Debates have risen in the context of Universal Health coverage and how it can be made feasible to implement ‘Health for All’ in a developing country like India.

What is Universal Health Coverage?

As per WHO, Universal health coverage (UHC) is the goal of ensuring that everyone has access to quality health services without financial hardship. UHC is based on the principles of equity, non-discrimination, and the right to health. 

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UHC includes

• Access: Everyone has access to the full range of health services, including health promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. 
• Equity: UHC ensures that the most marginalized populations are reached and covered. 
• Financial protection: UHC ensures that health services do not lead to financial hardship. 

Constitutional Provisions

• Right to Health an integral part of right to life which is fundamental for all human beings under Article 21 of the Constitution. 
• Article 47 of the Directive Principles of the Constitution states that the state is responsible for improving public health, raising nutrition levels, and improving the standard of living.

Current Status

•  India has a mixed health system with both public and private sectors. The public sector provides healthcare services, but the private sector dominates in terms of service delivery and expenditure.
• Spending: India spends around 2.1% of GDP on healthcare (2023), below the WHO-recommended 5%. A significant portion of this is out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses.

Health Sector Overview in India

• Health Infrastructure: 1 government doctor per 1,511 people (WHO recommendation: 1:1,000).
• Public vs. Private: Private sector dominates healthcare, catering to nearly 70% of patients.
• Insurance Penetration: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) covers over 500 million people but leaves gaps for informal workers and urban poor.

Healthcare Statistics in India

• Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE): Accounts for 55-60% of total health spending, pushing ~55 million people into poverty annually.
• Life Expectancy: 69.6 years (Global average: 73 years).
• Infant Mortality Rate: 27 per 1,000 live births (2022), better than many developing nations but lags behind global benchmarks.

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Troubles faced in Healthcare Sector

• Access to Healthcare:
  • Approximately 70% of healthcare is financed through OOP expenditures, leading to financial hardship for many families.
• Insurance Coverage:
  • Only about 25% of the population is covered by health insurance, with significant disparities between urban and rural areas.
• Healthcare Workforce:
  • Shortage of healthcare professionals, with a doctor-to-population ratio of about 1:1,500, compared to the WHO recommendation of 1:1,000.

Challenges in Achieving UHC

• Access and Equity: Urban-rural divide and regional disparities.
  • 70% of healthcare infrastructure is concentrated in urban areas, whereas 65% of India’s population resides in rural areas.
• Skewed Workforce: Shortages of doctors, nurses, and paramedics in underserved areas.
  • 2.06 nurses per 1,000 population, short of the WHO recommendation of 3 per 1,000.
• Financial Protection: High OOPE due to low penetration of health insurance.
  • Only 41% of the population is covered under any form of health insurance (NFHS-5).
• Quality of Care: Gaps in clinical care quality in public and private sectors.
  • Less than 10% of private hospitals in India are accredited by NABH, indicating quality inconsistency.
• Governance Issues: Inefficient use of funds, corruption, and lack of accountability.

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Interlinkage between Poverty and Health in Society 

• Health and Poverty: Poor health traps families in cycles of poverty due to high OOPE.
• Health and Society: Poor healthcare access increases inequality and social unrest.
• Health and OOPE: Financial hardships due to OOPE reduce spending on education, food, and housing, perpetuating poverty.

Government Initiatives for supporting UHC

• National Health Policy 2017
• National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
• National Urban Health Mission (NUHM)
• Launched four mission mode projects
• • PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)
  • Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres (ABHWCs)
  • Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)
  • National Digital Health Mission (NDHM)

Way Forward for Healthy India

• Integrated Approach: Combine public health campaigns with education and nutrition initiatives like PM POSHAN.
• Increase in the government’s health expenditure: To make universal healthcare accessible and affordable, the public health expenditure of the Centre and states together should be increased in a progressive manner to reach 2.5% of GDP by 2025, as per Economic Survey 2022-23.
  • WHO-recommended 5% of GDP.
• Focus on Preventive Care: Reduce disease burden through immunization, clean water, and sanitation.
• Global Cooperation: Share best practices, and collaborate on pandemic preparedness. 
• Accountability Mechanisms: Use technology for fund tracking and public grievance redressal.
• Strengthen Public Systems: Build rural health infrastructure, hire more workforce.
• Promote Insurance: Expand PM-JAY coverage, including informal workers.
• Regulate Private Sector: Cap treatment costs and ensure quality standards.
• Digital Health: Leverage telemedicine and health tech for remote areas.
• Rejuvenate UHC as part of India’s commitment towards achieving SDGs by 2030.
  • UHC is included in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 3.8.
• Participate in WHO Collaborations like the UHC 2030 Partnership.

