India improved its rank to 99 out of 167 nations in the 2025 Sustainable Development Report, yet significant challenges remain in achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Key indicators like the Maternal Mortality Ratio (97 per 100,000) and Under-five Mortality Rate (32 per 1,000) still lag behind the 2030 targets. The article emphasizes a three-pronged approach: providing Universal Health Insurance, strengthening primary health centers, and integrating health education into school curricula. By focusing on preventive care and promoting healthy behaviors among the youth, India can reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases and improve overall life expectancy.
- SDG 3 aims to 'ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages' by 2030.
- India's out-of-pocket health expenditure remains high at 13% of total consumption, exceeding the 7.83% target.
- Health education in schools is identified as a cost-effective measure to prevent diseases and improve long-term health outcomes.
Recent analysis of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (2022-23) suggests that while extreme poverty in India has significantly declined, food deprivation remains a concern. Using the 'thali meal' as a metric, researchers found that a significant portion of the population cannot afford two balanced meals a day, even with PDS subsidies. The article proposes restructuring the Public Distribution System (PDS) by eliminating subsidies for well-off households and expanding them for the bottom 5% to 10% of the population. This targeted approach aims to ensure adequate protein intake through pulses and achieve a more equitable distribution of essential food items across all socio-economic fractiles.
- The World Bank reports that extreme poverty in India (living on less than $2.15/day) fell to 2.3% in 2024.
- Food deprivation is measured by the ability to afford a 'thali meal' consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins.
- The current PDS is criticized for being 'unwieldy and ineffective' as it spreads resources too thinly across all income groups.
National Health Account (NHA) estimates suggest a significant decline in India's Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) from 64% in 2013-14 to 39% in 2021-22. While the government credits policy interventions for this trend, analysts argue the decline might be an artifact of data limitations in the NSS 75th round survey. Alternative data from the CMIE-CPHS suggests that OOPE as a share of household consumption is actually rising. The article calls for a more cautious interpretation of NHA data and the use of multiple survey bases to reflect the true financial burden on households facing skyrocketing medical prices.
- OOPE is the primary source of financing for healthcare in India, often leading to household poverty.
- NHA estimates are based on the NSS 75th round, which some experts find unrealistic compared to other surveys.
- Rising medical prices and hospital utilization rates suggest that healthcare is becoming more expensive, not less.
The Supreme Court stayed several controversial provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which aimed to regulate Muslim religious endowments. The Court halted the requirement that only Muslims practicing for five years can create a waqf and suspended the District Collectors' power to adjudicate property disputes. However, it upheld the removal of 'waqf-by-user' recognition and the capping of non-Muslim members on Waqf Boards. The government argues these amendments ensure transparency and curb corruption, while critics view them as an arbitrary interference in religious autonomy protected under the Constitution.
- The Court stayed Section 3C which authorized District Collectors to decide if a property is waqf.
- Provisions capping non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Council at four were upheld as valid.
- The removal of 'waqf-by-user' recognition was upheld, but existing registered properties remain protected.
The Supreme Court is hearing petitions challenging the validity of 'Freedom of Religion' Acts enacted by ten Indian states. These laws, often called anti-conversion laws, aim to prevent conversions through allurement, fraud, or force. Petitioners argue that these laws are 'virtually anti-conversion' and have a 'chilling effect' on the fundamental right to profess and propagate religion under Article 25. The Court is questioning the definition of 'deceitful' conversion and whether these laws interfere with personal liberty and the right to choose a life partner in inter-faith marriages.
- Ten Indian states have enacted stringent anti-conversion laws, which are being challenged for violating constitutional rights.
- Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion, subject to public order.
- Critics argue that the burden of proof in these laws often lies on the convert, which may be unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court is scrutinizing the introduction of a 'cooling period' for FIRs filed under Section 498A of the IPC (now Section 85 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita). This follows an Allahabad High Court endorsement of a two-month wait before coercive action to prevent misuse of the law. However, critics and legal scholars argue that such 'judicial experimentalism' undermines a victim's right to prompt justice and functional autonomy of criminal justice agencies. The Court is revisiting whether referring domestic disputes to Family Welfare Committees (FWCs) before police action falls outside the statutory framework.
- Section 498A of the IPC (Section 85 of BNS) deals with cruelty by a husband or his relatives against a woman.
- The 'cooling period' concept aims to prevent immediate arrests in potentially frivolous matrimonial disputes but may delay justice for genuine victims.
