What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1 : For Better Health

Context: Focus on health for a Viksit Bharat

 

Introduction: India’s aspiration to become an economically developed nation by 2047 is intertwined with the goal of having a healthy and productive population.

 

Health System Goals for 2047

• Focus Areas
  1. Health promotion and disease prevention.
  2. Efficient and equitable diagnostic and therapeutic services.
  3. A strong, youthful health system springing into action by 2025.
• Resources as a Foundation: Financial and human resources form the DNA for health system growth.

 

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as the Vehicle

• Primary Healthcare-Led Approach
  1. UHC must focus on financial protection and comprehensive service coverage.
  2. Health services should cater to age-relevant needs across families.
• Investment Needs
  1. Increased public financing in central and state budgets.
  2. Creation of a multi-layered, technology-enabled health workforce.
• Immediate Priority: Training frontline health workers and allied health professionals to bridge skill gaps.

 

Ayushman Bharat Mission and Its Role

• Key Components
  1. Upgraded primary care infrastructure.
  2. Financial protection for vulnerable groups.
  3. Digital health technologies for integration across health units.
• Action Needed
  1. Linking various components to create a unified, effective health system.
  2. Utilizing the digital health mission for data-driven decision-making.

 

Need for Disaggregated and Integrated Data Systems

• Current Scenario
  1. Health indicators are often presented in aggregate terms.
  2. Limited district- and block-level data for localized action.
• Proposed Improvements
  1. Transforming disparate data systems into integrated, accurate, and timely repositories.
  2. Using data for evidence-informed, culturally adaptive, and equity-promoting interventions.

 

Addressing Epidemiological Transition

• Rising Burdens
  1. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health disorders dominate disease burdens.
  2. NCDs account for two-thirds of deaths, many in productive mid-life years.
• Surveillance Needs
  1. Comprehensive data on diseases and risk factors for both infectious diseases and NCDs.
  2. Enhanced surveillance through programs like the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and new methods such as wastewater surveillance.

 

Zoonotic Diseases and Climate-Linked Threats

• Challenges
  1. Accelerating zoonotic diseases from local outbreaks to global pandemics.
  2. Climate change intensifying water- and vector-borne diseases.
• Solutions
  1. Adopting the "One Health" approach for integrated microbial surveillance across species.
  2. Leveraging big data analytics for effective disease surveillance.

 

Digital Integration

• Current Gaps
  1. Lack of data transfer and integration across healthcare facilities.
  2. Disconnects between public and private healthcare systems.
• Recommendations
  1. Digital health mission to unify public and private sector data.
  2. Creation of referral systems connecting primary, secondary, and tertiary care.
  3. Use of AI for developing diagnostic and clinical algorithms.
  4. Encouraging community participation through digital platforms.

 

Conclusion

India's health system needs to undergo a digitally assisted transformation to achieve its 2047 health goals. The foundation laid in 2025 through integrated digital systems, enhanced financing, and trained human resources will determine the robustness of India's health system.

Editorial 2 : Join the Education Dots

Context: How quality of higher education is tied to primary education

 

Challenges of Sudden Expansion in Education

• Quality Dilution
  1. Rapid expansion often compromises the quality of education and products of educational institutions.
  2. Institutional credibility suffers as seen in the decline of government school trustworthiness.
• Changing Attitudes: Shift from ‘why educate’ to a strong demand for quality education for both boys and girls.

 

Post-Independence Growth in Education

• Achievements
  1. Literacy rate improved from 18-20% to nearly 80% despite population growth.
  2. Leadership and hard work of university professors, scientists, and primary teachers played a critical role.
• Challenges
  1. Lack of qualified and competent manpower to meet constitutional mandates for free and compulsory education.
  2. Expansion of higher education without adequate foundational support.

 

Leadership in Higher Education

• UGC Draft Regulation
  1. Proposed framework to recruit vice-chancellors lacks meaningful dialogue and open discussions.
  2. Current discourse on academic leadership is superficial and underdeveloped.
• Importance of Leadership
  1. Leadership shapes the quality of institutions.
  2. Transformational leaders like Madan Mohan Malaviya, Syed Ahmed Khan, Rabindranath Tagore, and Zakir Husain have historically uplifted institutions like BHU, AMU, and Vishwa Bharati.

 

The Role of Elementary Education

• The quality of higher education depends on the robustness of elementary education.
• Example of Japan
  1. Post-war prioritization of primary education and punctuality contributed to national rebuilding.
  2. A culture of discipline and hard work instilled at the primary level permeates leadership at higher levels.
• In contrast, routine delays and inefficiencies in Indian schools hinder development.

 

Individual Impact on Institutional Excellence

• Individuals Build Institutions
  1. Great academics inspire youth to serve larger human welfare.
  2. Visionary leaders like Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai created transformative institutions like BARC and ISRO.
• Institutions Prepare Future Leaders: Universities must nurture imagination, curiosity, and the ability to contribute to nation-building.

 

Lack of Meaningful National Debates

• Missed Opportunities: Political focus on bickering instead of constructive discussions on vital issues like education, healthcare, and national security.
• Potential of Federal Systems
  1. Platforms like the Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) offer scope for discussions on education policy and leadership preparation.
  2. CABE can address issues like developing leaders at all levels and revising the procedure for selecting vice-chancellors.

 

Conclusion

There is a critical need to prioritise quality education and leadership development at all levels, from elementary to higher education. Visionary leadership, coupled with meaningful debates and collaboration across states and institutions, can ensure that India's education system fulfils its potential to create transformative leaders and institutions for the nation's future.