Q.The increase in life expectancy in the country has led to newer health challenges in the community. What are those challenges and what steps need to be taken to meet them?
How to approach: Identify every sub-question in the prompt, allocate dedicated sub-headings to each part, substantiate points with examples/data, and conclude with a forward-looking Way Forward.
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India's average life expectancy has risen significantly from 49.7 years in 1970-75 to approximately 70 years in 2023, driven by advancements in medicine, nutrition, and sanitation. While this is a major developmental success, an aging population introduces unique, complex health challenges that the country's healthcare system must urgently address.
Body
1. New Health Challenges Due to Increased Life Expectancy
- Surge in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Chronic conditions like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and cancers are rising rapidly. According to the National Health Profile 2021, NCDs now account for over 60% of all deaths in India.
- Geriatric Care Deficit: There is a severe shortage of specialized geriatric wards, trained geriatricians, and long-term care facilities.
- Mental Health Issues: Cognitive decline, dementia, Alzheimer's, and depression due to social isolation are increasingly common among the elderly.
- Financial and Social Vulnerability: High out-of-pocket healthcare costs, combined with a lack of universal pension coverage, make healthcare unaffordable for many elderly citizens.
- Rising Dependency Ratio: A declining fertility rate coupled with an aging population increases the economic and caregiving burden on the working-age population.
2. Steps Needed to Meet These Challenges
- Strengthen Geriatric Infrastructure: Establish dedicated geriatric departments in all public hospitals and expand training programs for healthcare professionals.
- Expand Health Insurance Coverage: Enhance Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) to cover comprehensive geriatric treatments, home-based care, and palliative services.
- Promote Preventive Health: Encourage healthy lifestyle choices, regular screenings, and physical activity through community programs like the Fit India Movement.
- Enhance Mental Health Support: Integrate geriatric mental health services into primary healthcare and establish community support groups and helplines.
- Develop Palliative and Home-Based Care: Expand home-care services and telemedicine to support bedridden elderly patients, replicating successful models like Kerala's Palliative Care Program.
Conclusion
To ensure that longer lives are lived with dignity and health, India must transition from a curative-focused healthcare model to a comprehensive, age-friendly system that integrates social security, preventive care, and specialized geriatric services.
Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping
| Examination & Year | UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2022 (Question 3) |
|---|---|
| Paper & Syllabus Topic | General Studies Paper III — Economy, Environment, S&T & Security → Governance, Social Justice & Welfare Schemes |
| Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time | 10 Marks • 150 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 7–8 Minutes |
| Directive Word & Core Demand | Analytical / Multi-Dimensional: Address all explicit sub-parts of the question with balanced arguments, factual illustrations, and a solution-oriented conclusion. |
| Recommended Structure Split | Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words |
| AI Practice & Evaluation Tools | Upload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map |
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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Mains 2022 GS3 (Governance & Social Justice)
How should I structure the answer for this UPSC Mains 2022 GS Paper III question on Governance & Social Justice?
This 2022 GS Paper III question carries 10 marks with a 150-word limit and uses the "Analytical / Multi-Dimensional" directive. Identify every sub-question in the prompt, allocate dedicated sub-headings to each part, substantiate points with examples/data, and conclude with a forward-looking Way Forward. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words) and aim to finish within 7–8 Minutes.
Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2022 question belong to?
This question is part of General Studies Paper III — Economy, Environment, S&T & Security under the syllabus module "Governance, Social Justice & Welfare Schemes". You can explore all repeated questions from Governance & Social Justice in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Governance & Social Justice PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.
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