- The Lalita Kumari judgment established the category of 'preliminary inquiry' before FIR registration in matrimonial disputes.
A UN-mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry, led by Navi Pillay, has concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The report states that Israeli authorities have committed four out of five genocidal acts listed in the 1948 Genocide Convention since October 2023. These acts include killing members of the group and causing serious bodily or mental harm. The commission found that explicit statements by Israeli leaders indicated an intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a group. Israel has categorically rejected the report, calling it "distorted and false" and demanding the abolition of the commission.
- The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry is the first UN-mandated body to conclude that genocide is occurring in Gaza.
- The report identifies four out of five genocidal acts as defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention being committed by Israeli forces.
- The commission cited 'intent to destroy' based on patterns of military action and explicit statements from high-ranking Israeli civilian and military authorities.
In the case of Kiran vs Rajkumar Jivaraj Jain, the Supreme Court quashed a Bombay High Court order that had granted anticipatory bail to an accused in a caste-based crime. The Bench reaffirmed that Section 18 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, creates a specific bar against anticipatory bail for such offences. The court cautioned against conducting 'mini-trials' at the bail stage and emphasized that the bar is constitutionally valid to protect vulnerable communities from intimidation and ensure effective prosecution.
- Section 18 of the SC/ST Act explicitly prohibits the grant of anticipatory bail for offences under the Act.
- The SC ruled that courts must only examine if a 'prima facie' case exists based on the FIR, without deep evidentiary analysis at the bail stage.
- The judgment highlights that electoral retaliation against SC/ST voters is a serious offence that undermines social justice.
In the landmark Sukdeb Saha vs The State of Andhra Pradesh case, the Supreme Court ruled that the right to mental health is an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The case arose from the suicide of a NEET candidate, highlighting the epidemic of student suicides in India. The court issued the 'Saha Guidelines,' requiring educational institutions to proactively develop support systems. This judgment shifts the perspective from viewing suicides as individual failures to recognizing them as outcomes of systemic neglect and 'structural violence,' mandating state responsibility for psychological well-being.
- The SC elevated mental health from a statutory right under the Mental Health Healthcare Act 2017 to a fundamental right under Article 21.
- The 'Saha Guidelines' mandate schools and colleges to establish mental health support systems and district-level monitoring committees.
- The ruling introduces the concept of 'structural violence' to describe how institutional neglect contributes to student suicides.
To become a $30 trillion economy by 2047, India must address the low Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR), which stands at 41.7%, with only 18% in formal employment. The article highlights the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index launched by Uttar Pradesh as a model for district-level tracking of gender parity across five pillars: education, health, livelihood, safety, and infrastructure. Effective gender budgeting requires moving beyond simple allocations to applying a gender lens to every rupee spent. Universal, gender-disaggregated data is essential for creating visible, measurable, and actionable policies across all levels of governance.
- Inclusive growth is impossible if half the population remains invisible in the data driving policy and investment.
- The WEE Index in Uttar Pradesh tracks women's participation across five key economic levers at the district level.
- Gender budgeting should not be confined to specific welfare schemes but applied across all departments like energy and infrastructure.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the 'Anbu Karangal' (Compassionate Hands) programme to support the education of orphaned children or those who have lost one parent. Part of the broader 'Thayumanavar' poverty alleviation initiative, the scheme provides a monthly aid of ₹2,000 to eligible children until they complete their schooling or reach the age of 18. In its first phase, 6,082 children will benefit. The initiative aims to uplift the most marginalized sections of society and ensure that financial constraints do not hinder the education of vulnerable children.
- The 'Anbu Karangal' scheme provides ₹2,000 monthly assistance for the education of orphaned or single-parent children.
- The scheme is a component of the 'Thayumanavar' programme, which focuses on supporting those living in extreme poverty.
- Financial aid continues until the child completes schooling or turns 18 years old.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has introduced the 'Anbukkarangal' initiative to provide comprehensive support to children who have lost their parents. Integrated into the broader 'Thayumanavar' poverty alleviation scheme, the program offers a monthly financial aid of ₹2,000 to eligible children until they complete their school education. The initiative aims to prevent school dropouts and provides additional support for higher education and vocational skill development. This safety net targets children until they reach 18 years of age, ensuring that the loss of parental support does not terminate their educational prospects.
- The initiative provides ₹2,000 monthly aid to children who have lost both parents or a single supporting parent.
- It is a sub-component of the 'Thayumanavar' scheme aimed at aiding those in extreme poverty.
- Beyond financial assistance, the program focuses on ensuring students complete school and transition to higher education.
The expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to include all citizens aged 70 and above faces implementation delays in Tamil Nadu. While the Centre expanded the scheme to provide free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per year regardless of socio-economic status, the State and Union governments differ on beneficiary definitions and funding ratios. Tamil Nadu uses an annual income of ₹1.2 lakh for poverty determination, while the Centre relies on 2011 SECC data. Currently, the State's CMCHIS covers 1.48 crore families, but the Centre only shares the premium for 86.5 lakh families under the integrated scheme.
- The expanded AB PM-JAY provides ₹5 lakh annual coverage for all seniors aged 70+, irrespective of income.
- The standard funding ratio between the Centre and States is 60:40, rising to 90:10 for Himalayan and North-eastern states.
- Tamil Nadu seeks Central contribution for a larger pool of beneficiaries based on state-defined poverty lines.
The Supreme Court is set to deliver a verdict on petitions seeking a stay on the implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Petitioners argue that the Act facilitates a 'creeping acquisition' of Muslim properties and encroaches upon the minority community's right to freedom of religion. They specifically highlight concerns that the Act would invalidate 'unregistered waqf-by-users,' many of which lack formal deeds. The government defends the legislation as a necessary measure to counter rampant encroachment on public and private properties and to bring transparency to Waqf administration.
- The Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 was cleared by Parliament in early April 2025.
- Petitioners claim the law violates the right to freedom of religion and targets minority properties.
- A key issue is the status of 'waqf-by-users' which lack formal documentation.
The Delhi High Court has observed that when two adults enter into a consensual sexual relationship or choose to live together, they must accept responsibility for the consequences of that decision. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma stated that a party cannot retrospectively label the relationship as sexual assault after it turns sour. The court quashed a rape case against a man where the complainant alleged sexual intercourse under false promises of marriage. The court noted the complainant was aware of the man's married status from the beginning, indicating the relationship was consensual.
- Adults in consensual relationships must take responsibility for the outcomes of their choices.
- Relationships cannot be painted as crimes of sexual assault retrospectively after a breakup.
- The court emphasized that awareness of a partner's marital status negates claims of 'false promise of marriage'.
Recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), including the Mental Health Atlas 2024, reveal that over 1 billion people worldwide live with mental health disorders. Despite the high prevalence, global government spending on mental health remains stagnant at just 2% of health budgets. In India, the situation is critical due to a severe shortage of professionals, with only 0.7 psychiatrists per 100,000 people compared to the WHO recommendation of 3. Stigma and lack of funding for community-based programs continue to hinder progress, even as the economic impact of depression and anxiety reaches $1 trillion annually.
- Over 1 billion people globally suffer from mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.
- Suicide claimed an estimated 7,27,000 lives in 2021, remaining a leading cause of death among youth.
- India faces a significant shortfall with only 0.7 psychiatrists per 100,000 population.
The Supreme Court has directed the Union government to ensure 'upward mobility' for meritorious candidates with disabilities. The court ruled that if a candidate with a disability scores higher than the cut-off for the unreserved category, they should be moved to the unreserved list, leaving the reserved seat vacant for another person with a disability. The bench stated that denying this mobility defeats the purpose of reservation under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and constitutes 'hostile discrimination.' This principle applies to both initial recruitment and promotions, ensuring that reservation serves its objective of opening windows for mainstream participation.
- Meritorious candidates with disabilities who qualify on their own merit must be counted against unreserved seats.
- This practice ensures that more people with disabilities can benefit from reservation quotas.
- The court emphasized that the law must view disability as a lens to reveal institutional frameworks rather than a deficit.
Despite the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, tribal women in India continue to face significant gender injustice regarding ancestral property rights. Most tribal communities follow customary laws that exclude daughters from inheritance, a practice the Supreme Court recently scrutinized in Ram Charan and Ors. vs Sukhram and Ors. (2025). While the Hindu Succession Act was amended in 2005 to grant equal rights to daughters, Section 2(2) specifically excludes Scheduled Tribes. The article advocates for the codification of tribal laws or a separate act to ensure gender parity and protect tribal women from land alienation, ensuring their fundamental right to equality is upheld.
- Tribal women are often denied inheritance rights under customary laws, unlike women covered by the Hindu Succession Act.
- The Supreme Court has emphasized that excluding daughters from ancestral property negates the fundamental right to equality.
- Only 16.7% of ST women possess land compared to 83.3% of ST men, according to the 2015-16 Agriculture Census.
