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Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

Social Welfare: Health, Education, and Inclusion

Social Welfare: Health, Education, and Inclusion Human capital development remains central to the “Second Kartavya”, with focus on health, education, care services and inclusion. The social welfare push aims to strengthen healthcare capacity, support elderly care, promote medical value tourism and improve women’s participation in STEM education. Scheme / Focus Area Details Allied Health Professionals The budget proposes creation of 100,000 Allied Health Professionals over five years along with upgradation of AHP institutions. Care Ecosystem Training will be provided to 1.5 lakh caregivers for geriatric and allied care services. Regional Medical Hubs Five regional medical hubs will be promoted for…

21 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

National Task Force on Students’ Mental Health

National Task Force on Students’ Mental Health On March 24, 2025, the Supreme Court of India constituted a National Task Force (NTF) to address the “disturbing pattern” of student suicides in educational institutions. The Court highlighted the lack of robust legal and institutional frameworks and emphasised the need for a holistic approach to student well-being. The issue is linked to academic pressure, competitive environments, weak counselling systems and inadequate peer support. The NTF aims to examine institutional practices and recommend reforms to reduce pressure-driven environments in schools, colleges and universities. Mandate of the NTF Details Factor Identification Determine the most…

14 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

Global Burden of Disease Study 2023: India’s Health Transitions

Global Burden of Disease Study 2023: India’s Health Transitions Published in The Lancet, the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 reveals a major shift in India’s health profile. The country is witnessing a transition from a disease burden dominated by communicable diseases to one increasingly shaped by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). NCDs now cause nearly two-thirds of global deaths, and India reflects this broader trend. While India has made progress in longevity and child survival, it faces rising risks from heart disease, stroke, diabetes and lifestyle-related illnesses. Key Highlight Details Leading Killers Ischemic heart disease, stroke and diabetes have emerged as…

14 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2025

Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2025 Released by the Ministry of External Affairs in October 2025, this draft Bill seeks to replace the outdated Emigration Act, 1983. It aims to modernize migration governance, enhance the welfare of Indian workers abroad, and curb irregular migration and human trafficking. Key Provision Details Defining Returnees The Bill defines a “returnee” as an Indian national returning after 182 days or more abroad, whether by choice or deportation. This helps in mapping migration patterns and rehabilitating displaced workers. Overseas Mobility and Welfare Council A new apex body will be established to coordinate with the…

12 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0

Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 On 10th March 2026, the Union Cabinet approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) until December 2028. Rebranded as JJM 2.0, the mission shifts focus from mere infrastructure creation to sustainable service delivery and utility-based water governance. The renewed phase emphasizes reliable water supply, long-term maintenance, digital monitoring and stronger village-level accountability to ensure that rural tap-water systems remain functional over time. Aspect Details Digital platform Sujalam Bharat assigns unique IDs to map the water-supply system from source to household tap. Community framework Jal Arpan and Jal Utsav institutionalize formal handovers and annual community-led…

06 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

CBSE ‘Sugar Boards’: Combating Childhood Obesity

CBSE ‘Sugar Boards’: Combating Childhood Obesity and Diabetes On 14th May 2025, the CBSE mandated all affiliated schools to establish ‘Sugar Boards’ to educate students about the hidden dangers of excessive sugar consumption and deceptive food marketing. The initiative focuses on improving food awareness among children and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices at an early age. It also aims to reduce the growing burden of obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases among school-going children. Section Details Implementation and Function Information Display: Boards highlight safe daily sugar limits and the actual sugar content in common snacks like sodas, biscuits and chips. Healthy…

05 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

A Decade of Three Jan Suraksha Schemes

A Decade of Three Jan Suraksha Schemes On 9th May 2025, three flagship social security schemes—PMJJBY, PMSBY, and APY—completed ten years of providing affordable insurance and pension cover to millions of Indians. Scheme Details Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) Purpose: Life insurance for death due to any reason for those aged 18–50. Premium & Benefit: Rs. 436 per annum for a cover of Rs. 2 lakh. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) Purpose: Accidental death and disability cover for individuals aged 18–70. Premium & Benefit: Rs. 20 per annum; provides Rs. 2 lakh for death/full disability and Rs.…

04 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

PM-RAHAT: Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims

PM-RAHAT: Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims PM-RAHAT was launched on February 14, 2026 to provide cashless hospitalisation and ambulance support to road accident victims. The central idea is to ensure that medical treatment begins quickly during the “golden hour”, when timely care can save lives. Road accident victims often face delays because of payment concerns, hospital admission barriers or administrative confusion. PM-RAHAT tries to reduce these delays through a structured digital and funding framework. Aspect Details Treatment limit Cashless treatment up to Rs. 1.5 lakh per victim. Validity Benefits are available up to 7 days from the date of…

03 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

Extension of Jal Jeevan Mission

Extension of Jal Jeevan Mission The Union Cabinet approved the extension of Jal Jeevan Mission until December 2028. The mission continues to focus on providing piped potable water to rural households, but the renewed phase gives greater importance to service reliability, community participation and digital monitoring. The extension marks a shift from only building infrastructure to ensuring that water supply systems function properly over time. This means the programme now focuses not just on tap connections, but also on regular supply, quality, maintenance and village-level accountability. Aspect Details Utility model Moves towards a citizen-centric utility-based approach for rural water service…

02 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

Swachh Shehar Jodi Initiative

Swachh Shehar Jodi Initiative The Swachh Shehar Jodi Initiative, launched on September 27, 2025 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is based on a city-to-city mentorship model. It pairs high-performing Swachh Survekshan cities with weaker-performing cities from the same state. Instead of only issuing guidelines from the Centre, the initiative encourages practical peer learning. Better-performing cities share local solutions, operational models and sanitation practices with cities that need improvement. Aspect Details Mentor-mentee model Around 200 mentor cities guide nearly 200 mentee cities. Waste focus Promotes waste segregation, scientific processing, removal of garbage-vulnerable points and remediation of legacy dumpsites.…

02 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

HPV Vaccination Drive

HPV Vaccination Drive India’s first large-scale Human Papillomavirus vaccination drive was launched on March 14, 2026 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It aims to protect girls from cervical cancer by vaccinating them at an age when prevention is most effective. The drive is significant because HPV infection is a major cause of cervical cancer. By focusing on adolescent girls, the programme strengthens preventive healthcare rather than depending only on treatment after disease appears. Aspect Details Target group Girls aged 9–14 years are the target population. Vaccine Uses CERVAVAC, India’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent HPV vaccine. Development support…

02 April, 2026 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services

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