NEWS:Widen the net :supreme court

GS-2 GOVERNANCE

The Supreme Court has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to broaden the list of acceptable documents for Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, ensuring greater inclusivity and preventing voter disenfranchisement.

• Supreme Court urged ECI to include Aadhaar, EPIC, and ration card for voter identity verification.
• Only 11 documents were previously accepted, excluding widely held ones like Aadhaar.
• 87% of Bihar’s population has Aadhaar, but only 2% have passports, making the original list restrictive.
• Court questioned the ECI’s inconsistency in excluding Aadhaar while accepting caste certificates.
• Past rulings state that onus of proving citizenship cannot fall on already registered voters.
• Court emphasized that voter identity, not citizenship, is the purpose of SIR.
• ECI reminded of its constitutional role under Article 324 to facilitate, not restrict, electoral participation.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Article 324 of the Constitution: Empowers the Election Commission to supervise, direct, and control elections.
• Electoral Roll Revision: Includes regular and special intensive revisions under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
• Aadhaar: A 12-digit unique identity number based on biometric and demographic data, used widely for identity verification but not proof of citizenship.

NEWS:Aiding India’s progress with choice, control and capital

GS-3 ECONOMY

On World Population Day 2025, the article discusses India’s demographic dividend, emphasizing investments in youth empowerment, reproductive autonomy, and female workforce participation as key drivers of sustainable development

• India has the largest youth population (371 million aged 15–29), creating both a challenge and an opportunity.
• Child marriage has declined but still affects 23.3% of girls; teenage pregnancies remain at 7%, with higher rates in some states.
• 36% of Indian adults face unintended pregnancies; 30% have unmet reproductive goals (UNFPA, 2025).
• Projects like Udaan, Advika, and Manzil have demonstrated success in reducing child marriage, early pregnancies, and boosting women’s employment.
• Project Udaan prevented 30,000 child marriages and enabled 15,000 girls to avoid early pregnancies.
• Project Manzil trained 28,000 young women; 16,000 gained dignified employment in skilled professions.

Detailed Insights:

• Youth-focused investments in health, education, and employment can unlock a $1 trillion GDP boost by 2030 (NITI Aayog, World Bank).
• India must uphold the International Conference on Population and Development (1994) promise to ensure informed choices in sexual and reproductive health.
• Structural issues such as gender inequality, social norms, and access barriers still constrain young women’s autonomy.
• Regional disparities in child marriage and adolescent fertility highlight the need for targeted interventions.
• Empowerment requires a multi-sectoral strategy combining education, contraception, mental health, and skill-building.
• Economic empowerment leads to improved negotiation power, delayed marriages, and greater reproductive agency.
• Holistic programmes need rights-based, community-driven approaches backed by conditional incentives and behavioural change.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Reproductive Autonomy: The ability to make informed decisions about reproduction without coercion.
• Demographic Dividend: Economic growth potential from a larger working-age population, if supported by policies.
• Unmet Reproductive Goals: When individuals are unable to have children as per their fertility aspirations, either fewer or more.

NEWS:Centre UNICEF to provide career counselling for Eklavya students

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and UNICEF have launched TALASH, a digital initiative to provide psychometric assessments, career counselling, and life skills training for students in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).

Key Highlights:

• TALASH (Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills, and Self-Esteem Hub) is a digital platform launched by NESTS in collaboration with UNICEF.
• Targets over 1.38 lakh students in 470+ Eklavya schools across India.
• Includes a common aptitude test to generate individual “career cards” suggesting suitable career paths.
• Offers training in life skills like communication, emotional management, and problem-solving.
• A dedicated portal will help educators mentor students in academic and personal development.
• Over 180 teachers trained in 75 EMRS so far; nationwide rollout expected by year-end.
• MoUs signed with Tata Motors and Ex-Navodayan Foundation to provide coaching for IIT-JEE and NEET aspirants from tribal communities.

Detailed Insights:

• NESTS (National Education Society for Tribal Students) administers EMRS schools to ensure quality education for tribal children.
• The TALASH platform fosters self-awareness and informed career decision-making through psychometric tools.
• Integrating career counselling addresses the gap in aspiration-building and future readiness among tribal students.
• Partnership with UNICEF ensures global best practices in student counselling and skill development.
• Coaching tie-ups aim to enhance access to elite professional education for tribal youth, bridging socioeconomic barriers.
• The program also reflects the shift in education policy focus from rote learning to holistic and aptitude-based development, aligned with NEP 2020.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Psychometric Assessment: A standardized testing method to evaluate cognitive abilities, personality traits, and career inclinations.
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are a network of schools in India focused on providing quality education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students.
• Life Skills Education: As per WHO, includes problem-solving, communication, decision-making, and emotional intelligence training.
• Digital Career Card: A personalized report generated from aptitude results to guide students in career planning

NEWS:TB death audits, like maternal mortality model can aid elimination

• India reduced TB mortality from 35 (2015) to 22 per 1,00,000, but daily deaths still range between 800–900.
• TB case fatality rate remains 5–10%, higher for drug-resistant TB.
• Proposal for TB death audits led by district collectors and independent health institutions.
• Tamil Nadu’s TN-KET model achieved a 30% reduction target in TB deaths through triaging and inpatient care.
• Sub-clinical TB accounts for 40–50% of cases, missed in symptom-based screenings.
• X-ray screening with AI and upfront molecular testing are being promoted for early diagnosis.
• Nutritional support shown to reduce secondary household TB cases by 50% in Jharkhand’s RATIONS trial.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Tuberculosis: TB is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs, but can also impact other organs like the kidneys, spine, and brain.
• TB Death Audit: Systematic review of TB-related deaths to identify service gaps and improve response.
• Sub-clinical TB: Infection without symptoms, often missed by conventional screening methods.
• AI-Enabled X-ray Screening: Uses artificial intelligence to detect TB in radiographs, enhancing early diagnosis.
• Molecular Testing (CBNAAT/TrueNat): Detects TB bacteria and drug resistance simultaneously for better treatment planning.
• Nutritional Immunity: Strengthening immune response through adequate nutrition to combat infectious diseases.

MOCK QUESTION

Is population control is necessary for INDIA. State your view and explain