MAINS Current Affairs includes Youth Suicide in India: When Social Pressures Push the Young Towards Despair & Deepening Global Corruption: Implications for India

Governance

1. Youth Suicide in India: When Social Pressures Push the Young Towards Despair

Context: The tragic death of two young sisters in Rajasthan due to forced marriage pressures highlights the deep-rooted social causes behind youth suicides, especially among young women.

Status of Youth Suicide in India

• According to National Crime Records Bureau reports:
  • India records over 1.7 lakh suicides annually
• Youth (15–29 years) form a major share of total suicides
• Suicide is among the leading causes of death in this age group
• Around 6% suicides (2022) were students

Regional Pattern

• Higher rates: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra
• Lower rates: Bihar (possibly due to underreporting & socio-economic factors)

Major Causes of Youth Suicide

1. Social and Structural Pressures

• Family pressure, forced marriages, and honour-based norms
• Gender discrimination and patriarchy
• Caste-based exclusion
• Economic stress and unemployment

Particularly severe for young women facing dual oppression

2. Aspirations vs Social Restrictions

• Youth aspire for:
  • Education
  • Careers
  • Freedom in relationships
• Society imposes:
  • Rigid caste/religious norms
  • Restrictions on choice

Leads to “structural frustration”

3. Legal & Institutional Constraints

• Barriers to:
  • Inter-caste/interfaith marriages
  • Live-in relationships
  • Same-sex unions

Limits personal autonomy and dignity

4. Gender Dimension

• Early marriage, domestic violence, honour norms
• Limited decision-making power

Emerging concept: “Honour Suicide”

• Suicide triggered by forced conformity

5. Constitutional & Ethical Concerns

• Violates:
  • Article 21 → Right to life & dignity
• Contradicts:
  • Equality
  • Individual autonomy

Such suicides resemble honour killings in effect, though indirect

Government Initiatives

• Legal & Policy Measures
  • Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
    • Decriminalises suicide
  • National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2022)
    • Target: 10% reduction by 2030
  • Mental Health Infrastructure
    • National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)
    • District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)
    • Tele-MANAS (2022)
      • 24×7 counselling services
    • Manodarpan Initiative
      • Student mental health support
    • Institutional Support
      • UGC guidelines for counselling centres
      • Integration with Ayushman Bharat health services
    • Key Issues in Current Approach
      • Focus is individual-centric, not structural
      • Social causes like patriarchy & caste often ignored
      • Mental health services still urban-centric
      • Stigma prevents help-seeking

Way Forward

• Strengthening Mental Health Systems: Implementation of National Mental Health Programme (NMHP); and school and college-based counselling;
• Addressing Social Determinants: Promote gender equality and women’s autonomy; reduce caste-based discrimination; and reform regressive social practices.
• Legal and Institutional Reforms: Protect the right to choose marriage and relationships; and ensure constitutional freedoms under Article 21.
• Youth-Centric Development: Employment generation, skill development, and safe spaces for youth expression.
• Community Engagement: Involve families, educators, religious leaders; awareness campaigns to reduce stigma.

Conclusion

Youth suicide in India is not merely a mental health issue but a societal crisis rooted in conflict between modern aspirations and traditional constraints.

Real change requires:

• Expanding freedoms
• Ensuring dignity
• Reforming social structures

Only then can India truly protect the lives and aspirations of its youth.

Governance

2. Deepening Global Corruption: Implications for India

Context: The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, released by Transparency International, highlights a worsening global trend of corruption that is weakening democratic accountability.

India’s performance reflects “governance stagnation”, indicating a mismatch between economic growth and institutional strengthening.

India’s Position in CPI 2025

• Rank: 91 out of 182 countries
• Score: 39 (out of 100)
• India remains in the lower half globally

Trend Over Time

• Score fluctuated narrowly between 38–41 over a decade
• Indicates lack of significant governance improvement

Comparative Position

• Performs better than Pakistan & Bangladesh
• Lags behind China (42)
• Comparable to Sri Lanka
• Behind many East Asian & European economies

Reflects institutional weakness despite economic rise

Why CPI Matters

1. Governance Indicator

• Measures perception of corruption using multiple data sources
• Reflects quality of institutions and accountability systems

2. Global Economic Signal

• Influences:
  • Investor confidence
  • Sovereign risk ratings
  • Capital flows

3. Development Impact

• Corruption undermines:
  • Policy credibility
  • Public trust
  • Democratic institutions

Impact of Corruption on India

1. Economic Losses

• Estimated 5% of GDP lost directly
• Total losses: 1–1.5% of GDP

Huge diversion of resources from:

• Infrastructure
• Health
• Education

2. Distorted Business Environment

• Encourages rent-seeking instead of innovation
• Raises transaction costs and uncertainty

3. Complex Compliance Burden

• Around 26,000+ imprisonment provisions in regulations
• Example:
  • Pharma startup faces 998 compliance rules
  • Nearly half carry criminal liability

Leads to over-criminalisation of business activity

4. Institutional Weakness

• Weak oversight mechanisms
• Poor enforcement
• Limited accountability

Global Perspective

• Corruption costs around 5% of global GDP
• Strong negative link with economic growth

Particularly harmful for developing economies like India

Steps Taken by India

1. Digital Governance Reforms

• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) reduces leakages
• Expansion of digital payments ecosystem

2. Tax & Procurement Reforms

• GST Network → improved transparency
• E-procurement → reduced discretion

3. Institutional Mechanisms

• Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013
• Right to Information Act, 2005
• Central Vigilance Commission
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India

Strengthen accountability and transparency

Key Challenges

• Regulatory complexity
• Weak enforcement of laws
• Institutional capacity gaps
• Limited judicial efficiency
• Persistence of rent-seeking culture

Way Forward

• Regulatory Simplification: Reduce criminal provisions; and promote ease of doing business.
• Judicial and Institutional Reforms: Faster dispute resolution; and strengthening watchdog bodies.
• Transparency Measures: Open data systems; and public procurement reforms
• Leveraging Democratic Strengths:India already possesses strong constitutional foundations, a capable judiciary, competitive elections, and robust digital capacity

Conclusion

India’s economic growth has been impressive, but governance reforms have lagged behind.

To sustain long-term development and global credibility, India must:

• Strengthen institutions
• Reduce corruption
• Align governance quality with economic ambitions

Only then can India achieve its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.

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