GS-2

AI driven education reform

The Government of India plans to integrate artificial intelligence into the education system through the Bharat EduAI Stack, a Digital Public Infrastructure being developed by Bodhan AI at IIT Madras. The initiative aims to enable personalised learning, multilingual support, teacher assistance, and data-driven governance across all levels of education in line with the National Education Policy 2020. While it has the potential to improve learning outcomes and promote inclusive, scalable education, its success will depend on addressing challenges related to digital access, data privacy, teacher training, and infrastructure.

Urban Challenge Fund

The Union Cabinet has approved the ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund to support market-driven and reform-based urban infrastructure development. The scheme aims to mobilise about ₹4 lakh crore over five years by focusing on cities as growth hubs, urban redevelopment, and improved water and sanitation, with special emphasis on sustainable, resilient, and inclusive development in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

Safeguarding India’s cotton and textile industry during Bangladesh – US trade deal

Emerging global trade arrangements and preferential market access for competing countries pose new challenges to India’s cotton and textile sector through tariff disadvantages and potential trade diversion. To remain competitive, India must strengthen trade engagement with key markets, reduce production and logistics costs, expand man-made fibre and technical textile capacity, promote sustainable and traceable cotton, and diversify export destinations. A coordinated push toward scale, value addition, and policy support will be essential to build a resilient, future-ready textile ecosystem and sustain India’s position in global supply chains.

Strengthening CAR T-Cell Therapy

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have developed a gentler method to recover lab-grown T-cells, a crucial step in CAR T-cell therapy. Using the mild enzyme Accutase instead of harsher alternatives helps improve cell survival and preserve immune function. The approach enhances the reliability and efficiency of immunotherapy production, supports cost reduction, and strengthens India’s efforts to make advanced cancer treatments more affordable and accessible.

National Lung Cancer guidelines

India has released its first nationally developed evidence-based guidelines for lung cancer treatment and palliation to standardise diagnosis, stage-wise treatment, and early integration of palliative care across public and private healthcare systems. The guidelines provide 15 context-specific recommendations tailored to India’s high disease burden, where nearly 70–80% of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages and mortality remains high. By emphasising early detection, molecular testing for personalised therapy, multidisciplinary care, and patient-centric decision-making, the framework aims to improve survival and quality of life. It also supports broader cancer control efforts under Ayushman Bharat and NPCDCS, while promoting indigenous, cost-effective clinical practices suited to India’s resource settings. Overall, the initiative seeks to reduce treatment disparities, strengthen health system capacity, and advance equitable, evidence-based cancer care nationwide.

RBI expands collateral-free credit for Micro and Small Enterprises

The Reserve Bank of India has increased the collateral-free loan limit for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh, with a possible extension up to ₹25 lakh for financially sound units. The measure aims to improve access to formal credit, promote entrepreneurship, and strengthen financial inclusion, particularly for small businesses lacking assets to pledge. Supported by guarantee mechanisms such as the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises and aligned with schemes like the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme, the initiative is expected to boost employment, support business expansion, and enhance the role of the MSME sector in driving inclusive economic growth, while requiring prudent risk management by banks.

RBI’s new framework to safeguard customers from digital fraud

The Reserve Bank of India has proposed a new customer protection framework to compensate individuals up to ₹25,000 for losses arising from small-value digital frauds, reflecting the growing risks in India’s rapidly expanding digital payments ecosystem. Along with revising the existing customer liability norms for unauthorised electronic transactions, the RBI plans to introduce measures such as enhanced authentication for high-risk users and additional safeguards to improve payment security. The central bank has also proposed draft guidelines to curb mis-selling of financial products, harmonise conduct norms for loan recovery agents, and strengthen institutional capacity through initiatives like Mission SAKSHAM for Urban Cooperative Banks. Collectively, these measures aim to enhance consumer trust, improve regulatory oversight, and ensure the safe, inclusive, and resilient growth of the digital financial system.

CERVICAL CANCER AS A RURAL HEALTH CRISIS

Cervical cancer remains a major rural health crisis in India despite being preventable, due to low screening coverage, late diagnosis, weak referral systems, limited access to diagnostic and treatment facilities, and gaps in HPV vaccination. The high burden reflects systemic health inequities rather than medical limitations, underscoring the need for integrated prevention, early detection, and equitable healthcare delivery aligned with global elimination goals.

NIMHANS and Mental health in India

India is strengthening its mental healthcare system with a renewed policy focus on access, equity, and early intervention. The expansion of national institutions like NIMHANS, the rollout of tele-mental health services such as Tele-MANAS, and integration of mental health into primary healthcare reflect a shift toward treating mental health as a core public health priority. These efforts aim to reduce the large treatment gap, address regional disparities, tackle stigma, and build a stronger mental health workforce, especially for vulnerable and underserved populations.

Jal Jeevan Mission: achievements and emerging challenges

The Jal Jeevan Mission has rapidly expanded tap water infrastructure in rural
India, achieving near-universal coverage of household connections. However,
recent assessments show that actual water supply, reliability, and quality lag
behind coverage figures, with many households not receiving regular or safe
water. Issues such as groundwater depletion, weak operation and
maintenance, and water contamination remain key challenges. The focus now
needs to shift from infrastructure creation to ensuring sustainable, reliable, and
community-managed rural drinking water services.

India’s Public Health Spending

India’s public health spending remains persistently low, with total government expenditure hovering around 1.5–2% of GDP, far below the 2.5% target set by the National Health Policy. While States have gradually increased their health allocations, the Union government’s share as a percentage of GDP has declined after a temporary rise during COVID-19. This underinvestment leads to overburdened public hospitals, weak primary healthcare, high out-of-pocket expenses, and regional inequalities. Despite major initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission, inadequate and inconsistent funding continues to limit progress toward universal, affordable, and equitable healthcare in India.

Antimicrobial resistance: causes, consequences and cure

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is being driven largely by the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics. A significant proportion of patients receive antibiotics without confirmed infections, with most prescriptions given empirically rather than based on laboratory diagnosis. This irrational use accelerates the development of drug-resistant microbes.

AMR now threatens the effective treatment of common infections, increases healthcare costs, and makes routine medical procedures riskier. Addressing the crisis requires stronger surveillance, better prescribing practices, improved diagnostics, public awareness, and coordinated national and global efforts under a One Health approach.