The education system of India faces challenges related to access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability. These needs to be addressed on priority basis for achieving the objectives of the new education policy, intended to make India a knowledge superpower. Elaborate.

India’s new education policy envisages India as a knowledge superpower with enviable research output and mainstreaming of vocational education with higher education. Addressing challenges: Access – Enrolment in primary education is 95% but that in higher education is 25%. Women’s ..

Topics: GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in Various Sectors • GS-II: Social Sector Services Education Human Resources

Discuss the reasons for poor public service delivery in India. Also, suggest ways to make public service delivery more efficient.

Reasons for poor delivery outcomes: Lack of effective monetary mechanisms. Lack of grievance redressal mechanisms. Absence of standardized service delivery protocols. Jurisdictional overlap between implementing agencies. Corruption and misappropriation of funds. Lack of awareness among beneficiaries. Lack of effective citizen ..

Topics: GS-II: Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States • GS-II: Social Sector Services Health • GS-II: Social Sector Services Education Human Resources • GS-II: Important Aspects of Governance Transparency and Accountability Citizen Charters

Among informal sectors, domestic servants are a unique group in India. They are ubiquitous but remains invisible. Highlight the challenges faced by them and factors responsible for these challenges, also suggest remedial measures.

Domestic servant sometimes invariably referred as ‘domestic help’ are people who work in houses, doing works like cleaning, cooking, etc. Ubiquitous – as they are everywhere, even government vacancies are there (e.g. Peons). Invisible – as they are mostly not ..

Topics: GS-I: Poverty and Developmental Issues • GS-II: Mechanisms Laws for Protection of Vulnerable Sections • GS-II: Social Sector Services Education Human Resources

Examine the need of urgent investment in human capital formation for India.

With 54% of population below the age of 25 years, demographic dividend is India’s most critical asset. Human capital formation: Refers to acquisition of skills and increase in productivity of workforce through investment in education and health. Demographic dividend began ..

Topics: GS-I: Social Empowerment Communalism Regionalism Secularism • GS-II: Social Sector Services Education Human Resources

The merit-based actions against some civil society groups are necessary but some opine it as curb on dissent. Analyze.

The Civil society refers to those non-governmental actors that work as non-profit actors for humanitarian causes. They are so well recognized that their participation is extensive in UN & its associated bodies. Impact of actions on civil society: If action ..

Topics: GS-I : Salient Features of Indian Society, Diversity of India • GS-II: Social Sector Services Education Human Resources • GS-II: Important Aspects of Governance Transparency and Accountability Citizen Charters

Discuss the need for setting up of social stock exchange in India. What are the key challenges in their effective implementation?

Social stock exchange (SSE) refers to a stock exchange platform, to enable funding for enterprises with social benefits. An expert panel constituted by the SEBI has recommended allowing non-profit organisations to directly list on Social Stock Exchanges (SSE). Need for ..

Topics: GS-I: Social Empowerment Communalism Regionalism Secularism • GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in Various Sectors • GS-II: Social Sector Services Health • GS-II: Social Sector Services Education Human Resources