Gender Budgeting: Towards Women’s Empowerment and Economic Equality In the Union Budget 2026–27, the share of gender budget allocation in the total Union Budget increased to 9.37%, rising from 8.86% in FY 2025–26. This reflects a stronger policy commitment towards women-centred development and gender-sensitive public expenditure. India’s commitment to gender equality is linked to its ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discriminat
Global Gender Gap Index 2025 & India The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 ranked India 131st out of 148 countries, slipping from 129th position in 2024. While Iceland continued to lead globally, Bangladesh remained the best performer in South Asia at 24th position. The report estimates that global gender parity is still 123 years away. India’s low ranking reflects persistent challenges in economic participation, digital access, health indicators, e
SC Directions to Combat Dowry Practices On December 15, 2025, in State of UP vs. Ajmal Beg, the Supreme Court issued comprehensive directions to tackle the continuing menace of dowry deaths and cruelty. The Court observed that dowry remains widespread and is often disguised as “voluntary gifts.” The Court treated dowry eradication as a constitutional imperative for gender equality. It emphasised that legal enforcement alone is not enough; social educat
Child Marriages in India: A Barrier to Equality and Development The latest Statistical Report of the Sample Registration System, released in September 2025, presents a concerning picture of child marriages in India. The data shows that early marriage remains a major barrier to girls’ education, health, dignity and economic participation. Child marriage affects long-term development because it increases risks of school dropout, early pregnancy, poor maternal health and intergene
Child Rights & Protection Marrakech Global Framework for Action: The 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, held in Marrakech in February 2026, concluded with the adoption of the Marrakech Global Framework for Action. The conference aimed to establish necessary global actions for ending child labour, as the Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7 to end child labour by 2025 remained unmet. The Framework emphasises that child labour cannot be addressed by
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 inadequa
Reduction in India’s Poverty The recent Household Consumption Expenditure Survey and National Statistical Office (NSO) estimates indicate a major reduction in poverty and consumption inequality in India. The data highlights that poverty has fallen steadily over the last decade, with visible gains in both rural and urban areas. The decline is especially significant in poor States and rural regions, where improved consumption levels and better access to welfare schemes, infrastru
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 c
Revised Guidelines on Obesity Diagnosis & Treatment India has updated its obesity diagnosis and treatment guidelines after 15 years. The revision reflects new evidence on fat distribution, metabolic risks and obesity-related health complications, especially among the Asian Indian population. The revised approach moves beyond body weight alone and gives greater importance to abdominal fat, insulin resistance and associated conditions. This is important because Indian populations m
Decline in India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) The SRS Statistical Report 2023 highlights a landmark demographic shift in India. The national Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped to 1.9, which is below the replacement level of 2.1. This indicates that India is moving deeper into a low-fertility phase. The decline reflects better family planning, late marriages, improved women’s education, lower infant mortality and rising career aspirations among women. However, it also
Human Development Report 2025: Widening Inequality The UNDP’s Human Development Report 2025 highlights that India’s HDI rank improved to 130, with an HDI value of 0.685, placing the country in the medium human development category. However, the report also warns that India continues to face deep internal inequalities. The report shows that inequality reduces the real impact of development gains. Despite improvements in national indicators, unequal access to income, educat
JALAJ Livelihood Centres: Merging River Conservation with ‘Arth Ganga’ On January 28, 2026, the Ministry of Jal Shakti inaugurated 25 JALAJ Livelihood Centres across the Ganga basin. The initiative is a collaboration between the Namami Gange Mission and the Wildlife Institute of India. The programme aims to create a symbiotic relationship between river health and community prosperity. It is linked to the Arth Ganga framework, which promotes livelihood generation from rive
Usta Art At the Republic Day Parade 2026, Rajasthan’s tableau titled “Golden Touch of the Desert” prominently featured Usta Art. It is a traditional craft linked with Bikaner, Rajasthan, known for raised gold embossing, floral designs and decorative work. The craft reflects a blend of Persian artistic influence, Mughal patronage and the cultural traditions of Rajasthan. It remains one of India’s important heritage crafts associated with decorative embossing an
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