Content
- Lessons from India’s vaccination drive
- Penalty in proportion
- Socialism in India: Context and Significance
Lessons from India’s vaccination drive
What & Why?
- Vaccination: Among the most effective, affordable public health measures; prevents millions of deaths annually.
- India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP):
- World’s largest programme.
- Covers ~2.6 crore infants + 2.9 crore pregnant women every year.
- Responsible for major decline in under-5 mortality (45 → 31 per 1,000 live births, 2014–21).
- Coverage: 12 diseases (11 nationwide, 1 endemic).
Relevance:
- GS 2 (Governance): Public health policy, Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), Mission Indradhanush, technology-enabled governance (Co-WIN, U-WIN).
- GS 3 (Health & Infrastructure): Immunisation, disease elimination (polio, measles-rubella, yaws), pandemic preparedness, vaccine R&D and manufacturing, logistics & cold chain management.
Practice Questions:
- Evaluate India’s vaccination strategy in achieving public health equity and its lessons for governance.(250 Words)
Policy Expansion (2010s–2020s)
- New vaccines added in the last decade: Tdap (Tetanus & Adult Diphtheria), IPV, Measles-Rubella, Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Conjugate, Japanese Encephalitis.
- Mission Indradhanush (2014): Target 90% full immunisation (from 62% in 2014, NFHS-4).
- Intensified MI (2017): Focused on low-coverage and missed populations.
- By 2023: 12 phases completed.
- Reached 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women.
- Integrated into Gram Swaraj Abhiyan campaigns.
Achievements & Milestones
- Polio: India polio-free since 2011.
- Maternal & Neonatal Tetanus elimination: 2015.
- Yaws elimination: 2016.
- Measles-Rubella catch-up campaign (2017–19): 34.8 crore children vaccinated.
- COVID-19 vaccination (2021–23):
- 220+ crore doses delivered.
- Coverage: 97% (one dose), 90% (two doses).
- Showcase of domestic vaccine R&D & manufacturing.
- Vaccine Maitri: Supported LMICs → global goodwill, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in action.
- Recognition: India received Measles & Rubella Champion Award (2024).
Challenges
- Coverage Gaps: Remote, migratory, vaccine-hesitant populations.
- COVID-19 Disruption: Routine immunisation setback → measles outbreaks (2022–24).
- Vaccine hesitancy & misinformation: Clusters of unimmunised children remain.
- Logistics: Reaching last-mile in hilly, border, and tribal regions.
New Initiatives (2023–25)
- IMI 5.0 (2023): Nationwide under-5 immunisation drive.
- Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination campaign (2025): Aims for >95% coverage, herd immunity.
- Zero-dose strategy: Targeting children who received no vaccines.
Technology Integration
- Digital backbone:
- U-WIN platform: End-to-end vaccination tracking (pregnant women + children till 16 yrs).
- Builds on Co-WIN success.
- Nationwide, anytime-anywhere vaccination access.
- Complementary tech:
- eVIN (Vaccine stock monitoring).
- NCCMIS (Cold chain tracking).
- SAFE-VAC (Vaccine safety monitoring).
- Cold chain & infra: Strengthened under PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infra Mission.
Global & Strategic Dimensions
- Vaccine Hub: India = world’s largest vaccine manufacturer.
- Make in India: Self-reliance in vaccine R&D + production.
- Strategic Soft Power: Vaccine Maitri enhanced India’s role as a responsible global actor.
- Export Potential: India can shape future vaccine markets in Global South.
One-Health Approach (Future Direction)
- Need for integrated disease surveillance: Human + Animal + Environment.
- Pandemic preparedness: Immunisation + sensitive disease tracking must go hand in hand.
- Monitoring anti-vaccine narratives: Key for social trust in health systems.
- Strengthening linkages between immunisation, surveillance, and health infrastructure.
Comprehensive Significance
- Public Health: Reduced child mortality, eliminated multiple diseases, built herd immunity.
