Welfare of vulnerable sections
Syllabus: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Current affairs on this topic 14
- Andhra Pradesh moves Supreme Court to restore 34% BC quota in local bodies 4 October 2026
Can a State give Backward Classes 34% of local body seats when the Supreme Court caps all quotas at 50%?
- Supreme Court orders Delhi-NCR safety audit in four weeks after a string of rapes 29 September 2026
Nirbhaya was 2012. Why is the Supreme Court still asking who answers for a dark park in 2026?
- Vedanta seeks a return to Niyamgiri, 13 years after gram sabhas said no 27 September 2026
Can a mine that tribal gram sabhas rejected in 2013 be reopened, and who gets to decide?
- EPFO wage ceiling raised from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month 18 September 2026
About 51 lakh more workers brought under mandatory provident fund and pension cover.
- PM Vishwakarma completes three years 18 September 2026
30 lakh artisans registered. Only about 6 lakh got loans.
- Global Gender Gap Index 2026: India stays 131st of 145 with 64.5% of its gap closed 17 September 2026
India nearly matches men and women in schools and health. Why does it still rank 131st of 145?
- Op-ed: Anganwadis shape India's future, and communities must share responsibility for them 14 September 2026
Anganwadis reach 8.9 crore children and women. Can local committees make sure the hot meal actually arrives?
- Why the NCPCR has summoned Meta over ads linked to child sexual abuse material 13 September 2026
A child rights body can summon a tech giant, but can it make it act? The Meta case tests the limits.
- Editorial: The push to dilute gram sabha consent for forest diversion 9 September 2026
Should a dam wait for every affected village to agree, or is the consent of three in four villages enough?
- Tribal Affairs Ministry says Forest Rights Act has no provision for gram sabha consent 7 September 2026
If the forest rights law never asked for gram sabha consent, why are hydro projects waiting years for it?
- Newborn deaths in hospital fires and the case for 'hospital plus home' care 4 September 2026
Has India's success in getting mothers to deliver in hospitals made its newborn units crowded and unsafe?
- Is 'purifying' a venue after a Dalit leader's rally untouchability under Article 17? 2 September 2026
No one was stopped and no one was touched. Can a ritual of 'cleansing' still be untouchability in law?
- Delhi HC: return from maternity leave must restore role, not just pay and title 2 September 2026
If a mother returns to the same salary but a shrunken job, has the law protected her?
- Op-ed: Is the right to work fading under the new rural jobs law? 1 September 2026
The new law promises 125 days of work, not 100. Why do critics say the right to work has weakened?
Background from the reference shelf
Previous-year questions 16
- 2026 · GS2 · 15 marks Can the constitutional mandate of rights-based welfare be effectively realised in the context of non-integrated governance and minimal public investment? Examine.
- 2025 · GS2 · 15 marks The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can…
- 2024 · GS2 · 10 marks Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle?
- 2024 · GS2 · 15 marks In a crucial domain like the public healthcare system the Indian State should play a vital role to contain the adverse impact of marketisation of the system. Suggest some measures through which the…
- 2023 · GS2 · 15 marks Explain the constitutional perspectives of Gender Justice with the help of relevant Constitutional Provisions and case laws.
- 2023 · GS2 · 15 marks Skill development programs have succeeded in increasing human resources supply to various sectors. In the context of the statement analyze the linkages between education, skill and employment.
- 2022 · GS2 · 10 marks Discuss the role of the National Commission for Backward Classes in the wake of its transformation from a statutory body to a constitutional body.
- 2022 · GS2 · 15 marks Besides the welfare schemes, India needs deft management of inflation and unemployment to serve the poor and the underprivileged sections of the society. Discuss.
- 2021 · GS2 · 10 marks Can the vicious cycle of gender inequality, poverty and malnutrition be broken through microfinancing of women SHGs? Explain with examples.
- 2021 · GS2 · 15 marks Analyze the distinguishing features of the notion of Equality in the Constitutions of the USA and India.
- 2021 · GS2 · 10 marks "Besides being a moral imperative of Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary pre-condition for sustainable development." Analyze.
- 2019 · GS2 · 15 marks Performance of welfare schemes that are implemented for vulnerable sections is not so effective due to the absence of their awareness and active involvement at all stages of the policy process…
- 2018 · GS2 · 10 marks Appropriate local community level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve 'Health for All' in India. Explain.
- 2017 · GS2 · 15 marks 'Poverty Alleviation Programmes in India remain mere show pieces until and unless they are backed by political will'. Discuss with reference to the performance of the major poverty alleviation…
- 2015 · GS2 · 12.5 marks Public health system has limitation in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that private sector can help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives do you suggest?
- 2013 · GS2 · 10 marks Electronic cash transfer system for the welfare schemes is an ambitious project to minimize corruption, eliminate wastage and facilitate reforms. Comment.