GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Ukraine and the United States are all set to finalize a significant deal that would give the United States access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, essential for producing modern technologies, including electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, and military equipment.

Key Terms of the Agreement:

• Ukraine is home to 5% of the world’s critical raw materials, including substantial reserves of graphite, lithium, and titanium.
• These minerals are crucial for producing products like electric vehicle batteries, electronics, and defense technologies.
• Ukraine is one of the top five global suppliers of graphite, with an estimated 19 million tonnes of proven reserves.
• Now, these minerals will be available for U.S. investment, with the potential for future commercial exploitation.
• Investment Fund for Reconstruction: Ukraine and the U.S. have agreed to set up an "investment fund" for the reconstruction of Ukraine, to be managed jointly. Ukraine will contribute 50% of the future revenues from these resources into the fund. The primary goal of this fund is to invest in various reconstruction projects within Ukraine, benefiting both the U.S. and Ukraine.

Implications for Global Geoeconomics:

• Strategic Importance of Rare Earth Minerals: Rare earth minerals have become increasingly important for modern industries, particularly in the production of technologies related to renewable energy, electric vehicles, and defense systems. The U.S. and China are currently locked in a strategic competition for control over these resources. This deal marks Ukraine’s mineral wealth as an important asset in the broader global competition, with the U.S. seeking to reduce its dependency on China, which dominates global rare earth supplies.
• Potential for Broader Economic Engagement: The deal reflects a broader trend of resource-based diplomacy, where access to strategic minerals and resources becomes a key factor in international relations. This move by Ukraine, along with its efforts to align with the U.S., underscores its pivot towards Western alliances for both economic and security reasons.

In a latest development, Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to concerns raised by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin about the proposed delimitation exercise, assuring that southern states, including Tamil Nadu, will not lose any Parliamentary seats as a result of it.

What is Delimitation?

• Delimitation is the process of adjusting the boundaries of electoral constituencies and redistributing the number of seats in Parliament based on population changes. This ensures that each constituency has a roughly equal number of people.
• Background: Delimitation took place after every Census until 1971.
  • After the 42nd Amendment in 1976, the number of seats in Parliament was frozen until the 2001 Census, mainly to allow states with high population growth to manage family planning without losing seats.
• Need: Every Census in India results in changes in the population, so delimitation helps to reflect those changes. It ensures that all regions are fairly represented based on their population size.
• What Does Delimitation Involve?
  • Reapportionment of Seats: Based on the latest population data, constituencies may be redrawn, and some states may gain or lose seats.
  • Equal Representation: The goal is to ensure that each elected representative represents a similar number of people. This prevents over- or under-representation of any state or region.

Concerns of Southern States

• Southern states, like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, have slower population growth compared to northern states. If delimitation were done based on current population data, northern states could gain more seats in Parliament, while southern states might lose representation.
• This has led to concerns that southern states would have less political influence in the future.
• Potential Effects of Delimitation
  • Northern States' Gain: States with higher population growth (like those in the north) might get more seats, potentially increasing their influence.
  • Southern States' Concerns: States in the south, with slower population growth, might not gain as many seats, and could even lose some.

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act), 2023, has introduced a provision (Section 9(1)) that mandates legal guardians' consent for the use of personal data for any person with a disability. This provision has sparked concerns among disability rights activists, who argue that it undermines the autonomy of PwDs by assuming they cannot make decisions for themselves. 

What does this provision state?

• Section 9(1) of the Act requires data fiduciaries (those processing personal data) to obtain the consent of a legal guardian before processing the data of any PwD with a guardian. This is similar to how consent is required for children under the law.
• Activists argue that this provision infantilizes PwDs by assuming that they cannot make their own decisions, regardless of the nature of their disability or level of support required.
• Types of Guardianship and Their Impact

• Limited vs Full Guardianship: The RPWD Act, 2016, provides for "limited guardianship" where support is provided for specific legal decisions, while the NT Act, 1999, mandates full guardianship for certain disabilities.
• The DPDP Act does not adequately differentiate between these forms of guardianship, which leads to concerns about PwDs being treated as incapable of making their own decisions, even when they are capable.