- Social Equity: Free vaccines → accessible to poor, women, children in underserved areas.
- Economic Impact: Prevents disease burden, reduces healthcare costs, boosts productivity.
- Governance: Digital platforms (Co-WIN → U-WIN) showcase India’s model for scale + transparency.
- Global Leadership: India emerges as a vaccine powerhouse with soft power leverage.
Penalty in proportion
What & Why?
- Defamation: The act of harming a person’s reputation through false or damaging statements.
- Types:
- Civil defamation: Remedies include monetary compensation, injunctions, and retractions.
- Criminal defamation (India): Section 499 & 500 IPC → imprisonment or fine for defamatory statements.
- Supreme Court Ruling (Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India, 2016):
- Upheld criminal defamation, reasoning that reputation is part of Right to Life (Article 21).
Relevance:
- GS 2 (Polity & Governance): Right to freedom of speech and expression (Article 19(1)(a)), Article 21 (Right to Life and Reputation), judicial interpretation (Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India, 2016).
- GS 2 (Rule of Law & Legal Reform): Criminal defamation vs civil remedies, proportionality in legal penalties, misuse by political actors.
- GS 2 (Media & Governance): Press freedom, self-censorship, democratic debate, transparency and accountability.
Practice Questions:
- Critically examine the challenges posed by criminal defamation in India and suggest reforms to balance free speech and reputation protection.(250 Words)
Emerging Concerns & Misuse
- Judicial unease: Supreme Court judges (e.g., Justice M.M. Sundresh) have noted misuse by political actors and private individuals.
- Disproportionate remedy: Imprisonment is excessive for reputational harm, unlike physical harm; civil remedies are sufficient.
- Political misuse: Cases against public figures (Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Sonia Gandhi) used to intimidate or delay criticism.
- Media intimidation: Journalists face harassment and self-censorship due to criminal defamation suits from local politicians or businesses.
Systemic & Procedural Problems
- Lower judiciary: Summons often issued without assessing whether speech crosses the threshold of defamation.
- Opportunistic litigation:
- Statements taken out of context or distorted.
- Laws weaponized to entangle rivals in prolonged legal battles (e.g., Subramanian Swamy v. Sonia Gandhi/Gandhi; Gadkari/Jaitley v. Kejriwal/AAP).
- Impact on governance: Litigation can hinder the functioning of public officials (e.g., Delhi government).
Alternatives & Best Practices
- Civil remedies:
- Monetary damages.
- Injunctions to prevent further dissemination.
- Retractions/apologies.
- Benefits over criminal defamation:
- Avoids threat of imprisonment.
- Reduces misuse by powerful actors.
- Maintains free speech while protecting reputation.
Global Perspective
- Many democratic countries (e.g., UK) have abolished criminal defamation, recognizing it as incompatible with free democratic debate.
- India’s continuation of criminal defamation is increasingly seen as anti-democratic and chilling for journalism and political discourse.
Broader Implications
- Free speech & democracy: Criminal defamation can suppress dissent, critique, and investigative journalism.
- Media freedom: Self-censorship undermines transparency and accountability.
- Rule of law: Overuse of criminal law for civil matters weakens faith in justice.
- Legal reform: Growing consensus for decriminalisation to align with democratic norms and proportionality principles.
Comprehensive Significance
- Democracy & Governance: Ensures citizens, media, and opposition can criticize without fear of imprisonment.
- Judicial efficiency: Civil remedies provide timely resolution without clogging criminal courts.
- Societal trust: Encourages balanced protection of reputation without empowering the powerful to silence criticism.
- India’s global image: Aligns with international best practices on free speech and democratic debate.
Key takeaway: Criminal defamation in India is increasingly misused, disproportionate, and incompatible with democratic debate; civil remedies and legal reform are essential to protect free expression while safeguarding reputations.
Socialism in India: Context and Significance
Context & Concept
- Topic: Indian socialism, its evolution, uniqueness, and relevance today.
