UPSC CARE Mains Practice 1st october 2025
Topic – Girls’ education in India
Q1. Girls’ education in India has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the last decade, particularly under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative. Discuss the key achievements and challenges, highlighting the broader social and demographic impacts (15 marks, 250 words)
Introduction
Education for girls has long been seen as a multiplier for social and economic progress. In India, where patriarchal norms historically limited opportunities for women, the last decade has marked a visible transformation. Initiatives such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP), launched in 2015, represent a systemic attempt to not only increase enrolment and literacy but also shift societal attitudes towards valuing the girl child.
Body
- Achievements of Girls’ Education Initiatives
- Broader Social Impacts
- Economic and Workforce Impacts
- Continuing Challenges
- Way Forward
Conclusion
The transformation in girls’ education over the last decade is not merely a story of higher enrolment but a societal shift. Better sex ratios, declining fertility, improved health, and growing women’s leadership reflect a ripple effect that empowers entire communities. Yet, sustaining the momentum requires tackling deep-rooted patriarchal norms, bridging regional disparities, and linking education with employment. Educating girls is thus not just a social obligation but the foundation of a more equitable, healthy, and prosperous India.
UPSC Syllabus
Girls’ Education Initiatives
Why was this question asked?
Q. “Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu? (2021)
Introduction
Education for girls has long been seen as a multiplier for social and economic progress. In India, where patriarchal norms historically limited opportunities for women, the last decade has marked a visible transformation. Initiatives such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP), launched in 2015, represent a systemic attempt to not only increase enrolment and literacy but also shift societal attitudes towards valuing the girl child.
Body
Achievements of Girls’ Education Initiatives
- Improvement in Sex Ratio at Birth: From 919 girls per 1,000 boys (2015-16) to 929 (2019-21), with 20 of 30 States/UTs performing better than the national average.
- Drop in Female Dropouts: Campaigns such as Kanya Kelavani in Gujarat tackled dropout causes, e.g., lack of separate toilets, reducing dropouts by nearly 90% in targeted districts.
- Rise in Female Literacy: Gujarat’s female literacy rose to 70%, higher than the national average of 64%. Nationwide trends also improved steadily in the last decade.
- Community Awareness: Surveys in Madhya Pradesh showed 89.5% awareness of BBBP; 63.2% linked it directly to sending daughters to school.
Broader Social Impacts
- Demographic Transition: India’s Total Fertility Rate has fallen to 2.0, below replacement level, closely tied to female education.
- Health Outcomes: Educated women increasingly opt for institutional deliveries and prenatal care; Infant Mortality Rate for girls fell from 49 (2014) to 33 (2020).
- Delayed Marriages: Rising education levels have contributed to postponing early marriages, strengthening reproductive rights.
Economic and Workforce Impacts
- Labour Force Participation: Educated women increasingly visible in healthcare, education, STEM, and entrepreneurship.
- Breaking Barriers: From women officers in the armed forces to leaders of startups, educated women are taking up roles once closed to them.
- Intergenerational Effect: Educated mothers invest more in their children’s schooling, ensuring a cycle of upward mobility.
Continuing Challenges
- Low Workforce Participation: Despite gains, India’s overall female labour force participation remains among the lowest globally (~24%).
- Regional Disparities: Northern states still lag in female literacy, enrolment, and retention.
- Quality of Education: Beyond enrolment, learning outcomes remain weak; many girls drop out before secondary school.
- Mindset Barriers: Patriarchal attitudes, preference for sons, and early marriage continue to constrain progress.
Way Forward
- Policy Strengthening: Expand BBBP with focus on secondary and higher education; provide scholarships for STEM fields.
- Infrastructure: Ensure safe transport, separate toilets, and digital access for girls in rural areas.
- Skill Development & Employment: Link education to employability through vocational training, internships, and incentives for women-led enterprises.
- Awareness Campaigns: Target patriarchal mindsets through mass media, local governance, and community leaders.
- Monitoring & Accountability: Strengthen data collection, district-level dashboards, and community-based audits to ensure funds and schemes reach beneficiaries.
Conclusion
The transformation in girls’ education over the last decade is not merely a story of higher enrolment but a societal shift. Better sex ratios, declining fertility, improved health, and growing women’s leadership reflect a ripple effect that empowers entire communities. Yet, sustaining the momentum requires tackling deep-rooted patriarchal norms, bridging regional disparities, and linking education with employment. Educating girls is thus not just a social obligation but the foundation of a more equitable, healthy, and prosperous India.