• International Disability Rights Conflict: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) advocates for decision-making support rather than full guardianship.
  • The DPDP Act’s provision seems to conflict with this principle, especially for PwDs governed by the NT Act, which contradicts the principles of autonomy and decision-making capacity recognized by the

Challenges with Implementation

• Ambiguity in Consent Process: The absence of clear guidelines or illustrations for PwDs, as seen with children, leaves many questions unanswered about how consent will be gathered and what it will mean for PwDs with different disabilities.
• Practical Concerns: Disability rights organizations note that guardians often manage all affairs of PwDs, even under the RPWD Act’s limited guardianship. This could lead to situations where PwDs are unable to exercise their rights independently.

Data Privacy and Digital Access

• Potential Privacy Issues: PwDs may face difficulties in asserting their privacy rights. For example, platforms might store sensitive data on their disability without the user’s consent if a guardian is involved.
• Inaccessible Platforms: A report from the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy shows that many popular platforms, like Paytm and Flipkart, are not accessible to PwDs, limiting their ability to exercise digital rights regardless of guardianship.

There has been ongoing tension between the Union Government and the Tamil Nadu government over the implementation of the three-language policy as part of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Why is the Three-Language Policy Controversial in Tamil Nadu?

• The three-language formula was first introduced in the NEP of 1968 with the aim of promoting Hindi as a language in non-Hindi speaking States.
• However, this was met with strong resistance and protests in Tamil Nadu, where the state had already adopted a two-language policy, teaching Tamil and English in government schools.
• NEP 2020: The NEP 2020 reintroduces the three-language formula but with a key difference: it does not impose any language on States.
  • The policy specifies that the languages to be taught will be chosen by States, regions, and students, with the only requirement being that at least two of the three languages should be native to India.
• Tamil Nadu’s Stand: Tamil Nadu remains steadfast in maintaining its two-language policy, insisting that the three-language formula is a cover for promoting Hindi imposition and does not align with the state's linguistic and cultural preferences.

What Are the Issues?

• Learning Outcomes: According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) by Pratham, there are significant learning deficits in India’s education system:
  • In Class V, almost 60% of students could not read a Class II level text.
  • In 2023, 25% of youth aged 14-18 years could not read a Class II level text fluently in their regional language, and more than 40% could not read sentences in English.
  • Foundational numeracy skills, such as subtraction and division, are similarly poor among schoolchildren.
• Expenditure on Education: As per the 2022 budget analysis by the Ministry of Education, while the Centre contributes 15% of the total revenue expenditure on elementary education, States bear the remaining 85%.
• Total expenditure on education (elementary to technical education) by both the Centre and States is approximately 4-4.5% of India’s GDP, falling short of the 6% target set by the NEP 2020.

What needs to be done?

• While the idea of learning additional Indian languages in schools is desirable, the existing learning outcomes need to be addressed first. The priority should be to improve the teaching of:
  • Mother tongue or local languages
  • English proficiency
  • Foundational numeracy skills in government schools.
• English, although not native, has become a global language and helps in international competitiveness, especially in sectors like IT and services. Therefore, its proficiency remains essential.

The Need for Autonomy and Constructive Dialogue

• The rapid urbanization and migration trends are expected to increase the number of bilingual and trilingual individuals across India. This implies a growing need for language diversity in schools, but not at the expense of undermining the local languages.
• There needs to be a constructive dialogue between the Centre and Tamil Nadu to ensure that disputes over the three-language formula do not delay funding for education and other state-specific educational needs.
• Given the regional diversities and the financial burden on States, there should be a discussion on providing more autonomy to States in policy matters related to school education.

As part of ongoing negotiations to finalise a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), India is raising concerns over the European Union's proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will impose tariffs on carbon-intensive imports such as steel and aluminium starting in January 2026. This carbon tax could be as high as 30% on certain products, and it will affect India's exports to the EU, especially metals and other goods that are carbon-intensive.

What is CBAM?