- Indian socialism: A political, social, and economic ideology aiming at social justice, equity, and reduction of inequalities, adapted to India’s historical, cultural, and demographic context.
- Contrast with global socialism:
- European socialism traditionally emphasized class struggle, reduction of economic inequalities through electoral democracy and state control.
- Indian socialism combines socio-economic equality with attention to caste, community, and local diversity.
Relevance:
- GS 2 (Governance & Policy): Affirmative action, social welfare schemes, decentralization, inclusive governance, policy models.
- GS 1/2 (History & Polity): Independence-era socialist movements, Emergency influence, leaders like Lohia, Joshi, Achyut Patwardhan.
Practice Questions:
- Examine the evolution of Indian socialism and its impact on social justice and democratic governance.(250 Words)
Historical Background
- Key historical movements:
- Samajwadi/leftist movements in India over 90 years, including involvement of intellectuals, activists, and leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia, Acharya Narendra Deva, etc.
- Independence-era socialists: Advocated for egalitarian policies alongside democratic participation, not violent revolution.
- Influence of Emergency (1975–77):
- Deepened commitment to democracy, shaping socialist thought around protecting rights and resisting authoritarianism.
- Prominent Indian Socialists:
- Lohia, Joshi, Raj Narain, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Achyut Patwardhan, Anil Kumar, and others emphasized justice for backward castes, marginalized communities, and democratic governance.
Ideological Foundations
- Core principles:
- Reduction of inequalities (economic, social, caste-based).
- Democratic participation and decentralization of power.
- Social justice and affirmative action for marginalized groups (SC/ST/OBC, women).
- Emphasis on Indian cultural, linguistic, and social diversity.
- Distinctive features of Indian socialism:
- Non-Marxist in rigid economic terms, combining ethical, cultural, and political egalitarianism.
- Flexible approach: integrates local realities (rural-urban, caste, community) with global socialist ideals.
- Rejects European revolutionary and centralised models; adopts democratic, reformist approach.
Contemporary Relevance
- Current challenges addressed:
- Persistent social and economic inequalities, especially caste and gender-based disparities.
- Need for inclusive governance balancing equity and democracy.
- Addressing under-representation of marginalized communities in politics and policy-making.
- Policy & governance implications:
- Affirmative action, reservations in education and employment.
- Social welfare schemes aimed at reducing structural inequalities.
- Promotion of decentralized political and social decision-making.
Critiques & Observations
- Ideological fragmentation:
- Some historical and modern leaders had divergent interpretations; sometimes personal or political conflicts overshadowed collective vision.
- Misunderstanding by popular perception:
- Indian socialism often misrepresented as “leftist extremism,” ignoring its unique context-sensitive adaptation.
- Implementation challenges:
- Political and bureaucratic resistance.
- Need to continuously balance redistribution with economic growth.
Global and Strategic Significance
- Distinctive Indian contribution:
- Indian socialism adapted universal principles of equality to local realities (caste, gender, culture).
- Expanded the notion of social justice globally, influencing debates on inclusive democracy and human rights.
- Contrast with other socialist traditions:
- Less doctrinaire, avoids violent class struggle; more ethical, humanistic, and context-sensitive.
- Combines political democracy with social equity, unlike some European models that prioritize economic equality alone.
Comprehensive Significance
- Democracy & Governance: Strengthens participatory politics, decentralization, and protection of civil rights.
- Social Justice: Focuses on historically disadvantaged communities and equitable access to resources.
- Policy Model: Serves as a blueprint for inclusive social and economic policy in multi-ethnic, multi-religious societies.
- Long-term Vision: Seeks to balance equity with economic development, cultural pluralism, and democratic norms.
Key takeaway: Indian socialism is a unique, context-driven ideology that prioritizes social justice, equality across caste, gender, and community lines, and democratic participation, offering a model distinct from global socialist traditions while remaining relevant for India’s contemporary governance and social equity challenges.