Recent cases, including a scam involving a deepfake of the Union Finance Minister, highlight the growing threat of digital fraud on social media. Scammers exploit limited technical literacy and regulatory gaps in cryptocurrency to defraud users. While platforms like Instagram provide reporting mechanisms, they often respond passively, allowing scams to circulate until reported. The article calls for three measures: government standards for cross-border cooperation, enhanced technical literacy through education, and a legal requirement for platforms to proactively remove fraudulent content rather than relying on user reports. Without these, deepfake scams will continue to cause significant human and material costs.
- Deepfake technology is being used to create fraudulent investment schemes featuring public figures like Nirmala Sitharaman.
- Current platform policies focus on user self-protection rather than proactive detection of AI-generated scams.
- Most countries, including India, lack clear classification of these digital assets as conventional securities.
The article discusses how the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, significantly narrows the scope of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. By amending Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, the DPDP Act broadens the definition of 'personal information,' making it easier for Public Information Officers (PIOs) to deny requests. Critics argue this transforms the RTI into a 'Right to Deny Information,' undermining transparency and accountability. The amendment removes the 'larger public interest' test for personal information, potentially shielding corrupt officials and ghost employees from public scrutiny, thereby threatening the fundamental right to information guaranteed under the Constitution.
- The DPDP Act amends Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, removing the provision that allowed disclosure if it served a larger public interest.
- The new definition of 'personal information' is extremely broad, potentially covering almost any data related to an individual.
- This shift threatens the fundamental right to information guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
On World Suicide Prevention Day, experts highlighted the need for a systemic approach to mental health that goes beyond emergency helplines like Tele-MANAS. While helplines provide immediate crisis support, India faces a severe shortage of trained mental health professionals, with only 0.75 psychiatrists per 1,00,000 population. Effective prevention requires community-level interventions, addressing social determinants like poverty and discrimination, and integrating mental health into primary care. Programs like Kerala's Jeevanraksha and Karnataka's SURAKSHA serve as models for community-based suicide prevention, emphasizing early identification and holistic care for at-risk individuals.
- India has a significant gap in mental health resources, falling far below WHO-recommended ratios.
- Tele-MANAS is a key government initiative providing 24/7 mental health support across India.
- Suicide prevention must address underlying social issues such as isolation and economic distress.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, providing clarity on India's immigration framework. A significant aspect is the protection of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu from forcible repatriation, provided they entered before January 9, 2015. While the order offers relief from deportation, it does not automatically grant citizenship. Many refugees remain classified as 'illegal migrants' under the Citizenship Act, 1955, which remains a legal hurdle for naturalization. The order follows their exclusion from the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 and aims for a more humane approach.
- The 2025 Order exempts specific groups from passport and visa requirements for staying in India.
- It protects Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who arrived before January 2015 from being forcibly sent back.
- The 'illegal migrant' tag remains a legal hurdle for these refugees seeking Indian citizenship.
The President has given assent to a new law in Manipur designed to regulate the issuance of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates. Introduced to prevent fraudulent claims and ensure uniformity, the law establishes Scrutiny Committees to verify suspicious certificates. Manipur currently recognizes seven SC communities and four OBC communities, with reservation quotas set at 2% and 17% respectively. While states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh already have similar legislation, this move aims to bring transparency to Manipur's administrative processes and ensure that benefits reach the genuine intended recipients amid ongoing ethnic sensitivities.
- The law establishes Scrutiny Committees with the power to verify caste certificates suo motu to prevent fraud.
- Manipur's reservation policy provides 2% for SCs, 17% for OBCs, and 31% for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- Decisions by the Scrutiny Committee are final and can only be challenged in the High Court.
Tamil Nadu's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has dropped from 38 per 1,00,000 live births in 2020-2022 to 35 in 2021-2023. This achievement places the state as the second-lowest in the country, trailing only behind Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, which both stand at 30. The national average MMR is significantly higher at 88. Health officials attribute this success to sustained efforts, new initiatives, and a focus on tracking every pregnant woman. Future strategies include creating a dedicated midwifery cadre and addressing inequities in underserved districts like Tiruvannamalai and Nagapattinam to ensure no deliveries take place at home.
- Tamil Nadu's MMR decreased by three points to reach 35 per 1,00,000 live births in the latest bulletin.
- The state now ranks second-lowest in India, with Kerala and Andhra Pradesh leading the country with an MMR of 30.
- The national Maternal Mortality Ratio for the 2021-2023 period stands at 88, highlighting the state's superior performance.