• CBAM is a carbon tax that the EU plans to impose on goods imported from countries that have less strict environmental regulations.
• The tax targets products that produce high carbon emissions during production, such as steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizers, and electricity.
• It will start in January 2026, but exporters must begin providing data on their carbon emissions from October 2023.

India’s Concerns:

• Unfair Measure: India views CBAM as unfair because it believes it violates the "common but differentiated responsibilities" (CBDR) principle of climate negotiations. According to CBDR, countries with different levels of economic development should share responsibility for climate change, but not equally.
  • The EU’s position is that CBAM complies with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, as it is an extension of EU domestic regulations to international trade.
• Data Privacy: Indian exporters have raised concerns about the data requirements under CBAM. The EU demands over 1,000 data points from companies to comply, which many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India cannot provide.
• Trade and Environmental Issues Should Be Separate: India argues that environmental issues like carbon taxes should not be tied to international trade policies.
• Global Reaction:
  • Several countries, including China, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa, have already raised concerns at the World Trade Organization (WTO) about CBAM.
  • India has not yet filed a formal complaint at the WTO but is actively discussing other trade agreements, including a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU. The carbon tax issue is a major sticking point in these negotiations.

Impact on India’s Exports:

• India exports a large amount of goods to the EU, particularly metals like steel and aluminium. These exports are expected to be heavily impacted by CBAM, with tax rates of 20–35% on affected products.
• 2022-23 Exports: India exported goods worth $75 billion to the EU, and over 15% of its total exports go to the EU. Key sectors like metals, textiles, and chemicals will face increased tariffs under CBAM.
• If CBAM applies to more products, 43% of India’s total exports to the EU (around $37 billion) could be at risk.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) removed around 900 assessors after a bribery case and is reforming its accreditation process, including virtual assessments and a new binary accreditation system set to launch in May 2024.

What is NAAC?

• Established in: 1994
• NAAC is an autonomous government body.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education
• It is responsible for conducting evaluations of higher educational institutions (colleges and universities) in India.
• The evaluation is carried out to derive an understanding of education quality (Quality Status) among different institutes.
• NAAC assesses if the institutes comply with the quality standards in different areas such as educational processes, teaching-learning process, faculty, infrastructure, research, learning resources, organization, governance, student services and financial well-being.
• Education plays a pivotal role in the development of a nation. The teaching and research facilities offered by institutes must have a standard and recognition comparable to international standards.
• Purpose: The purpose of NAAC accreditation is to foster the core values within the higher education institutes:
  • Contribute towards the development of a high-quality higher education system
  • Promote competent skills and value systems among the students studying in higher education institutes
  • Foster the use of technology in teaching and research facilities
  • Strive for excellence and emerge as top learning centres on the world stage.

A recent survey by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), conducted between May-July 2024, analyzed the share of consumer prices received by farmers for major rabi crops in India.

Farmer’s Share of Consumer Prices

• Wheat: Farmers received the highest share, 67%, of the consumer price. This is largely due to government procurement systems like Minimum Support Price (MSP), which gives farmers an assured market for their produce.
• Rice: Farmers earned 52% of the consumer price, which has remained consistent in previous surveys, showing stable trends in farmers' earnings for rice.
• Share for Perishable Crops (Fruits & Vegetables)

• Farmers’ share for fruits and vegetables is lower, ranging between 40-63%, due to higher trader and retailer markups.
• These crops are subject to higher supply chain uncertainties because of:
• Short shelf-life cycles
• Seasonal production
• Diverse quality and demand fluctuations
• Special logistical requirements
• Pulses and Oilseeds

• Lentils: Farmers received 66% of the retail price, which is beneficial as lentils are mainly grown by small-holder farmers.
• Gram (Chana): Farmers earned 60% of the price.
• Rapeseed and Mustard (R&M): Farmers’ share was 52%, consistent with previous estimates.

Factors Influencing the Farmers’ Share

• Perishable crops have lower farmer shares compared to non-perishables. This is due to the unorganised supply chain, which compresses farmer profits as multiple intermediaries are involved.
• The supply chain dynamics of perishable crops make it difficult to track the flow of products, funds, and information, leading to lower farmer shares and higher markups by traders/retailers.

