The Study IAS

Category: Social Issues

  • Karur Stampede and Crowd Management: Lessons for Public Safety in India

    Karur Stampede and Crowd Management: Lessons for Public Safety in India

    The Karur stampede at Vijay’s political rally in Tamil Nadu killed 40 people, including 9 children. This blog examines the causes—overcrowding, lack of crowd control, and inadequate emergency preparedness. It discusses past tragedies such as Hathras (2024) and Elphinstone Road (2017), and highlights NDMA’s crowd management guidelines on risk assessment, technology, and emergency planning. Governance…

  • Drop in Birth Rate and Sex Ratio: Delhi and Patriarchy

    Drop in Birth Rate and Sex Ratio: Delhi and Patriarchy

    Delhi’s 2024 Births and Deaths Report reveals declining fertility and worsening sex ratio. Explore causes, implications, and policy challenges shaping Delhi’s demographic future. Context Delhi’s 2024 Births and Deaths Report presents a worrying picture: both fertility rates and the sex ratio have declined, reversing the progress that had been made in gender balance in the…

  • PHC Doctors – Backbone of Rural Healthcare

    PHC Doctors – Backbone of Rural Healthcare

    Explore the role of Primary Health Centres (PHC) doctors in rural India, challenges of burnout and overload, and reforms needed to achieve Universal Health Coverage under Ayushman Bharat. Introduction India’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) cannot be realised without robust Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and the doctors who form their backbone. Since their inception…

  • Operation Aaghaat: A Crackdown on Organised Crime in Delhi

    Operation Aaghaat: A Crackdown on Organised Crime in Delhi

    Operation Aaghaat was launched by Delhi Police in 2025 to curb organised crime. This blog explains its objectives, methods, implications, India’s rank in the Global Organised Crime Index, links to the Golden Triangle, BNS 2023 provisions, and the way forward. A must-read for UPSC aspirants (GS II & III). Introduction Organised crime is a persistent…

  • Elderly Care in India: Challenges & Support Systems

    Elderly Care in India: Challenges & Support Systems

    India’s elderly population will hit 300M by 2050. Explore challenges in healthcare, pensions, abuse, and policies, and the way forward for robust elderly care. Context: The traditional Indian family structure, often romanticised in the West as a self-sufficient unit for elderly care, is undergoing a seismic shift. India faces a daunting challenge as it prepares…

  • Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure in India

    Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure in India

    Explore why India’s out-of-pocket health spending remains high despite claims of decline, its impact on poverty, and reforms to reduce household burden. Context Healthcare in India has long been characterised by high out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE). Despite official claims that OOPE is declining, ground-level evidence suggests the opposite: households are increasingly bearing the brunt of healthcare…

  • Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)

    Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)

    Learn how the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) compares with NPS and OPS, why uptake is slow, and what it means for central govt. employees in India. The debate around pensions for government employees has always been contentious in India. With the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), the Central Government has sought to balance the assured security…

  • Manki-Munda System and the Challenge of Modern Governance

    Context: A recent protest by the Ho tribe in West Singhbhum, Jharkhand, against the district administration has brought a century-old traditional governance system into conflict with modern state machinery. This incident raises questions about autonomy, reform, and the rights of non-tribal residents. What is the Manki-Munda System? The Manki-Munda system is the traditional, decentralised self-governance…

  • Balancing Waqf with Faith and Law

    Examining Waqf Act 2025, Supreme Court’s interim order, and the balance between religious freedom, accountability, and law. Introduction The Waqf (Amendment) Act of 2025 has triggered intense debate in India. On 15 September 2025, the Supreme Court delivered an interim order addressing several challenges to the new law. The Court suspended some provisions, such as…

  • Himachal Pradesh as ‘Fully Literate State’

    Context: On International Literacy Day, Himachal Pradesh has been declared a ‘Fully Literate State,’ achieving a significant milestone well ahead of schedule.  Why is literacy significant for India’s multidimensional development? Literacy is not merely the ability to read and write; it is the fundamental catalyst for holistic and multidimensional development: Economic Growth: According to the…

