SOCIAL SECTOR :EXTENDING REACH AND DRIVING EMPOWERMENT
OVERVIEW :
The Indian economy's growth story emphasises a welfare-enhancement approach by the
government, focusing on empowering all citizens and ensuring the efficient delivery of welfare
measures. The government's initiatives aim to provide opportunities for everyone, enabling them to
achieve their professional and personal goals. With thefocus on education, health, skilling, and
innovation, with improved social and economic infrastructure the aim is to achieve inclusive
development
Social Sector: Government Expenditure Trends
Social sector includes
• Education
• Healthcare,
• rural development,
• social security, and
• employment programs.
Government spending on social services (SSE) has grown steadily, rising from ₹14.8 lakh crore in
FY21 to ₹25.7 lakh crore in FY25 (BE).
Education Expenditure: ₹9.2 lakh crore in FY25 (12% CAGR growth).
Health Expenditure: ₹6.1 lakh crore in FY25 (18% CAGR growth).
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24
• Urban-rural MPCE gap reduced from 84% (2011-12) to 70% (2023-24).
• Rural MPCE: ₹4,122
• Urban MPCE: ₹6,996 (₹7,078 incl. free entitlements).
• Gini Coefficient (inequality measure) improved: Rural (0.237 from 0.266), Urban (0.284
from 0.314).
• Consumption growth in bottom 5%: Rural (22%), Urban (19%).
EDUCATION: TREADING NEW PATHWAYS
The National Education Policy 2020(NEP) ‘It aims at producing engaged, productive, and
contributing citizens for building an equitable, inclusive, and plural society as envisaged by our
Constitution.’
School education
Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)
• Primary: 93%
• Upper Primary: 89.3%
• Secondary: 77.4%
• Higher Secondary: 56.2%
Dropout Rates:
• Primary: 1.9%
• Upper Primary: 5.2%
• Secondary: 14.1%
FOCUS AREA
• Focus on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) to improve student well-being.
• Peer learning, life skills, and emotional intelligence integrated into curricula.
• Mental health awareness in schools to enhance productivity and emotional well-being.
• Early childhood education is crucial for long-term learning outcomes.
• Focus on Foundational Literacy & Numeracy (FLN) by Grade 3.
• Bridging the Digital Gap:Digital learning plays a key role in education accessibility.
• Inclusion of differently-abled students in mainstream education.(Children with special needs)
GOVERNEMENT INITIATIVE
• NIPUN Bharat Mission: Ensures FLN for all children by 2026-27.
• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Supports pre-primary to secondary education.
• PM SHRI Schools: Model schools focusing on experiential learning.
• DIKSHA, SWAYAM, PM e-Vidya: Digital platforms for e-learning.
• One Class One Channel Initiative: Dedicated TV channels for different grades.
• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Special educators, assistive devices, and inclusive classrooms.
• Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan: Infrastructure accessibility for students with disabilities.
States like Tamil Nadu have implemented innovative models like ‘Illam Thedi Kalvi’ (home-based
remedial education), which should be replicated across India. Decentralized governance, with active
panchayat involvement, can make social sector initiatives more effective.
Higher education
India’s higher education system: 4.33 crore students (2021-22), GER 28.4% (goal: 50% by 2035).
• Expansion: IITs (16 to 23), IIMs (13 to 20), Medical Colleges (387 to 780).
• NEP 2020: Focus on multidisciplinary education, international collaboration, and autonomy for
institutions.
Medical Education Issues:
• Doctor-patient ratio (1:1263) improving, but high cost of private medical education (₹60 lakh - ₹1
crore).
• NEET & Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) exam bottlenecks.
Countries like Singapore and the US have more autonomous university models, allowing for greater
innovation. India’s proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) must ensure “light but
tight” regulation
TOWARDS A HEALTHY NATION
Estimates of National Health Accounts (NHA) tracks total health expenditures, including public
and private spending.
• Government health expenditure as a % of GDP: 1.5% (FY22).
• Out-of-pocket expenditure declined to 48.2% (FY22) from 62.6% (FY14).
• Social security expenditure on health increased from 6% (FY14) to 9.6% (FY22)
Increased public spending reduces financial burden on citizens.Shift towards preventive healthcare
with a focus on insurance-based models.
Transforming Health for Tomorrow: Strengthening primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare
infrastructure.
◦ Digital integration in health services.
◦ Strengthening rural healthcare facilities.
◦ Public-private partnerships in diagnostics and treatments.
◦ Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat.
◦ E-Sanjeevani for telemedicine services.
Disruptive Technology in Healthcare: AI-driven diagnostics, telemedicine, and wearable
technology transforming healthcare.
To address Rising work stress, burnout, and lifestyle diseases in urban populations.
◦ Mental health integration under National Health Mission (NHM).
◦ Expansion of National Tele Mental Health Programme.
Addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases.
• Fit India Movement promoting active lifestyle habits.
• Expansion of yoga & wellness centers under Ayushman Bharat.
In a nutshell Policymaking in India emphasises preventive health to enhance life expectancy, quality
of life, and economic growth through lower healthcare costs and improvedproductivity. The
National Health Policy 2017 advocates universal health coverage,affordable care, and prevention of
NCDs. Advancements in physical and digitalinfrastructure, including eSanjeevani, UWIN, NDHM,
drones, and AI, have improvedhealthcare access, particularly in underserved areas. Mental health
initiatives and strategies to promote healthier lifestyles are crucial for addressing NCDs and
boostingproductivity.
