MAINS Current Affairs includes Kerala’s Dedicated Department for Senior Citizens’ Welfare & Assam’s Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026

GOVERNANCE

1. Kerala’s Dedicated Department for Senior Citizens’ Welfare

Context: The government of Kerala has decided to establish a separate Department for Senior Citizens’ Welfare to address the growing concerns related to population ageing and social isolation among elderly citizens.

Elderly Population in India

• India’s elderly population is expected to rise sharply to nearly 230 million by 2036, accounting for around 15% of the country’s total population.
• Women form a larger share of the ageing population because of higher life expectancy, resulting in the feminisation of ageing.
• The sex ratio among senior citizens stands at 1,065 females per 1,000 males. Women constitute nearly 58% of the elderly population, and around 54% of elderly women are widows.
• Southern states, along with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, have relatively higher elderly populations, and regional disparities are expected to increase further by 2036.

Kerala: India’s Fastest Ageing State

• Kerala currently has the highest proportion of elderly people in India.
• Approximately 18.7% of Kerala’s population is above 60 years of age, compared to the national average of around 11–12%.
• By 2036, the share of elderly people in the state is expected to cross 22%.
• According to the Economic Review 2025 published by the Kerala State Planning Board, the old-age dependency ratio in Kerala is around 26.1%, significantly higher than the national average of 15.7%.
• The old-age dependency ratio refers to the number of elderly persons per 100 working-age individuals in the 15–59 age group.

Major Challenges Faced by Senior Citizens in India

Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

• Elderly citizens are highly vulnerable to diseases such as:
  • diabetes,
  • hypertension,
  • cardiovascular diseases,
• These conditions require continuous medical treatment and long-term healthcare support.

Rising Multimorbidity

• Multimorbidity refers to the presence of two or more chronic illnesses in the same individual.
• Senior citizens suffering from multiple diseases often face:
  • repeated hospitalisation,
  • high healthcare costs,
  • declining quality of life,
  • increased dependence on caregivers.

Social Isolation

• Rapid urbanisation and migration have weakened India’s traditional joint family system.
• As a result, many elderly people experience:
  • loneliness,
  • depression,
  • anxiety,
  • emotional neglect.

Inadequate Geriatric Healthcare Infrastructure

• India has fewer than 1,000 certified geriatricians despite having a senior population exceeding 150 million.
• The healthcare system remains largely focused on curative treatment rather than preventive and supportive elderly care.
• Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities frequently suffer from shortages of:
  • medicines,
  • rehabilitation equipment,
  • assistive devices,
  • medical consumables.

High Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditure

• Continuous medication and repeated hospital visits place heavy financial burdens on families caring for elderly members.

Government Initiatives for Senior Citizens

Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

• Launched in 2015, the scheme aims to provide old-age income security to workers in the unorganised sector through guaranteed monthly pensions ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 after the age of 60 years.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)

• Started in 2017, the scheme distributes assistive devices such as:
  • hearing aids,
  • wheelchairs,
  • walking sticks
  • to Below Poverty Line senior citizens and those earning below ₹15,000 per month.

Senior Care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) Portal

• The portal promotes startups and innovation in elderly care services and supports the development of the “silver economy.”

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

• The scheme provides annual health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh to nearly 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above across around 4.5 crore families.

Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act

• The Act makes it legally mandatory for children and heirs to provide maintenance to their parents.
• It also directs state governments to establish old-age homes and ensure welfare services for senior citizens.

Way Forward

Improve Digital Literacy among Senior Citizens

• Targeted digital literacy programmes should be launched through:
  • community centres,
  • NGOs,
  • Panchayati Raj Institutions
  • to help elderly citizens use smartphones, telemedicine, and digital banking services.

Formulate a Comprehensive National Elderly Care Policy

• India requires an integrated elderly welfare framework combining:
  • healthcare,
  • nutrition,
  • mental health services,
  • social security measures.

Promote the Silver Economy

• The government should encourage startups and enterprises working on:
  • assistive technologies,
  • AI-based health monitoring systems,
  • user-friendly applications designed specifically for elderly citizens.

