Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- Q. India’s fight against hepatitis requires an integrated public health approach combining prevention, screening, treatment and surveillance. Discuss.
- Q. India’s emergence as a sporting nation depends on building a complete ecosystem from grassroots participation to international excellence. Discuss with reference to the Khelo India programme.
Q. India’s fight against hepatitis requires an integrated public health approach combining prevention, screening, treatment and surveillance. Discuss.
(GS Paper II – Health)
Introduction:
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by hepatitis viruses, other infections, toxic substances such as alcohol and drugs, or autoimmune diseases. Among the five main hepatitis viruses — A, B, C, D and E — Hepatitis B and C are the most serious as they can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Recognising hepatitis as a public health problem, India launched the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program in 2018.
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India’s Integrated Approach to Combat Hepatitis
1. Prevention through Immunisation and Safe Practices
India’s strategy focuses on preventing infection through immunisation, safe injection practices, sanitation and awareness.
- Hepatitis B is vaccine-preventable and is covered under the Universal Immunisation Programme.
- Hepatitis A and E, which spread through contaminated food and water, require safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation.
- Hepatitis C prevention depends on harm reduction, safe injection practices and safe medical procedures.
2. Screening and Early Detection
- The National Viral Hepatitis Control Program provides screening and diagnosis services. Early detection is important because many hepatitis infections are asymptomatic or show only mild symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis.
- As per the given data, till March 2026, about 21.06 crore beneficiaries were screened under the programme.
3. Free Diagnostics and Treatment
- The programme provides free diagnostics and drugs to people in need, especially for the management of Hepatitis B and C. Around 6.12 lakh Hepatitis B and C patients were treated through 1,153 treatment sites across the country.
- Hepatitis C can be cured in many cases through Direct-Acting Antiviral drugs, while chronic Hepatitis B is managed with antiviral medication as per national guidelines.
4. Integration with National Health Programmes
India’s hepatitis control strategy is linked with several existing programmes:
- RMNCH+A programme: universal screening of pregnant women for Hepatitis B and newborn birth dose.
- Universal Immunisation Programme: Hepatitis B vaccination.
- National AIDS Control Program: screening of high-risk groups for Hepatitis B and C.
- National Tuberculosis Elimination Program: use of existing machines for molecular testing.
- Blood Transfusion Services: linkage of positive donors for further management.
- Integrated Disease Surveillance Program: monitoring of outbreak-prone Hepatitis A and E.
5. Digital Monitoring
The programme uses the NVHCP-MIS portal for paperless recording, reporting, patient management and monitoring. This strengthens accountability and continuity of care.
Significance of India’s Approach
1. Health Systems Approach
India’s model links prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring, making it more comprehensive.
2. Financial Protection
Free diagnostics and drugs reduce out-of-pocket expenditure and improve access for vulnerable groups.
3. Maternal and Newborn Protection
Screening of pregnant women and timely Hepatitis B birth dose help prevent mother-to-child transmission.
4. Alignment with Global Goals
The WHO strategy aims to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health problem by 2030 through reduction in new infections and deaths. India’s programme supports this broader global objective.
Challenges
- Many infections remain undetected due to the asymptomatic nature of hepatitis.
- Hepatitis B and C can progress silently to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
- Public awareness about transmission, testing and treatment remains limited.
- Unsafe injections, unsafe medical procedures and infected blood exposure continue to pose risks.
- Poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water contribute to Hepatitis A and E transmission.
Way Forward
India should expand screening, strengthen universal vaccination, ensure free treatment access, promote safe injection and blood transfusion practices, and improve sanitation. Greater integration with maternal health, immunisation, HIV, TB and surveillance systems is needed. Awareness campaigns around World Hepatitis Day can improve testing, reduce stigma and encourage early treatment.
Conclusion:
India’s fight against hepatitis requires a sustained public health systems approach. The National Viral Hepatitis Control Program, supported by immunisation, surveillance, free diagnostics, treatment and digital monitoring, provides a strong framework. Its success will depend on early detection, wider awareness, safe practices and continued integration with existing national health programmes.
Q. India’s emergence as a sporting nation depends on building a complete ecosystem from grassroots participation to international excellence. Discuss with reference to the Khelo India programme.
(GS Paper II / III – Youth Affairs, Sports Development and Human Capital)
Introduction:
Sports have become an important instrument of youth development, national integration, public health and international recognition. India’s recent sporting progress reflects a shift from isolated individual achievements to a more structured ecosystem. The Khelo India programme is central to this transformation as it seeks to build a strong foundation for sports from the grassroots to elite levels.
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Khelo India as a Grassroots Sports Ecosystem
Mass Participation and Sporting Culture
Khelo India promotes sports as a people’s movement by encouraging participation across schools, universities, rural areas and urban centres. Competitions under the Khelo India platform provide young athletes with exposure, confidence and a pathway to higher levels of competition.
Talent Identification and Athlete Pathway
The programme focuses on identifying talented athletes early and supporting them through structured training. Initiatives such as KIRTI strengthen transparent and merit-based talent identification using assessment centres, technology and data-driven tools.
Infrastructure and Training Support
Khelo India supports training centres, academies and sports infrastructure. This helps reduce the gap between talent and opportunity, especially for athletes from non-metropolitan and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Use of Sports Science
A modern sporting nation requires more than physical training. Khelo India promotes the use of sports science, psychology, nutrition and technology to improve athlete performance and long-term development.
Inclusive Sports Development
The expansion of Khelo India into university, winter, para, beach, water and tribal games reflects a broader vision of inclusion. It helps bring diverse groups, regions and sporting disciplines into the national sports framework.
Complementary Role of Other Initiatives
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme supports elite athletes through specialised training, international exposure, equipment and professional assistance. This ensures that athletes who emerge from grassroots systems receive support at the highest level.
The sports goods manufacturing initiative also links sports development with domestic manufacturing, innovation, employment and self-reliance.
Significance
Khelo India contributes to:
- building a strong pipeline of future athletes
- improving India’s international sporting performance
- promoting discipline, confidence and health among youth
- strengthening national pride and social cohesion
- linking sports with employment and economic opportunities
Challenges
Despite progress, India still faces challenges such as uneven access to sports facilities, shortage of quality coaches, weak sports culture in many schools, limited sports science support at local levels, and difficulty in ensuring continuity from grassroots participation to elite performance.
Way Forward
India should strengthen school and university sports, improve coaching quality, expand sports science support, ensure maintenance of infrastructure and deepen coordination between local training centres, academies and elite athlete schemes. Greater attention must also be given to nutrition, mental health, injury management and career security of athletes.
Conclusion:
Khelo India represents India’s transition from a medal-focused approach to a system-based sporting model. By combining participation, infrastructure, talent identification, sports science and elite support, it can help India transform its youth potential into sustained international sporting excellence.