Madhya Pradesh released 10 gharials, a critically endangered species, into the Chambal river at the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary in Morena. MP’s decades-long conservation efforts have earned it the title of a “gharial state,” hosting over 80 per cent of India’s gharials.

What are Gharials?

• Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) are a species of long-snouted, fish-eating crocodilians.
  • Crocodilians are a group of reptiles that includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and more.
• They are known for their distinctive bulbous snouts, which resemble an inverted pot, a feature particularly seen in adult males.
• Size: Males grow between 3-6 meters, and females range from 2.6-4.5 meters.
• Diet: Gharials are primarily fish eaters. Their slender, sharp teeth help trap fish, which forms the bulk of their diet.
• Breeding: Gharials mate from November to January, and females lay eggs on sandbanks or islands from March to May. After hatching, females care for their young for a few days.
• Ecological Importance: Gharials are crucial for the river ecosystem, particularly in cleaning up dead fish and other carrion.
• Habitat: 
  • India (Chambal, Girwa, and Son Rivers)
  • Nepal (Narayani River)
• Conservation Status:
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List:Critically endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1

NASA's new space telescope, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), is scheduled for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

What is SPHEREx?

• SPHEREx is a megaphone-shaped space telescope with the capability to observe both optical and infrared light.
• While traditional optical telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope are limited to visible light, SPHEREx will focus on infrared light, which is essential for observing distant cosmic phenomena such as star formation, galactic structures, and the earliest moments of the universe.
• The telescope will map the entire sky in 102 infrared colors, creating the most detailed and colorful cosmic map ever produced.
• Main Objectives of SPHEREx
  • Mapping the Universe in 102 Infrared Colors: SPHEREx aims to map the universe in unprecedented detail.
    • Unlike the James Webb Space Telescope, which observes localized regions of the cosmos, SPHEREx will map the entire sky.
    • The mission will utilize infrared light, which is crucial for observing the farthest reaches of space, including stars being born and the detailed structures of galaxies.
    • SPHEREx will create a colorful, high-resolution map of the cosmos, offering new insights into cosmic history.
  • Understanding Cosmic Inflation: SPHEREx will investigate cosmic inflation, a theory explaining how the universe expanded faster than the speed of light in the moments following the Big Bang.
    • This expansion occurred around 14 billion years ago and is believed to have shaped the structure of the universe as we know it.
    • SPHEREx will measure the 3D positions of about 450 million galaxies, providing critical data to test various theories surrounding cosmic inflation.
  • Exploring Life-Forming Molecules in the Milky Way: SPHEREx will also explore the Milky Way galaxy to identify biogenic molecules—the building blocks of life, such as carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen—frozen in icy particles in some of the coldest regions of the galaxy.
    • These molecules are thought to be crucial for the formation of life on Earth.
    • SPHEREx will help scientists determine how these molecules are distributed within the Milky Way and explore how they might have traveled to Earth, potentially providing key insights into the origins of life
• Significance: The data collected by SPHEREx will enhance our understanding of the early universe, the growth of galaxies, and the conditions necessary for life. By mapping the entire sky and studying distant cosmic phenomena, SPHEREx will complement existing missions like the James Webb Space Telescope and provide a broader, more complete picture of the universe’s history.

The Indian Navy is preparing to commission a new stealth frigate named Tamal, which is currently being built in Russia. This ship is significant because it will be the last warship commissioned outside of India. From now on, India plans to design and build its own warships.

About Tamal

• Tamal is a stealth frigate, a modern, advanced warship designed for stealth operations, minimizing detection by enemy radar and other sensors.
• Construction: It is being built in Russia as part of a deal between India and Russia.
• Tamal is the last warship India will commission from another country, marking the end of India’s reliance on foreign-built warships.
• Deal Background: The ship is part of a four-ship deal signed between India and Russia in October 2016 for additional stealth frigates. Under the deal:
  • Two ships are being built in Russia (including Tamal).
  • Two ships are being built in India under a technology transfer arrangement with Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL).
• The commissioning of Tamal is expected to take place in early June 2025. Once commissioned, it will join the Indian Navy’s fleet.
• Significance:
  • Tamal marks the end of India’s reliance on foreign-built warships, as the country has now developed the capability to design and build its own warships.
  • It is part of a broader push for India to strengthen its defense industry and become a self-reliant "builder's navy".
• Previous Ship in the Deal:
  • The first ship under the deal, INS Tushil, was commissioned in December 2024 in Kaliningrad, Russia.
  • INS Tushil sailed over 12,500 nautical miles and visited eight countries before returning to its home port in Karwar in February 2025.

