MAINS Current Affairs includes Senior Care System in an Ageing India & NITI Aayog Report on School Education System in India

GOVERNANCE, ECONOMY

1. Senior Care System in an Ageing India

Context: India’s rapidly ageing population is exposing the limitations of its hospital-centric healthcare model, highlighting the need for a comprehensive long-term care ecosystem for senior citizens.

Need for a Strong Senior Care System

• According to the United Nations Population Fund India Ageing Report 2023, India’s elderly population is projected to increase from nearly 149 million to around 347 million by 2050.
• By then, almost one in every five Indians will be above 60 years of age.
• A 2024 position paper by NITI Aayog highlighted that:
  • More than 75% of elderly Indians suffer from at least one chronic illness
  • Only around 18% possess health insurance coverage

Common Health Challenges

Senior citizens increasingly face multiple chronic conditions such as:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Parkinson’s disease
• These illnesses require long-term monitoring, rehabilitation, and coordinated healthcare rather than short-term hospital treatment alone.

Changing Social Structure

• Urbanisation and the rise of nuclear families are weakening traditional family-based elderly support systems.

Structural Gaps in India’s Senior Care System

1. Hospital-Centric Healthcare

• India’s healthcare system is primarily designed for acute treatment rather than long-term elderly care.

2. Shortage of Geriatric Specialists

• India has fewer than 1,000 certified geriatricians for a senior population exceeding 150 million.
• Geriatric medicine remains underdeveloped with limited training opportunities.

3. Weak Medical Supply Chains

• Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities often face shortages of:
  • Medicines
  • Assistive devices
  • Rehabilitation equipment
  • Medical consumables

4. Fragmented Digital Health Systems

• Health records are not integrated across hospitals, clinics, and home-care providers.
• Telemedicine and remote monitoring systems remain inadequate for elderly care.

Government Initiatives for Senior Citizens

Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

• Launched in 2015 for old-age income security among unorganised workers.
• Provides guaranteed monthly pension after 60 years of age.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)

• Provides assistive devices such as:
  • Hearing aids
  • Wheelchairs
  • Walking sticks
• Targets economically vulnerable elderly citizens.

Senior Care Ageing Growth Engine

• Encourages startups and innovation in elderly care services.
• Supports the development of India’s “silver economy.”

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

• Extends health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh annually to senior citizens aged 70 years and above.

Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act

• Makes it legally mandatory for children and heirs to support elderly parents.
• Also mandates establishment of old-age homes and welfare measures.

Way Forward

Develop Skilled Workforce

• Expand accredited training programmes for: Nurses, Caregivers, Physiotherapists, Care companions

Promote Home & Community-Based Care

• Strengthen home healthcare services to reduce unnecessary hospitalisation.
• Expand telemedicine and remote monitoring for chronic disease management.

Strengthen Digital Health Infrastructure

• Integrate elderly care systems with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) for seamless medical records and service delivery.

Encourage Innovation in the Silver Economy

• Support startups working on:
  • Assistive technologies
  • AI-based health monitoring tools
  • Elder-friendly digital platforms

Change Social Attitudes

• Elderly care should increasingly be viewed as a professional and supportive extension of family responsibility rather than abandonment.

Conclusion

• India’s ageing population presents significant healthcare, economic, and social challenges.
• Building a robust senior care ecosystem will require coordinated reforms in healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, digital integration, and social support systems.
• A comprehensive elderly care framework is essential for ensuring dignity, health security, and quality of life for India’s senior citizens.

EDUCATION

2. NITI Aayog Report on School Education System in India

Context: NITI Aayog recently released a report titled “School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement.”

About the Report

• The report provides a comprehensive decade-long assessment of India’s school education system.
• It examines key dimensions such as:
  • Access and enrolment
  • Infrastructure
  • Equity and inclusion
  • Learning outcomes
• It also proposes a detailed policy roadmap with recommendations to improve education quality and continuity.

Major Highlights of the Report

1. Near-Universal Primary Access

• India has achieved almost universal enrolment at the primary level.

2. High Dropout Rates at Secondary Level

• Retention remains a major concern in secondary education.
• Nearly 4 out of 10 students drop out before completing higher secondary education.

3. Structural Fragmentation

• Only about 4% of schools provide continuous education from Grade 1 to Grade 12, affecting learning continuity.

4. Improvement in Basic Infrastructure

• Significant progress has been made in:
  • Electricity access
  • Sanitation facilities
  • Basic school infrastructure
• However, gaps still persist in certain regions.

5. Expansion of Digital Access

• Availability of computers and internet connectivity has improved considerably.
• This reflects increasing emphasis on digital education and technology integration.

Key Recommendations of the Report

Integrate Digital Infrastructure

• Use digital tools in teaching, learning, and school administration.

Strengthen Experiential Learning

• Improve laboratories, libraries, and resource centres for practical learning experiences.

Empower School Management Committees (SMCs)

• Promote decentralised and participatory school governance.

Improve Teacher Quality

• Focus on:
  • Teacher training
  • Subject expertise
  • Continuous professional development

Reduce Dropouts

• Create flexible re-entry pathways and continuity support systems for students.

Shift Learning Focus

• Move away from rote textbook completion toward:
  • Foundational literacy and numeracy
  • Competency-based learning
  • Level-based instruction

Enhance Vocational Education

• Strengthen market linkages and regional relevance of school-level vocational training.

Government Initiatives in School Education

Right to Education Act (RTE), 2009

• Guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14 years.

PM POSHAN Scheme (Mid-Day Meal Scheme)

• Provides nutritious meals to improve attendance, nutrition, and retention.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

• Promotes financial inclusion and facilitates access to scholarships and educational benefits.

National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education

• Encourages continuation of education among girls through financial incentives.

Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan

• Improves sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in schools.

Digital India

• Supports digital learning and reduces the digital divide.

Scholarship & Financial Assistance Programmes

• Includes Pre-Matric and Post-Matric scholarships for economically weaker sections.

National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020)

Major Features

• Focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
• Multidisciplinary learning approach
• Introduction of the 5+3+3+4 school structure
• Emphasis on:
  • Critical thinking
  • Creativity
  • Problem-solving
  • Reduction in rote learning

Conclusion

• India has made significant progress in expanding school access and improving infrastructure.
• However, issues such as high dropout rates, learning gaps, teacher quality, and digital inequality continue to challenge the education system.
• Effective implementation of reforms, stronger institutional capacity, and focus on learning outcomes will be essential to build an inclusive and high-quality education system.

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