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Conclusion

• By addressing systemic gaps and drawing from successful models, UHC can transform India’s health landscape while contributing to social equity and economic growth. 
• Strengthening institutional capacity of the Indian Health system and fiscal devolution to the health sector will make UHC a reality in India. This will help us reap the demographic dividend of the Indian populace.

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Recently, the Minister of Cooperation informed the Lok Sabha about the Yuva Sahakar Scheme.

About Yuva Sahakar Scheme

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Implementing Agency: National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Ministry of Cooperation
• Aim: To promote the formation of new cooperative societies and encourage innovative ideas from young entrepreneurs.

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Key Features

• Loan Tenure: The loan provided under the scheme is a long-term loan (up to 5 years) and as an incentive.
• Interest Subvention: NCDC provides 2% interest subvention on its applicable rate of interest on term loan for the project activities
• Subsidy Integration:  Loans can be combined with subsidies available under other GOI schemes.
• Incentivisation: Provides more incentives to the cooperatives working in the North-Eastern region and the aspirational districts.
• Funding: The scheme will be linked to Rs 1000 crore ‘Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund (CSIF)’ created by the NCDC.
• • The funding for the project will be up to 80% of the project cost for these special categories as against 70% for others.

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Members of the Lingayat Panchamasali community staged demonstrations during a protest over reservation for their  inclusion in the 2A category of Other Backward Classes (OBC).

About Lingayat

• The Lingayats (officially classified as Hindu sub-caste ‘Veerashaiva Lingayats’) are followers of Basavanna, a 12th century philosopher-saint.
• Lingayat community consists of various sub-castes, with the agriculturalist Panchamasalis being the largest.
  • Panchamasalis make up nearly 70% of the Lingayat population and approximately 14% of Karnataka’s total population.
• The Lingayats are strict monotheists.
• Lingayats believed that there is no rebirth and on death, devotees reunite with Shiva never coming back to the World.

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About Basavana

• He was a Hindu Shaivite social reformer during the reign of the Kalyani Chalukya/Kalachuri dynasty
• He was founder of Lingayatism.
• In Kalyana,  Kalachurya king Bijjala (1157-1167, AD) appointed Basaveshwara as a karanika (Accountant) in the initial stage, in his court and later as the Prime minister.
• Main Teachings:
  • His spiritual discipline was based on the principles of Arivu (true knowledge), Achara (right conduct), and Anubhava (divine experience) 
  • Advocates a holistic approach to Lingangayoga (union with the divine).
  • Comprehensive discipline encompasses bhakti (devotion), jnana (knowledge), and kriya (action) in a well-balanced manner.
  • He believed in a society free of the caste system, with equal opportunity for all and preached about manual hard work.
• Founded the Anubhava Mantapa: It was a common forum for all to discuss the prevailing problems of socio, economic and political strata including religious and spiritual principles along with personal problems.
  • It was the first and foremost Parliament of India where Sharanas (citizens of welfare society) sat together and discussed the socialistic principles of a Democratic set up.

Basaveshwara gave two more very important socio-economic principles

• Kayaka (Divine work): Every individual in society should take up the job of his choice and perform it with all sincerity.
• Dasoha (Equal distribution):  Equal income for equal work
  • Worker (Kayakajeevi) may lead his day-to-day life by his hard-earned income, but he should not preserve the money or property for tomorrow. He must utilize the surplus money for society and the poor.

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The National Panchayat Awards Conferment Ceremony 2024, organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, will take place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

• 45 Panchayats were awarded with National Panchayat Awards 2024 for their contributions to sustainable and inclusive development in rural India

About National Panchayat Awards 2024

Launched by:  Ministry of Panchayati Raj 

• Objective: To assess the performance of Panchayats in attainment of SDGs, Promotion of competitive spirit among them etc.

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• Significance: They are In alignment with 9 Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) themes aggregating 17 SDGs.
  • 9 LSDGs themes include Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods, Healthy Panchayat, Child-Friendly, Water-Sufficient, Clean and Green, Self-Sufficient Infrastructure, Socially Just and Socially Secured, Good Governance , Women-Friendly. 
• Award has been conferred under the following categories:
  • Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP): This  award is for top-3 ranking GPs/Equivalent bodies for their outstanding performance under each of the above mentioned 9 award themes.
  • Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar: It  is for top 3 Gram, Block and District Panchayats each for their aggregate performance under all the 9 award themes of DDUPSVP.
  • Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Awarded to the top 3 GPs for their significant contributions to adopting and utilizing renewable energy sources.
  • Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Given to the top 3 GPs for their efforts in achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
  • Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar: Awarded to the top 3 institutions that have provided exemplary institutional support to Panchayats in achieving the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).

