Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- Q. Despite multiple nutritional interventions, anaemia continues to remain a serious public-health challenge in India. Examine the significance of the revised Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in addressing the problem through a lifecycle and continuum-of-care approach.
- Q. “The Goods and Services Tax has transformed India’s indirect tax system, but its success depends as much on cooperative federalism and administrative efficiency as on tax unification.” Discuss.
Q. Despite multiple nutritional interventions, anaemia continues to remain a serious public-health challenge in India. Examine the significance of the revised Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in addressing the problem through a lifecycle and continuum-of-care approach.
(UPSC GS Paper II: Public Health, Nutrition, Women and Child Welfare, Government Policies and Interventions)
Introduction:
Anaemia is a condition marked by inadequate haemoglobin or reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. In India, it affects children, adolescent girls, women of reproductive age and pregnant women on a large scale. NFHS-5 reported anaemia among 67.1% of children below five years, 57% of women aged 15–49 years and 52.2% of pregnant women, making it a major nutrition, health and human-capital challenge.
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Significance of the Revised Abhiyaan
- Lifecycle approach: The expanded 7×7×7 framework includes Low Birth Weight babies aged 0–6 months, recognising that anaemia prevention must begin in infancy and continue through adolescence, pregnancy and lactation.
- From prophylaxis to therapy: The programme moves beyond routine Iron-Folic Acid supplementation to active diagnosis, case-based treatment and management of severe or non-responsive cases.
- Continuum of care: The **T4 strategy—Test, Treat, Talk and Track—**ensures screening, treatment, counselling, referral and follow-up, reducing beneficiary dropouts.
- Dietary correction: The new Eating Right intervention promotes diversified and iron-rich diets, addressing the nutritional roots of anaemia.
- Digital accountability: Integration of JANANI, RBSK and U-WIN records into a unified portal enables beneficiary-level tracking, better planning and identification of regional gaps.
- Community mobilisation: Jan Chetna and Jan Bhagidari seek to de-normalise fatigue and poor nutrition while improving treatment adherence.
- Cross-sectoral convergence: A whole-of-government approach links health, nutrition, education and women and child development departments.
Challenges
Weak testing infrastructure, poor IFA compliance, limited dietary diversity, shortage of trained personnel and uneven State capacity may constrain implementation.
Conclusion:
The revised Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan represents a shift from a supplementation-centric programme to an integrated system of prevention, treatment and tracking. Its success will depend on strong State-level implementation, reliable digital follow-up and sustained community participation.
Q. “The Goods and Services Tax has transformed India’s indirect tax system, but its success depends as much on cooperative federalism and administrative efficiency as on tax unification.” Discuss.
(UPSC GS Paper III: Indian Economy, Taxation, Formalisation and Ease of Doing Business)
Introduction:
The Goods and Services Tax (GST), introduced on 1 July 2017 through the Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, 2016, is a destination-based indirect tax levied on the supply of goods and services. It replaced multiple Central and State levies and sought to create a unified national market under the principle of “One Nation, One Tax.”
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Transformative Role of GST
- Unified tax structure: GST subsumed several indirect taxes such as excise duty, service tax, VAT, entry tax and luxury tax, reducing fragmentation.
- Elimination of cascading: The Input Tax Credit mechanism limits the “tax-on-tax” effect and improves production efficiency.
- National market integration: Uniform tax principles have reduced inter-State barriers and facilitated smoother movement of goods.
- Ease of doing business: Common registration, electronic returns and online payments have simplified tax administration.
- Formalisation: Invoice-based credit and digital reporting have encouraged businesses to enter the formal economy.
- Benefits to consumers: Greater transparency and reduced cascading can lower the effective tax burden.
- Revenue efficiency: A wider tax base and digital trail improve compliance and revenue mobilisation.
Role of Cooperative Federalism
GST rests on shared fiscal powers under Article 246A. The GST Council under Article 279A enables the Centre and States to jointly decide rates, exemptions and procedures. Its functioning is therefore crucial for balancing national uniformity with State fiscal interests.
Continuing Challenges
- Multiple rates and classification disputes
- Compliance burden on MSMEs
- Delayed refunds and Input Tax Credit disputes
- Technology and connectivity constraints
- Tax evasion through fake invoices
- Revenue uncertainty for States
- Exclusion of petroleum products and alcohol
Way Forward
GST reforms should focus on rate rationalisation, simplified returns, faster refunds, protection of genuine taxpayers, stronger GSTN infrastructure and predictable revenue arrangements for States. Consensus-based decision-making in the GST Council must remain central.
Conclusion:
GST has significantly modernised India’s indirect tax regime, but it remains a continuing reform. Its long-term success depends on simplification, trust, digital efficiency and cooperative fiscal federalism.
