creamy layer concept for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in reservation benefits among the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Reservation in India As per existing instructions, reservation is provided to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) at the rate of 15%, 7.5% and 27%, respectively, in case of direct recruitment on an all-India basis by op
Addressing Gender Disparity in Organ Transplantation in India
Recently, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) has issued an advisory that prioritizes women patients and relatives of deceased donors in organ transplant allocations.
CBSE’s Plan For Open-book Exams
In News The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is going to introduce open-book assessments (OBE) in Class 9 from 2026-27, after a pilot study showed strong “teacher support” for the idea. What are open-book exams? It allows students to use approved resources like textbooks, class notes, or other specified material during an assessment, rather than mainly testing memory.
SC Ruling On Stray Dogs
Context Recently, the Supreme Court of India directed the Delhi government and authorities of Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad to capture and relocate stray dogs to shelters, calling the situation ‘grim’. Stray Dog Problem in India India is home to over 60 million stray dogs, accounting for 37% of the global stray dog population. Dog bites occur every 10 seconds in India, totaling over 3 million annually.
First Step to Universal Healthcare: Making Diagnostics Accessible and Cheap
Universal healthcare — the ideal system where every citizen, regardless of income, receives quality medical care — needs to begin by making diagnostics accessible, affordable, and ubiquitous.
Non-communicable Diseases in India
Context Three decades ago, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) were rare in the villages; however, today, low- and middle-income countries confront an NCD burden that has spread from cities to villages. Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) NCDs also known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chro