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A recent disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo in December 2024 has claimed over 400 lives.

The disease is yet to be classified, raising concerns it might be “Disease X.”

What is Disease X?

• Disease X is a hypothetical term introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018.
• It refers to an unknown pathogen capable of causing a global epidemic or pandemic.
• Origin: The term gained relevance after the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which revealed gaps in epidemic preparedness.
  • This disease embodies both “known unknowns” (threats we are aware of but don’t fully understand) and “unknown unknowns” (threats we aren’t aware of). 

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Causes of Disease X

• Pathogen Types: Could be a virus, bacteria, parasite, fungi, prion, or other organisms.
• Zoonotic Spillover:
  • Most emerging diseases (70%) originate from animals, often due to:
    • Deforestation
    • Human encroachment on wildlife habitats
    • Agricultural intensification
• Other Risks: Antimicrobial resistance, lab leaks, bioterrorism, and climate change affecting disease dynamics.

Challenges in Predicting Disease X

• Unpredictable Factors: Emergence depends on various factors, including zoonotic diseases, pathogen mutations, and deliberate biological threats.
• Climate Change Impact: Alters disease transmission patterns and forces pathogens to adapt to new hosts or environments.
• Limited Knowledge: Only a fraction of potential human-infecting viruses have been identified.
• Technological Advances: Tools like genomic sequencing and artificial intelligence help narrow possibilities but cannot predict Disease X’s exact origin or timing.

India’s Preparedness for Disease X

India is in need of better preparation for disease X therefore it  must focus on key areas such as 

• strengthening disease surveillance systems
• enhancing healthcare infrastructure
• expanding vaccination coverage
• and improving sanitation practices.

International cooperation will also play a major role in effective response during emergence of new disease. So, India should strengthen its ties with other countries to take collective step. 

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Way forward

• Strengthening Surveillance: There should be high surveillance so that outbreaks can be detected using advanced tools like genomic sequencing, AI, and real-time data sharing.
• Investing in Healthcare: Focus on improving healthcare infrastructure, especially in low-income countries.
• Prototype Platforms: Organisations like CEPI are developing adaptable platforms to create diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines within 100 days of identifying a new pathogen.

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India was the first country to make Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mandatory under the Companies Act, 2013.

More on the news

• Between 2014 and 2023, companies spent ₹1.84 lakh crore under CSR..

What is CSR?

• CSR refers to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• It is a practice where companies contribute to social, economic, and environmental welfare alongside making profits.
• CSR in India
  • Companies are required to spend a minimum of 2% of their net profit on CSR activities under the Companies Act, 2013.
  • From 2014 to 2023, a total of ₹1.84 lakh crore has been spent on CSR.
• Applicability:
  • CSR provisions apply to companies with:
    • Net worth over Rs 500 crore

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• • • Turnover over Rs 1,000 crore
    • Net profit over Rs 5 crore
• Components
  • Social Responsibility: Supporting employees, communities, and society.
  • Environmental Responsibility: Reducing environmental harm and promoting sustainability.
  • Economic Responsibility: Ensuring fair business practices while contributing to economic growth.
• Benefits of CSR
  • Improved Reputation: Builds a positive brand image and loyalty.
  • Employee Engagement: Boosts morale, productivity, and retention.
  • Customer Trust: Strengthens trust and loyalty among consumers.
  • Investor Appeal: Attracts socially responsible investors.
• Examples of CSR Initiatives by Indian Corporates
  • Reliance Industries Limited (Reliance Foundation): Through its CSR arm Reliance Foundation, it focuses on rural transformation, education, healthcare, disaster response, sports for development, and arts and culture.
  • Tata Consultancy Services (TCS):  This corporate company invests in education, skill development, employment, and entrepreneurship to bridge the opportunity gap for marginalized groups.
  • ITC (Mission Sunehra Kal); Through this mission, they focus on  sustainable agriculture, water management, and community development.
  • Mahindra & Mahindra: It runs ‘Nanhi Kali’ program that  supports girl child education, alongside initiatives for rural and skill development. 
  • Adani Group: This group runs a sustainable livelihoods program which aims to increase the quality of life in rural areas through various developmental projects. 