Topic – Dugong conservation
Q 2. Dugongs, often called “sea cows,” are a flagship species for marine conservation in India. Discuss the challenges in their protection and evaluate the significance of recent conservation initiatives. (15 marks, 250 words)
Introduction
Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are marine herbivores that graze on seagrass meadows and play a crucial role in maintaining coastal ecosystems. Once abundant in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, their population in India has now shrunk to just a few hundred due to habitat loss, poaching, by-catch, and pollution. Protecting dugongs is not only about saving a species but also about sustaining marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Body
- Challenges in Dugong Conservation
- Key Conservation Initiatives in India
- International and Regional Dimensions
- Lessons for Broader Marine Conservation
- Way Forward
Conclusion
The dugong, India’s only marine herbivore, is more than a species in decline—it is an indicator of the health of seagrass ecosystems that sustain fisheries, protect coasts, and support biodiversity. The Palk Bay reserve, Tamil Nadu’s stewardship, and fisherfolk engagement mark hopeful beginnings. Yet, sustaining momentum will require consistent funding, regional cooperation, stricter legal enforcement, and community partnership. Protecting dugongs is thus not merely a wildlife goal but a step towards ecological security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
UPSC Syllabus
Sustaining marine biodiversity
Why was this question asked?
Q. How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act,2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna? [2018]
Introduction
Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are marine herbivores that graze on seagrass meadows and play a crucial role in maintaining coastal ecosystems. Once abundant in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, their population in India has now shrunk to just a few hundred due to habitat loss, poaching, by-catch, and pollution. Protecting dugongs is not only about saving a species but also about sustaining marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Body
Challenges in Dugong Conservation
- Habitat Loss: Seagrass meadows destroyed by dredging, coastal construction, and port expansion.
- By-catch Mortality: Frequent entanglement in fishing nets leading to accidental deaths.
- Pollution Pressures: Agricultural runoff, plastic, and industrial effluents degrade marine habitats.
- Climate Change: Rising sea surface temperatures, acidification, and storms weaken seagrass ecosystems.
- Low Reproductive Rate: Dugongs reproduce slowly, making population recovery a long-term challenge.
Key Conservation Initiatives in India
- Dugong Conservation Reserve (2022): Established in Palk Bay, covering 12,000 hectares of seagrass meadows, under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
- Community Engagement: Fisherfolk participation encouraged—release of by-catch dugongs, reduction in poaching.
- Scientific Monitoring: WII surveys suggest ~200 dugongs in Tamil Nadu waters, showing cautious optimism.
- Technology Integration: Use of drones, acoustic sensors, and satellite mapping for habitat monitoring.
- Funding Support: Compensatory Afforestation (CAMPA) funds channelled towards dugong and seagrass restoration.
International and Regional Dimensions
- IUCN Recognition: The Dugong Conservation Reserve is lauded as a global model for integrated marine conservation.
- Cross-Border Concerns: Dugongs move across the Palk Strait; hence, collaboration with Sri Lanka is essential.
- Global Knowledge Sharing: International partnerships can bring in expertise and best practices for habitat restoration.
Lessons for Broader Marine Conservation
- Dugong conservation shows that ecosystem-level protection (seagrass, coral reefs, fisheries) is more effective than species-specific measures.
- Community-based conservation reduces local conflicts, builds awareness, and ensures sustainability.
- Blending traditional knowledge with modern tools—fishers’ ecological knowledge with drones and acoustic monitoring—offers innovative solutions.
Way Forward
- Strengthen Legal Protection: Enforce Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 (Schedule I status); regulate mechanised fishing in Palk Bay.
- Expand Protected Areas: Create new Dugong Reserves in Gulf of Kutch and Andamans; establish marine corridors for connectivity.
- Secure Long-term Funding: Establish a dedicated Dugong Conservation Fund under CAMPA; tap Blue Economy and CSR financing.
- Technology-led Monitoring: Scale up drones, satellite mapping, acoustic telemetry, and GPS tagging to monitor populations and migration.
- Regional & International Collaboration: Formalise India–Sri Lanka Dugong Agreement; strengthen participation in UNEP’s Dugong MoU under CMS.
- Community-based Marine Stewardship: Launch “Fishers as Guardians” schemes and eco-tourism models for alternative livelihoods.
- Research & Education: Support long-term studies through WII and CMFRI; promote school and fisherfolk awareness campaigns in dugong regions.
Conclusion
The dugong, India’s only marine herbivore, is more than a species in decline—it is an indicator of the health of seagrass ecosystems that sustain fisheries, protect coasts, and support biodiversity. The Palk Bay reserve, Tamil Nadu’s stewardship, and fisherfolk engagement mark hopeful beginnings. Yet, sustaining momentum will require consistent funding, regional cooperation, stricter legal enforcement, and community partnership. Protecting dugongs is thus not merely a wildlife goal but a step towards ecological security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