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

2. Assam’s Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026

Context: The Government of Assam has introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 in the State Assembly.

• With this move, Assam became the third Indian state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to introduce a Uniform Civil Code Bill.

What is the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?

• A Uniform Civil Code refers to a common set of laws applicable to all citizens irrespective of religion in matters related to:
  • marriage,
  • divorce,
  • inheritance,
  • adoption,
• The objective of the UCC is to replace diverse personal laws based on religious customs with a uniform legal framework for all citizens.

Uniform Civil Code in India

UCC in Goa

• Goa follows the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867, under which people of all religions are governed by common laws related to marriage, divorce, and succession.
• After Goa became part of India in 1961, the Goa, Daman and Diu Administration Act, 1962 allowed the continuation of the Civil Code.

UCC in Uttarakhand

• In 2024, the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand Act, 2024, making it the first state after independence to adopt a UCC.

Major Provisions of the Assam UCC Bill, 2026

Ban on Polygamy and Bigamy

• The Bill makes monogamy compulsory for all individuals covered under the law.
• Bigamy and polygamy would attract punishment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
• However, existing polygamous marriages solemnised before the law’s implementation would remain legally valid.

Uniform Marriage Age

• The Bill fixes the minimum marriage age at:
  • 21 years for men,
  • 18 years for women.

Mandatory Registration of Marriage and Divorce

• Registration of all marriages and divorces would become compulsory.
• Couples would need to submit a marriage memorandum within 60 days of marriage, and non-registration may lead to fines and penalties.

Regulation of Live-in Relationships

• The Bill requires registration of live-in relationships within one month.
• Children born from such relationships would be considered legitimate, and deserted partners would have legal rights to claim maintenance.

Uniform Divorce Provisions

• The legislation standardises grounds for divorce such as:
  • cruelty,
  • desertion,
  • mutual consent.
  • It also penalises unlawful dissolution of marriage and illegal conditions imposed before remarriage.

Equal Inheritance Rights

• The Bill provides equal inheritance rights for:
  • spouses,
  • children,
  • parents,
  • irrespective of religion.
• It also legally recognises testamentary succession through written wills.

Child and Fraudulent Marriages

• Punishments are prescribed for:
  • child marriages,
  • marriages conducted without valid consent,
  • marriages involving force, coercion, concealment, or misrepresentation.
  • The Bill includes provisions for imprisonment and fines in such cases.

Exemption for Scheduled Tribes

• Scheduled Tribes (STs) are excluded from the scope of the Bill to safeguard tribal customs and constitutional protections available to them.

Arguments in Favour of UCC

• Uniformity in Governance
  • A common legal framework can simplify governance and ensure equal administration of justice across communities.
• Protection of Women’s Rights
  • Several personal laws contain discriminatory provisions, especially against women. A uniform code may create a more gender-just legal system.
• Strengthening Secularism
  • The UCC is viewed as a means to reinforce secularism by treating all citizens equally regardless of religion.
• Promoting National Integration
  • A common civil framework can strengthen unity and foster a shared national identity among diverse communities.
  • The Supreme Court of India, in judgments such as the Shah Bano case (1985), has emphasised the need for implementing a Uniform Civil Code.
  • Similarly, in the Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India case (1995), the Court highlighted the urgent need for a UCC to prevent misuse of personal laws.

Arguments Against UCC

• Concerns Regarding Constitutional Rights
  • Critics argue that the UCC may interfere with the freedom to practise religion guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, as well as protections provided under the Sixth Schedule.
• Fear of Majoritarianism
  • Some minority communities fear that the UCC may reflect the customs of the majority community instead of being a genuinely neutral framework.
• Law Commission’s View
  • The Law Commission of India observed that a UCC is “neither necessary nor desirable at this stage.”

Way Forward

• Before implementing the UCC, the government should hold consultations with different communities and stakeholders to ensure:
• inclusivity,
• transparency,
• respect for diverse viewpoints.
• Gradual reforms in personal laws may prove more practical and socially acceptable than imposing immediate uniformity.
• Legal reforms should also ensure that the cultural and customary rights of vulnerable and tribal communities remain protected.

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