Permitted CSR activities under Schedule VII

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Sector-Wise Allocation of CSR Funds

Key recommendation of Injeti Srinivas Committee

• Tax Deductibility: Make CSR expenditure tax-deductible.
• Carry Forward of Unspent Funds: Allow companies to carry forward unspent CSR funds for 3–5 years.
• Alignment with SDGs: Align Schedule VII with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including additional focus areas like sports promotion, senior citizens’ welfare, differently-abled welfare, disaster management, and heritage protection.
• Local vs. National Priorities: Balance local area preferences with national priorities for CSR projects.
• Impact Assessment: Require impact assessment studies for CSR obligations of ₹5 crore or more.
• Registration of Implementation Agencies: Mandate the registration of CSR implementation agencies on the MCA portal.
• CSR Exchange Portal: Develop a portal to connect contributors, beneficiaries, and implementing agencies.
• Social Benefit Bonds: Permit CSR contributions in social benefit bonds.
• Social Impact Companies: Promote the creation and support of social impact companies.
• Third-Party Evaluation: Introduce third-party assessment for major CSR projects.
• Resource Gap Funding: Avoid using CSR funds to fill resource gaps in government schemes and discourage passive contributions to Schedule VII funds.
• Technology-Based Solutions: Encourage CSR spending on innovative, technology-based solutions for social issues.
• Exemption for Small Companies: Exempt companies with CSR obligations below ₹50 lakh from forming a CSR committee.
• Civil Offence for Non-Compliance: Make CSR violations a civil offence, subject to penalty instead of criminal charges.

CSR’s Role in Agriculture

• Focus on Sustainability: Many companies prioritize projects in agriculture under the category of “environment and sustainability”.
  • A recent survey revealed that 23% of companies focus on sustainability initiatives through CSR.
• Impact on Farmers:
  • Over 90.8% of farmers involved in CSR programs reported:
    • Higher incomes.
    • Reduced risks in farming practices.

Challenges in Tracking CSR Contributions to Agriculture

• Limited Reporting Mechanisms:
  • Current systems do not track funds specifically allocated for agriculture-related initiatives.
  • Many CSR activities targeting agricultural sustainability fall under 11 different sectors in Schedule VII of the Companies Act (e.g., gender equality, rural development, environmental sustainability).
  • These sectors include multiple unrelated activities, making it difficult to track agriculture-specific contributions.
• Impact on Sectoral Assessments:
  • Lack of a distinct agricultural category affects transparency and limits the evaluation of CSR’s impact on the agricultural sector.

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Need for Better Reporting and Focus on Agriculture

• Agriculture as a Distinct Sector:
  • Specify agriculture as a separate category in CSR activities to ensure better tracking and allocation of funds.
  • Enhance transparency in reporting and improve targeting of CSR initiatives.
• Addressing Agroecosystem Challenges:
  • Identify sustainability challenges in agriculture (e.g., resource degradation, climate resilience).
  • Direct CSR funds towards priority areas to bring about measurable and meaningful changes.

Conclusion

• Agriculture plays a crucial role in India’s economy and sustainability goals.
• A restructured CSR reporting framework with agriculture as a distinct focus area will help improve the efficacy and transparency of contributions.
• Targeted CSR efforts can strengthen the agricultural sector, ensuring both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

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IIT Madras unveils world’s most detailed 3D images of foetal brain.

Key Highlights Of Foetal Brain Mapping

• Dharini: It is an open-access dataset that includes over 5,000 brain sections and 500+ brain regions.
  • The atlas focuses on the rapid brain growth during the second trimester (14-24 weeks of pregnancy).
  • Indigenous Innovation: The freezing, slicing, imaging, and digitization technologies were developed entirely by IIT-Madras researchers.
• Implications for Neurological Research
  • Understanding Disorders: The data can unravel mysteries of poorly understood developmental disorders such as autism.
    • It offers insights into brain growth and development of the human foetus at the cellular level.
  • Gene-Environment Link: Provides a platform to study how genes and environmental factors influence brain chemistry.

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• Focus on Maternal Health
  • Vulnerabilities During Pregnancy: Brain development is particularly sensitive to maternal nutrition, stress, and infections.
  • Public Health Message: Highlights the urgent need to meet maternal health, educational, nutritional, and environmental requirements for healthy foetal development.
• National Relevance
  • UNICEF reports that India, with 25 million child births each year, accounts for nearly one-fifth of the world’s childbirths. 
  • Many pregnant women in India lack adequate nutrition and healthcare despite government initiatives. 
  • The atlas can support evidence-based policymaking.
• Cross-Disciplinary Applications
  • Artificial Intelligence: A deeper understanding of brain functions may contribute to advancements in AI technology.

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D. Gukesh: World Chess Champion

Context: History was made in the small island of Sentosa as D. Gukesh became the youngest World chess champion ever after defeating Ding Liren of China in the final game of their match.

