Daily Mains Answer Writing – 19 September 2025

Model Answer

Introduction

India has long been the pivotal power in South Asia, but China’s growing footprint through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is reshaping the regional order. The launch of the China–Pakistan–Afghanistan and China–Pakistan–Bangladesh trilaterals in 2025 illustrates Beijing’s strategy of institutionalizing a “minus India” framework.

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China–Pakistan–Afghanistan Trilateral

• Sixth dialogue held in Kabul (Aug 2025).
• Extension of CPEC into Afghanistan integrates infrastructure, security cooperation, and resource extraction.
• This violates India’s sovereignty, as CPEC passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

China–Pakistan–Bangladesh Trilateral

• Initiated in Kunming (June 2025).
• Focus on maritime logistics, digital connectivity, agriculture, and climate cooperation.
• Enhances China’s role in Bay of Bengal and raises vulnerabilities for India’s Siliguri Corridor.

Strategic Motivations

• Containment of India: By binding neighbors, China distracts India from Indo-Pacific priorities. Pakistan’s dependency is clear—81% of its arms imports and $28.8 bn in debt come from China.
• Economic leverage: Debt-heavy BRI projects risk dependency, as seen in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota lease (2017).
• Geopolitical encirclement: Part of China’s “String of Pearls”, alongside Hambantota, Kyaukpyu, and Gwadar.

Implications for India

• Security: Two-front dilemma may evolve into a multi-front challenge with Bangladesh.
• Diplomatic isolation: Alternative groupings could bypass SAARC, diluting India’s centrality.
• Economic marginalization: Chinese quick-financing overshadows Indian alternatives like Chabahar or IMEC.

Conclusion

China’s trilaterals reflect a deliberate effort to recast South Asian geopolitics in a “minus India” framework. For India, the task is to counter through credible regional engagement, sustainable alternatives, and strategic communication, while balancing immediate security challenges with long-term neighborhood diplomacy.

Introduction

India’s Public Distribution System (PDS), one of the world’s largest food security programs, has played a critical role in stabilising cereal consumption across income groups. Data from the 2024 NSS Household Consumption Survey indicates that rice and wheat intake has become nearly uniform between the poorest and richest households.

However, despite this success, nutritional deprivation persists, as almost 40% of rural households cannot afford two thalis a day even after PDS support. This highlights the need to restructure subsidies towards nutrition security rather than caloric sufficiency.

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Achievements of PDS

• Equalisation of cereal consumption across classes.
• Expansion under NFSA (2024): 80 crore beneficiaries entitled to free cereals.
• Fortified rice rollout: 406 lakh MT distributed since 2019–20.

Persisting Nutritional Gaps

• Pulses intake among bottom 5% households is half that of the top 5%.
• Cereals constitute only 10% of household food expenditure, limiting their nutritional role.
• High protein and micronutrient deficiency despite falling poverty (extreme poverty at 2.3% in 2022–23, World Bank).

Existing Efforts

• Diversification pilots: Karnataka’s millet scheme (2015), Odisha’s Millet Mission (18 million cardholders).
• Technology-driven reforms: Nutrition hubs at FPS in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Fortification: FSSAI-led programmes in PDS, MDM, and ICDS.
• Cash transfer pilots: Chandigarh and Puducherry, with mixed results on dietary diversification.

Suggested Measures

• Subsidy restructuring: Limit cereals to basic needs; redirect savings towards pulses and millets.
• Nutrition-sensitive agriculture: Promote climate-resilient nutri-cereals and biofortified crops (e.g., CR Dhan 310).
• Community engagement: ASHA and Anganwadi workers for nutrition education, school gardens for behavioural change.
• Supply-chain optimisation: Strengthen FPO linkages for pulses and fortified foods.
• Targeted coverage: Reduce NFSA coverage to ~40%, while raising entitlements for the poorest (from 5kg to 7kg/person).

Conclusion

While the PDS has achieved the milestone of cereal equalisation, India must now move towards nutrition security by restructuring subsidies, expanding the food basket, and leveraging technology. A reoriented PDS that prioritises pulses, millets, and fortified foods can bridge protein and micronutrient gaps, ensuring equitable and healthy food consumption across classes. This transition from food sufficiency to nutritional adequacy will strengthen both welfare outcomes and long-term human capital development.

Introduction

India has made significant strides in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, ranking 99 out of 167 nations in 2025, a notable rise from 109 in 2024. Yet, progress on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) remains inconsistent, particularly across rural, tribal, and vulnerable populations. Despite government missions and targeted programs, India is not on track to meet most 2030 health-related targets, underlining systemic challenges that demand urgent attention.

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Key Challenges in Achieving SDG 3

Lagging Health Indicators

• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): 97 per 100,000 live births, above the 2030 target of 70.
• Under-Five Mortality Rate: 32 per 1,000 live births, against the target of 25 (far higher than developed countries’ 2–6).
• Life Expectancy: 70 years, below the goal of 73.63.
• Immunisation: 93.23%, commendable but still short of universal coverage.

Financial Burden

Out-of-pocket expenditure stands at 13% of household consumption, nearly double the target (7.83%), pushing families into poverty and limiting healthcare access.

Structural and Social Barriers

• Poor health infrastructure and workforce shortages, especially in rural and tribal areas.
• Non-economic factors such as malnutrition, sanitation gaps, and unhealthy lifestyle choices.
• Cultural stigma around mental health and reproductive health reduces service uptake.

Fragmented Healthcare Delivery

o Weak coordination between primary, secondary, and tertiary services undermines efficiency.
o Preventive health measures remain neglected compared to curative approaches.

Existing Efforts

• RMNCAH+N Strategy ensures a continuum of care for mothers and children.
• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) promotes institutional deliveries.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) provides financial support to mothers.
• Digital tracking systems like the Mother and Child Protection card aid service delivery.
• Intensified immunisation programs have boosted coverage to over 93%.

Despite these efforts, uneven regional outcomes persist, highlighting gaps in implementation and community outreach.

Measures to Overcome the Challenges

Universal Health Coverage

• Expanding universal health insurance to protect families from catastrophic health costs, as evidenced by World Bank studies on equity outcomes.

Strengthening Primary Healthcare

• Upgrading Primary Health Centres (PHCs) with adequate staff and technology.
• Drawing lessons from WHO’s 2022 World Health Statistics, which underline the role of strong primary systems in reducing mortality and costs.

Digital and Preventive Approaches

• Scaling telemedicine and digital health records to connect underserved areas.
• Integrating health education into school curricula on nutrition, hygiene, reproductive and mental health.

Case Studies: Finland’s school reforms (1970s) curbed cardiovascular diseases; Japan’s compulsory health education improved hygiene and longevity.

Community and Parental Engagement

• Encouraging parents to engage with school health curricula, promoting long-term healthy behaviours in children.
• Empowering community health workers to tackle stigma and ensure inclusivity.

Conclusion

India’s improved SDG ranking is encouraging, but SDG 3 targets are off-track—a reminder that economic growth does not automatically translate into better health outcomes. Achieving the 2030 goals requires a multi-pronged strategy: universal health coverage, strong primary systems, digital integration, and early health education. While 2030 serves as an urgent milestone, the larger vision must extend towards Viksit Bharat 2047, where a healthy and resilient population underpins sustainable development.