Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- Q. Hidden hunger remains a serious public health challenge in India despite improvements in food availability. Discuss how food fortification and biofortification can help India address micronutrient malnutrition. Also mention the associated challenges.
- Q. India’s fintech growth is closely linked with Digital Public Infrastructure. Discuss the role of DPI in promoting financial inclusion and digital governance. Also examine the challenges associated with rapid fintech expansion.
Q. Hidden hunger remains a serious public health challenge in India despite improvements in food availability. Discuss how food fortification and biofortification can help India address micronutrient malnutrition. Also mention the associated challenges.
Introduction:
Hidden hunger refers to the deficiency of essential micronutrients such as iron, iodine, zinc, folic acid and vitamins, even when calorie intake may be sufficient. India faces this challenge along with undernutrition and rising obesity. According to NFHS-6, 29.3% of children under five are stunted, 19% are wasted and 31.8% are underweight. India also ranked 102nd out of 123 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2025.
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Role of Food Fortification
Food fortification is the deliberate addition of micronutrients to commonly consumed foods.
It helps India in the following ways:
- Nutrients can be added to staple foods such as rice, salt and edible oil.
- It can use existing welfare systems such as PDS, ICDS, PM-POSHAN and Mid-Day Meal schemes.
- It helps reduce deficiencies of iron, iodine, folic acid and vitamins.
- It is useful for large-scale public health delivery.
India launched a pilot rice fortification programme in 2019 with iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. The scheme was later extended till December 2028 with an allocation of ₹17,082 crore.
Role of Biofortification
Biofortification improves the nutrient content of crops at the production stage through plant breeding or biotechnology.
It is important because:
- Nutrition is built into the crop itself.
- It can benefit rural and farming communities directly.
- It is sustainable and cost-effective in the long run.
- It links agriculture with nutrition security.
Between 2014 and 2024, India’s National Agricultural Research System released 152 biofortified crop varieties, including wheat, millets, maize, rice, oilseeds and pulses.
Challenges
- Fortified rice may lose quality due to poor storage, packaging and transportation.
- Biofortified crops need farmer awareness and seed availability.
- Assured procurement and market support are required.
- Nutrition outcomes also depend on dietary diversity, sanitation and health services.
Conclusion:
India must move from food security to nutrition security. Food fortification can provide quick benefits, while biofortification can create long-term nutritional resilience. A combined approach, supported by quality control, farmer participation and outcome-based monitoring, is essential for inclusive human development.Top of Form
Q. India’s fintech growth is closely linked with Digital Public Infrastructure. Discuss the role of DPI in promoting financial inclusion and digital governance. Also examine the challenges associated with rapid fintech expansion.
Introduction:
India’s fintech growth has been strongly supported by Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) such as Aadhaar, UPI, Jan Dhan accounts, DigiLocker, DBT and ONDC. DPI provides open, interoperable and trusted digital systems on which public and private services can be built. It has helped India expand financial services at population scale.
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Role of DPI in Financial Inclusion
DPI has reduced the cost and difficulty of accessing financial services. The JAM Trinity has connected bank accounts, digital identity and mobile phones, allowing millions of citizens to enter the formal financial system. As of August 2026, India had 59.15 crore Jan Dhan accounts, while Aadhaar enrolments crossed 144 crore by March 2026.
UPI has made instant digital payments simple and low-cost. It processed 2,365.8 crore transactions worth ₹29.88 lakh crore in July 2026, with 741 banks live on the platform. This has supported small traders, workers, women and rural households.
Role in Digital Governance
DPI has improved transparency and efficiency in governance. Direct Benefit Transfer sends welfare benefits directly to beneficiaries, reducing leakages and intermediaries. Cumulative DBT transfers reached ₹53.26 lakh crore by September 2026.
Aadhaar e-KYC and DigiLocker reduce paperwork and simplify verification. DigiLocker had 73.53 crore users and issued 936.03 crore documents, improving access to services.
Challenges
Rapid fintech expansion also creates concerns:
- Cyber fraud, fake lending apps and phishing attacks
- Data privacy and misuse of personal information
- Digital exclusion due to poor internet access and low digital literacy
- Algorithmic bias in AI-based credit and financial services
- Regulatory gaps in fast-moving fintech products
Way Forward
India must strengthen cybersecurity, data protection, digital literacy and grievance redressal. Regulatory tools such as the RBI Regulatory Sandbox, Digital Payment Security Controls, and DPDP Act must support innovation with accountability.
Conclusion:
DPI has made India’s fintech ecosystem inclusive, efficient and globally significant. The next stage should focus on secure, responsible and citizen-centric digital finance to support inclusive growth and Viksit Bharat 2047.