Key Points

• Gukesh took his points tally to 7.5 points. That was the requirement for a player to win the World title.
• He Broke the record held by the Russian Garry Kasparov for nearly four decades (Garry Kasparov – 22 years)
• Gukesh is only the third Asian to win the World championship, Viswanathan Anand was the first, and Ding the second.

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Format of the World Chess Championship

• The first player between Gukesh and Ding Liren to reach 7.5 points was going to be the winner of the 2024 World Chess Championship.
  • Gukesh secured the requisite 7.5 points as against 6.5 of Liren
• In the case of both players being tied on points after 14 games, tiebreaks will be played the next day to decide the winner.

Vijay Diwas

Context: A delegation from Bangladesh, including muktijoddhas (freedom fighters from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War), is expected to attend the Vijay Diwas celebrations at the Eastern Command headquarters in Kolkata.

About Vijay Diwas

• Vijay Diwas is commemorated on December 16 every year to honor the victory of the Indian armed forces over Pakistan in the 1971 war and to pay tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. 
• The day is also celebrated in Bangladesh as ‘Bijoy Dibos’ or Victory Day, commemorating the nation’s formal independence from Pakistan.

Key Operations Associated With Creation of Bangladesh

• Operation Searchlight: A Pakistani military operation aimed at suppressing the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan, marked by widespread atrocities, including genocide, killings, and rapes.
• Operation Jackpot: India supported the Mukti Bahini (Bangladeshi freedom fighters) with training, resources, and logistical support to aid the liberation movement.
• Operation Trident: A successful Indian Navy operation that attacked the Karachi harbor.
• Battle of Longewala: It was fought at the Indian border post of Longewala, in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan.

Right to Information Award (RTI) Award for Kerala

Context: The National Right to Information Award was presented to Kerala Information Commissioner by the Chief Information Commissioner of India.

• The award was organised by the Pravasi Legal Cell (PLC)
  • It is a registered Non-governmental Organization (NGO) working to empower people with the power of law. 

About RTI Act, 2005

• The RTI Act grants citizens the right to access information held by Public Authorities (PAs). 
• The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions (MoPPG&P) is the nodal agency for its implementation.

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Thailand Introduces E-Visa for Indian Passport Holders

Context: Thailand has announced that Thailand’s e-Visa will be available for Indian passport holders starting January 1, 2025, while the existing 60-day visa exemption for Indian travellers will remain in effect.

About E-Visa System In India

• The E-visa system was introduced by the government in 2014. 
  • It simplifies the visa application process by allowing travelers to apply and receive their visa online without needing to visit an Indian embassy or consulate.
  • It  is non-extendable and non-convertible, meaning it cannot be changed into another visa type or extended beyond its validity period.
• Nodal Ministry:  Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Exclusive Purpose: The e-visa is granted to international travelers for a temporary stay in India.
• Entry: The e-visa is also not meant for land crossings into India
  • Entry through e-visas is allowed only at 31 designated Airports and 5 major seaports in India.
• E-Visa Subcategories: The e-visa is issued under five subcategories: E-Tourist Visa, E-Business Visa, E-Medical Visa, E-Medical Attendant Visa and E-Conference Visa.
• E-visa is Not Available For: 
• • Citizens of Pakistan.
  • Diplomatic/Official Passport Holders.
  • Visiting restricted, protected, or cantonment areas without permission.
  • Individuals who are endorsed on a parent’s or a spouse’s passport i.e. each individual should have a separate passport.
  • Employment, NGO work, or journalism. 
  • Short-term voluntary work (up to one month, unpaid) is permitted.

Study Predicts First Ice-Free Day in the Arctic by 2030

Context: A study published in the journal Nature Communications suggests that the Arctic Ocean may experience its first ice-free day by 2030, or possibly sooner.

About Ice Free Day in the Arctic: It refers to a day when its waters have less than one million square kilometres of sea ice, marking a significant reduction in the region’s ice cover.

Key Findings of the Study

• Factors that can Contribute to Ice-Free Arctic
  • Unusually warm fall, winter, and spring temperatures, along with stormy weather.
  • Impact of Continued Emissions: In 2023, the globally averaged surface concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide reached new highs, according to a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• Possibility of Ice Free Month: The climate model simulations predicted that the ice-free period can last between 11 and 53 days. This means that the Arctic can also witness the first ice-free month.

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Consequences of an Ice-Free Arctic

• Accelerated Climate Change:  Loss of sea ice would increase Arctic temperatures due to the Albedo effect, leading to more extreme weather events.
• Sea Level Rise: The loss of sea ice contributes to rising sea levels. 
• Ecosystem Disruptions: The disappearance of sea ice threatens species such as polar bears, walruses, and arctic foxes as well as human communities dependent on them.

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