RURAL ECONOMY
Social Security & Welfare Measures
• Food Security: PMGKAY provides free grains to 80 crore people.
• DBTs & Women’s Economic Participation: SHGs improving credit access.
• Gini Coefficient Improvement: Urban (0.284 from 0.314), Rural (0.237 from 0.266).
Rural Development & Localized SDGs
• Rural Consumption Rising: MPCE gap down from 84% (2011) to 70% (2023-24).
•Housing & Infrastructure: PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission accelerating rural development.
• Skill Development for Rural Youth: PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana, vocational education.
Rural Infrastructure
RuralHousing
Rural housing plays a crucial role in improving living standards and economic growth.
Government initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) aim to
provide affordable housing for the rural poor.Infrastructure improvements in housing enhance
identity, stability, and long-term development.
Localising SDGs
• Commitment to SDGs – India actively engages in SDG implementation through Voluntary
National Reviews (2017, 2020, 2023) and the SDG Index, aligning with the vision of Viksit
Bharat 2047.
• Whole-of-Government Approach – A strategy focusing on cooperative and competitive
federalism, encouraging states to compete and collaborate for SDG progress.
• Global Shift to Localisation – SDGs are being adapted at regional and local levels, ensuring
alignment with national policies while addressing local priorities.
• State-Led Initiatives – Many Indian states have developed district and block-level SDG
frameworks, integrating SDG goals with local governance and budget planning.
• Indian Model of SDG Localisation – Based on four pillars: Institutional Ownership, Collaborative
Competition, Capacity Building, and Whole-of-Society Approach, ensuring inclusive and
effective implementation.
Kerala's community-based model integrates local governance, training, and real-time SDG
monitoring for effective implementation. SDG Coordination Centres (SDGCCs) in 10 states
facilitate integrated policymaking and evidence-based decision-making. NITI Aayog’s SDG
Coordination and Acceleration Centres (SDGCACs) aim to enhance collaboration with finance
departments, civil society, and private sectors for achieving SDGs by 2030.
Other measures towards rural welfare
• Food, Nutrition, Health, and WASH (FNHW) – Under DAY-NRLM, initiatives like nutri-
gardens, poultry, dairy, and sanitation are being implemented in blocks across districts to improve
rural health and nutrition.
• Social Inclusion & Gender – State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) integrate gender-
focused strategies to address child education, early marriage, asset creation for women, and
violence against women; currently implemented in 32 states/UTs.
• Gender Resource Centres (GRCs) – 3997 GRCs are operational across 18 states/UTs,
addressing gender issues through Gender Point Persons (GPPs) and Gender-CRPs, supported by
40,061 Gram Panchayat (GP) Gender Forums and 1927 Block Gender Forums.
• Free Legal Assistance (NALSA & Tele-Law) – NALSA ensures free legal aid from Taluk Courts
to the Supreme Court through Lok Adalats, Victim Compensation Scheme, and legal awareness
programs. The Nyaya Bandhu program promotes pro bono legal services.
• Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 – Aims to provide accessible justice in rural areas; 313 Gram
Nyayalayas have disposed of 2.99 lakh cases between Dec 2020 and Oct 2024.
• National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) – A social security scheme covering 3.09 crore
BPL beneficiaries for old age, widows, and disabled persons, with ₹1 lakh crore annual
expenditure, extending to 9 crore beneficiaries including state-level pension schemes.
Enhancing rural incomes
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)
Flagship Poverty Alleviation Programme – DAY-NRLM aims to reduce poverty by enabling gainful
self-employment and skilled wage employment, making it one of the world’s largest livelihood
missions.
Four Core Components:
• Social Mobilisation & SHG Strengthening – Organising rural poor women into self-managed,
financially sustainable community institutions.
• Financial Inclusion – Ensuring access to banking, credit, and financial literacy.
• Sustainable Livelihoods – Enhancing agriculture, livestock, and non-farm activities.
• Social Inclusion & Development – Ensuring access to government entitlements and schemes
through convergence.
Community-Based Resource Persons (CRPs) – Trained SHG members serve as Pashu Sakhi
(livestock), Krishi Sakhi (agriculture), Bank Sakhi (banking), Bima Sakhi (insurance), CRP-EP
(entrepreneurship), and Poshan Sakhi (nutrition) to support rural livelihoods.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
• Transparency – 99.98% wage payments via DBT & Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS),
with geotagging and social audits in 28 states/UTs to prevent leakages.
• Convergence with 10+ Ministries – Integrated with Nutri-Gardens (NRLM), Sericulture
(Textiles), Aquaculture (Fisheries), Horticulture (Agriculture), Rubber Plantations (Commerce),
and rural roads (PMGSY & BRO) to maximize impact.
• Skill Development Initiatives – Barefoot Technicians (BFT) and UNNATI Skilling Project train
rural workers, ensuring livelihood diversification and upskilling.
The government's focus on rural infrastructure, housing, and livelihoods reflects a comprehensive
‘welfare for all’ approach. By improving rural connectivity, sanitation, housing, access to drinking
water, and social inclusion, alongside supporting microfinance, SHGs, and localisation of SDGs,
these initiatives ensure inclusive development. Together, they uplift rural communities, bridging
gaps in equity and quality of life.
