Introduction India’s development journey is marked by sharp regional disparities. While some districts have achieved rapid socio-economic progress, many others remain trapped in cycles of poverty, weak infrastructure, poor health outcomes, and limited educational access. Recognizing this imbalance, the Government of India launched the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) in 2018 with the objective of accelerating…
Introduction Rapid population growth continues to pose serious challenges for developing countries, particularly in areas such as healthcare, education, employment, food security, and environmental sustainability. Traditional population control strategies have often focused narrowly on contraception and family planning programs. However, global experience increasingly shows that the most sustainable and humane way to stabilize population growth…
Introduction Indian society is often described as one of the oldest living civilizations in the world. Despite centuries of political upheavals, foreign invasions, colonial rule, and rapid modernization, India has remarkably preserved its cultural continuity. From ancient philosophical traditions to everyday social practices, Indian culture continues to thrive alongside modern institutions. What makes this resilience…
Introduction Over the last decade, India has witnessed a major transformation in its education system driven by digital initiatives. Recognizing education as a foundation for human capital development and inclusive growth, the Government of India launched several technology-enabled programs to improve access, quality, governance, and equity in learning. Digital platforms, online classrooms, open educational resources,…
Introduction Customs and traditions form the cultural backbone of societies. They transmit values, norms, collective memories, and social practices across generations, giving people a sense of identity and continuity. However, critics argue that unquestioned adherence to customs and traditions can suppress rational thinking and encourage obscurantism—defined as resistance to intellectual enlightenment, scientific reasoning, and social…
Introduction India has historically been celebrated as a land of extraordinary diversity and pluralism. Its social fabric includes hundreds of languages, multiple religions, varied ethnic communities, and distinct regional cultures. Diversity in India is not merely demographic; it is deeply embedded in everyday social practices, festivals, food traditions, artistic expressions, and philosophical outlooks. Pluralism, meanwhile,…
Introduction India is a civilization marked by extraordinary diversity. Its social fabric is woven from multiple languages, religions, ethnic traditions, and historical experiences. This diversity has given rise to rich cultural identities at regional levels. Alongside national consciousness, strong regional loyalties have developed over time. These loyalties sometimes express themselves as regionalism—a sentiment where people…
Introduction India is globally recognized for its extraordinary cultural diversity, marked by variations in language, religion, region, ethnicity, and social customs. Among these dimensions, caste has historically been one of the most influential organizing principles of Indian society. Originating in ancient social stratification systems, caste structured occupation, social interaction, marriage, and access to resources. With…
Introduction One of the enduring challenges of welfare governance in India has been ensuring that public resources reach the intended beneficiaries efficiently, transparently, and without leakages. Traditional welfare delivery mechanisms—often involving physical cash, intermediaries, and manual records—have historically suffered from corruption, delays, duplication, and wastage. In response to these systemic inefficiencies, the government introduced the…
Introduction Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have emerged as a cornerstone of India’s poverty alleviation and women empowerment strategies. By pooling resources, encouraging savings, and facilitating access to microfinance, SHGs have sought to address issues of financial exclusion, social marginalization, and grassroots development. Over the last three decades, SHGs have grown into a robust network, supported by…