The growing significance of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and others in modern technologies is becoming central to geopolitics, particularly in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war. As countries like the US and China vie for control over these resources, India faces a crucial need to secure its own access to these materials for future technological and manufacturing growth.

Geoeconomics of Critical Minerals

• Critical Minerals as New Oil: Unlike the past, where oil influenced geopolitics, critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earths have become essential due to their importance in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and high-tech manufacturing. These resources are now a significant factor in determining global power dynamics.
• US Dependence on Critical Minerals: The US, despite its success in achieving energy independence through oil and gas, remains highly dependent on imports for critical minerals, with China holding dominance over key rare earth resources. This dependence makes the US vulnerable in the ongoing technological race with China.
• Ukraine’s Strategic Importance: Ukraine possesses significant reserves of lithium, graphite, and rare earths, crucial for battery technology and high-tech industries. Its resources offer leverage to the US, as it faces fierce competition with China over access to these materials.

The Strategic Race between US and China

• Technological Competition: While the US remains a leader in certain areas, China has gained a competitive edge in sectors like electric vehicles and artificial intelligence, challenging US dominance. This intensifies the need for the US to secure its supply chains for critical minerals, reducing reliance on non-friendly nations.
• US Leverage in Ukraine: In the geopolitical race, the US sees Ukraine’s rich critical mineral resources as key to countering China’s influence. The ongoing conflict with Russia provides the US with more leverage to access Ukraine’s mineral wealth than other potential territories like Greenland or Canada.
• India’s Geopolitical Position: India is increasingly focusing on securing its own supply of critical minerals through international agreements. However, it faces significant challenges in domestic exploration, as it is heavily dependent on imports for these essential resources.

The Path to India’s Self-Reliance in Critical Minerals

• India's Import Dependence: India relies heavily on imports for critical minerals, including components for solar and wind power infrastructure, batteries, and electric vehicles. This dependence could pose a challenge to its manufacturing ambitions if not addressed.
• Potential in Domestic Exploration:   India has significant geological resources but lacks sufficient exploration and monetization of its reserves. To become less vulnerable, India needs to liberalize its exploration sector and encourage private investments in the discovery of critical minerals.
• Government’s Role in Securing Resources: While India has been signing agreements with friendly nations, it must also focus on increasing domestic production. By liberalizing mineral exploration and utilizing its geological potential, India can reduce its vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions.

Practice Question:

Q. Discuss the strategic importance of critical minerals in the geopolitics of the 21st century, focusing on the challenges faced by India in securing its supply and the steps it can take to reduce its dependency on imports.

Tamil Nadu’s refusal to adopt the three-language policy has sparked tensions with the Centre. The state’s long-standing two-language policy, particularly in education, contrasts with the central government’s push for a national adoption of the three-language formula. This has rekindled debates on language education in India, highlighting its complex and controversial history.

Historical Context and the Language Debate

• Historical Language Controversy: Post-Independence, language was seen as crucial for national integration. The question of whether to adopt Hindi as a national language led to heated debates within the Constituent Assembly, which laid the foundation for the language policies in education.
• The Three-Language Formula: Introduced to bridge linguistic divides, the three-language formula was designed to promote multilingualism in schools. However, it faced challenges in implementation, particularly in non-Hindi speaking regions like Tamil Nadu, where it has not been adopted.
• Language as a Medium of Instruction: The educational philosophy in India often viewed language merely as a medium of instruction, neglecting its potential for deeper cognitive development. This approach has influenced India’s educational system and the controversial debates surrounding language policies.

