India is facing a growing mental health crisis marked by a high burden of depression, anxiety, addiction, and suicides, with nearly 70–92% treatment gap and a severe shortage of professionals. The Union Budget 2026 has focused on institutional expansion, including a second campus of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, upgradation of regional institutes, and continued support for digital services like Tele MANAS. However, mental health spending remains below 2% of the health budget, and challenges such as stigma, limited community-level services, workforce shortages, and rising youth and digital-age stress persist. Addressing the crisis requires greater funding, community-based care, preventive strategies, and stronger primary healthcare integration to ensure accessible and affordable mental health services for all.
Click to View MoreThe proposal to classify village commons as a distinct land-use category aims to protect vital shared resources covering 15% of India’s land. These commons support livelihoods and biodiversity but face degradation. Legal recognition, stronger local governance, and community participation are crucial for sustainable management and long-term rural resilience.
Click to View MoreThe Economic Survey 2025-26 suggests revisiting the RTI Act to protect policy deliberations through exemptions and possible ministerial veto. Critics argue existing Section 8 safeguards suffice and warn of dilution after the DPDP Act, urging stronger transparency via proactive disclosure and empowered Information Commissions nationwide.
Click to View MoreThe BHARAT SAMPARK initiative aims to connect youth with nation-building by modernizing India Post through IT 2.0 and N-Gen Campus Post Offices. It promotes e-commerce logistics, financial inclusion, and deep-tech adoption like the Tactile Internet, creating participative governance powered by youth for future-ready institutions.
Click to View MoreNITI Aayog’s Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 is a mission-mode push to achieve 100% saturation in 11 indicators across Aspirational Districts and Blocks. Rooted in Antyodaya, it shifts from incremental gains to last-mile delivery, strengthening equity, governance, and inclusive development.
Click to View MoreThe draft IT (Digital Code) Rules, 2026 seek to regulate online obscenity using Cable TV norms, age classification, and access controls. While protecting users, concerns over subjectivity, outdated standards, and privacy risks persist. A balanced approach needs consultations, nuanced regulation, and lessons from the EU’s Digital Services Act.
Click to View MoreA Nature study flags India’s sewage systems as hotspots for antibiotic-resistant superbugs. With a 72% treatment gap, untreated wastewater spreads AMR, endangering public health and the economy. Tackling this demands a One Health approach integrating sanitation upgrades, environmental regulation, and wastewater surveillance.
Click to View MoreThe ECI-hosted IICDEM led to the Delhi Declaration 2026, uniting 42 EMBs around five pillars to counter disinformation and interference. Through ECINET and IIIDEM, India emerges as a global democratic leader, advancing institutional strength, technology, and South-South cooperation.
Click to View MoreThe Supreme Court’s intervention revives the freebies versus welfare debate. Distinguishing constitutional, productive welfare from populist giveaways, the issue highlights fiscal stress and dependency risks. A balanced solution needs legal clarity, stronger fiscal norms, electoral transparency, and informed voters to protect economic prudence and democracy.
Click to View MoreThe CVC, made statutory after the Vineet Narain judgment, supervises the CBI and advises on vigilance. However, advisory powers, no independent investigation wing, limited jurisdiction, and delays weaken effectiveness. Reforms should expand jurisdiction and grant prosecutorial powers, learning from Hong Kong’s ICAC.
Click to View MoreTo counter the rising threat of “digital arrest” cyber extortion scams, the government has formed a high-level inter-departmental committee involving MHA, MeitY, DoT, and RBI. The task force strengthens coordination, leverages I4C and Sanchar Saathi, tackles mule accounts, and pushes legal and international cooperation.
Click to View MoreThe Union Ministry of Education's 'Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Center 2024' aims to regulate India's 'shadow education' system by mandating registration, setting age limits for enrolment, ensuring tutor qualifications, and enforcing fair fee policies. These regulations are a response to rising student suicides, financial exploitation, and the undermining of formal education.
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