  • Infant Mortality in India

    Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023 Context: The recently released Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023 observes that India’s infant mortality rate has declined sharply to 25 per 1,000 live births. Kerala has achieved the lowest, at 5—lower than even the US—highlighting improvements in healthcare access.  What is the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)…

  • Health Governance Challenges in Rural and Slum Areas: Anganwadis as a Powerful Tool for Child Nutrition

    Context: The ongoing crisis in Maharashtra’s Anganwadis over poor-quality nutrition and worker protests highlights how gaps in ICDS delivery threaten food security, child health, and women’s welfare in present times. What is the health status of rural and slum dwellings in India? Health indicators for rural and slum populations reveal persistent gaps compared to urban…

  • Drug Menace in India: Urgent Challenges, Key Drivers, and Responses

    Context: India’s escalating drug crisis has gained urgency with recent busts in Manipur and major seizures across Delhi, Gujarat, and Greater Noida, highlighting its dual role as a consumer and transit hub.  How prominent is the drug menace for India? India faces a growing narcotics crisis, both as a consumer and transit hub. The 2019…

  • Fertility Rate Dips Below Replacement Level

    Context: According to the 2023 Sample Registration System (SRS) report released by the Office of the Registrar General of India, for the first time, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in rural India has dropped to 2.1, the replacement level fertility. Simultaneously, the national TFR has fallen to 1.9, slipping below the replacement level.  What is…

  • RTE Exemption to Minority Institutions Needs Urgent Revision

    RTE Exemption to Minority Institutions Faces Critical Review Context: The Supreme Court’s recent call to reconsider the blanket exemption of minority institutions from the RTE Act has reignited debates on balancing constitutional rights with universal access to education. At a time when India is working towards inclusive growth and bridging learning gaps post-pandemic, this issue…

  • Naegleria fowleri

    Naegleria fowleri

    Brain-eating amoeba is Kerala’s new health emergency Naegleria fowleri: Kerala is currently grappling with a surge in cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but deadly brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.  What is Naegleria fowleri? Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba commonly referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba.” It thrives in warm freshwater…

  • FSSAI’s New Labelling Directive

    Bold labels on food packs to warn of health risk contents Context: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced a significant new directive aimed at transforming the way consumers interact with packaged foods. What is the recent directive of the FSSAI? FSSAI has introduced Front-of-Pack Labelling (FoPL) regulations that mandate bold,…

  • Road Accidents in India: Urgent Causes, Policy Gaps, and Powerful Solutions for Safer Roads

    Road Accidents in India: Critical Causes, Policy Gaps, and Effective Solutions for Safer Mobility Context: India recorded 1,72,900 road accident deaths in 2023, with two-wheeler riders forming 45% of fatalities. Alarmingly, 70% of these victims were not wearing helmets, highlighting poor compliance with basic safety norms. What are the major causes of road accidents in…

  • School Enrolment Decline in 3-11 Age Group: Reveals UDISE+ Report

    School Enrolment Decline in 3-11 Age Group: Reveals UDISE+ Report

    School Enrolment Crisis in 3-11 Age Group: UDISE+ Reports Alarming 25 Lakh Drop Context: India’s latest UDISE+ 2024-25 data reveals a sharp decline of nearly 25 lakh students in the 3–11 age group and an overall fall in school enrolment to its lowest since 2018-19, raising concerns over demographic shifts, migration, and access gaps. At…

  • Neglected Tropical Diseases

    Neglected Tropical Diseases

    Africa constitutes 40% of those affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases in world Context: With Africa accounting for 40% of the global burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), the urgency to address these infections has never been greater. These diseases disproportionately affect the poorest and most marginalised communities, often slipping under the radar of global health…

  • Open Defecation

    Open defecation in low-income countries four times higher than global average: UN report Context: The recent UN report highlights a stark reality: open defecation in low-income countries is four times higher than the global average, posing serious health, environmental, and dignity-related challenges. What is open defecation? Open defecation is the practice of defecating outdoors in…