Political and Educational Impacts of Language Policy

• Impact of the Three-Language Formula: Despite being implemented in several states, the formula has failed to promote regional languages in the Hindi belt. In contrast, regions like Tamil Nadu have resisted the formula, adhering to a two-language policy focused on Tamil and English.
• The Role of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE): CABE, historically instrumental in resolving language education issues, has been sidelined in recent years. Its absence has led to an erosion of consensus in policymaking, impacting the effectiveness of language education reforms.
• Language Teaching Standards: The real challenge in Indian education lies not in the formula but in the poor standards of language teaching. Despite initiatives to make English compulsory in schools, the overall quality of language education remains subpar, with teachers often lacking proficiency in English and other regional languages.

The Broader Impact on Education and Society

• Declining Reading Habits: One of the key consequences of the poor standard of language teaching is the decline in reading habits among students. Despite efforts to teach reading from an early age, schools fail to cultivate a culture of habitual reading, impacting students’ language skills and academic performance.
• Limited Success of Private English-Medium Schools: In the absence of quality public education, low-budget private schools that claim to be English-medium have flourished. However, they often fail to deliver on their promise, as many of these schools lack proper resources and qualified teachers.
• Cultural Role of Hindi and Regional Languages: Hindi and regional languages often serve more as cultural symbols rather than as practical tools for learning. This limits their effectiveness in schools, reducing their role in fostering intellectual development and hindering educational progress.

Practice Question:

Q. Critically examine the challenges faced by India in implementing a standardized language education policy, focusing on the conflict between regional language policies and the central government’s three-language formula.

The central government’s maternity benefit program, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), is facing severe criticism for its inadequate implementation, shrinking benefits, and violations of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Despite the NFSA’s promise of Rs 6,000 for every pregnant woman, the government has failed to meet this target, causing widespread deprivation among vulnerable women.

Shortage of Maternity Benefits Under PMMVY

• Legal Entitlement under NFSA: According to the National Food Security Act (2013), all pregnant women (except those already covered in the formal sector) are entitled to Rs 6,000 maternity benefits. However, due to inflation, this should amount to Rs 12,000 at the current price level.
• PMMVY’s Restricted Coverage: The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) only covers one child per family (with a second child allowed if it is a girl), violating the NFSA’s universal principle. The benefit has been reduced to Rs 5,000 for the first child.
• Declining Coverage and Budgets: Effective coverage under PMMVY was just 9% in 2023-24, a sharp decline from 36% in 2019-20. The central government’s spending on the program in 2023-24 was also at a record low of Rs870 crore, a mere third of its expenditure five years ago.

Implementation Issues and Government's Approach

• Software and Payment Delays: Officials attribute the PMMVY’s poor performance in 2023-24 to major changes in software and implementation processes. However, the root cause appears to be delays in payments and the exclusionary nature of Aadhaar-based systems.
• Inefficient Handling and Accountability: Despite repeated issues, the central government continues to complicate the system further rather than addressing the existing problems, leading to more exclusion and reduced benefits for pregnant women.
• State-Specific Successes: States like Tamil Nadu and Odisha have demonstrated the effectiveness of maternity benefit programs with substantial financial support—Rs18,000 in Tamil Nadu and Rs10,000 in Odisha—resulting in higher coverage rates compared to PMMVY’s national figures.

The Future of Maternity Benefits and Policy Recommendations

• Call for Policy Revamp: The PMMVY needs to be revamped to meet the letter and spirit of the NFSA. The central government should increase the maternity benefits to at least Rs6,000 and adjust them to inflation.
• Better State Models: States like Odisha and Tamil Nadu, with more effective implementations and higher benefits, could serve as models for a more universal and accessible maternity benefit system nationwide.
• Need for National Focus on Pregnant Women’s Welfare: The government’s continued neglect of the program reflects a broader issue where financial considerations outweigh public welfare. Revamping PMMVY would benefit society by supporting maternal health and children’s welfare.

Practice Question:

Q. Analyze the shortcomings of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) and suggest reforms to align the program with the National Food Security Act’s goals.