Content

1. Lessons from India’s vaccination drive
2. Penalty in proportion
3. Socialism in India: Context and Significance

Lessons from India’s vaccination drive

What & Why?

• Vaccination: Among the most effective, affordable public health measures; prevents millions of deaths annually.
• India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP):
  • World’s largest programme.
  • Covers ~2.6 crore infants + 2.9 crore pregnant women every year.
  • Responsible for major decline in under-5 mortality (45 → 31 per 1,000 live births, 2014–21).
• Coverage: 12 diseases (11 nationwide, 1 endemic).

Relevance:

• GS 2 (Governance): Public health policy, Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), Mission Indradhanush, technology-enabled governance (Co-WIN, U-WIN).
• GS 3 (Health & Infrastructure): Immunisation, disease elimination (polio, measles-rubella, yaws), pandemic preparedness, vaccine R&D and manufacturing, logistics & cold chain management.

Practice Questions:

• Evaluate India’s vaccination strategy in achieving public health equity and its lessons for governance.(250 Words)

Policy Expansion (2010s–2020s)

• New vaccines added in the last decade: Tdap (Tetanus & Adult Diphtheria), IPV, Measles-Rubella, Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Conjugate, Japanese Encephalitis.
• Mission Indradhanush (2014): Target 90% full immunisation (from 62% in 2014, NFHS-4).
• Intensified MI (2017): Focused on low-coverage and missed populations.
  • By 2023: 12 phases completed.
  • Reached 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women.
  • Integrated into Gram Swaraj Abhiyan campaigns.

Achievements & Milestones

• Polio: India polio-free since 2011.
• Maternal & Neonatal Tetanus elimination: 2015.
• Yaws elimination: 2016.
• Measles-Rubella catch-up campaign (2017–19): 34.8 crore children vaccinated.
• COVID-19 vaccination (2021–23):
  • 220+ crore doses delivered.
  • Coverage: 97% (one dose), 90% (two doses).
  • Showcase of domestic vaccine R&D & manufacturing.
• Vaccine Maitri: Supported LMICs → global goodwill, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in action.
• Recognition: India received Measles & Rubella Champion Award (2024).

Challenges

• Coverage Gaps: Remote, migratory, vaccine-hesitant populations.
• COVID-19 Disruption: Routine immunisation setback → measles outbreaks (2022–24).
• Vaccine hesitancy & misinformation: Clusters of unimmunised children remain.
• Logistics: Reaching last-mile in hilly, border, and tribal regions.

New Initiatives (2023–25)

• IMI 5.0 (2023): Nationwide under-5 immunisation drive.
• Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination campaign (2025): Aims for >95% coverage, herd immunity.
• Zero-dose strategy: Targeting children who received no vaccines.

Technology Integration

• Digital backbone:
  • U-WIN platform: End-to-end vaccination tracking (pregnant women + children till 16 yrs).
  • Builds on Co-WIN success.
  • Nationwide, anytime-anywhere vaccination access.
• Complementary tech:
  • eVIN (Vaccine stock monitoring).
  • NCCMIS (Cold chain tracking).
  • SAFE-VAC (Vaccine safety monitoring).
• Cold chain & infra: Strengthened under PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infra Mission.

Global & Strategic Dimensions

• Vaccine Hub: India = world’s largest vaccine manufacturer.
• Make in India: Self-reliance in vaccine R&D + production.
• Strategic Soft Power: Vaccine Maitri enhanced India’s role as a responsible global actor.
• Export Potential: India can shape future vaccine markets in Global South.

One-Health Approach (Future Direction)

• Need for integrated disease surveillance: Human + Animal + Environment.
• Pandemic preparedness: Immunisation + sensitive disease tracking must go hand in hand.
• Monitoring anti-vaccine narratives: Key for social trust in health systems.
• Strengthening linkages between immunisation, surveillance, and health infrastructure.

Comprehensive Significance

• Public Health: Reduced child mortality, eliminated multiple diseases, built herd immunity.
• Social Equity: Free vaccines → accessible to poor, women, children in underserved areas.
• Economic Impact: Prevents disease burden, reduces healthcare costs, boosts productivity.
• Governance: Digital platforms (Co-WIN → U-WIN) showcase India’s model for scale + transparency.
• Global Leadership: India emerges as a vaccine powerhouse with soft power leverage.

Penalty in proportion

What & Why?

• Defamation: The act of harming a person’s reputation through false or damaging statements.
• Types:
  • Civil defamation: Remedies include monetary compensation, injunctions, and retractions.
  • Criminal defamation (India): Section 499 & 500 IPC → imprisonment or fine for defamatory statements.
• Supreme Court Ruling (Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India, 2016):
  • Upheld criminal defamation, reasoning that reputation is part of Right to Life (Article 21).

Relevance:

• GS 2 (Polity & Governance): Right to freedom of speech and expression (Article 19(1)(a)), Article 21 (Right to Life and Reputation), judicial interpretation (Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India, 2016).
• GS 2 (Rule of Law & Legal Reform): Criminal defamation vs civil remedies, proportionality in legal penalties, misuse by political actors.
• GS 2 (Media & Governance): Press freedom, self-censorship, democratic debate, transparency and accountability.

Practice Questions:

• Critically examine the challenges posed by criminal defamation in India and suggest reforms to balance free speech and reputation protection.(250 Words)

Emerging Concerns & Misuse

• Judicial unease: Supreme Court judges (e.g., Justice M.M. Sundresh) have noted misuse by political actors and private individuals.
• Disproportionate remedy: Imprisonment is excessive for reputational harm, unlike physical harm; civil remedies are sufficient.
• Political misuse: Cases against public figures (Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Sonia Gandhi) used to intimidate or delay criticism.
• Media intimidation: Journalists face harassment and self-censorship due to criminal defamation suits from local politicians or businesses.

Systemic & Procedural Problems

• Lower judiciary: Summons often issued without assessing whether speech crosses the threshold of defamation.
• Opportunistic litigation:
  • Statements taken out of context or distorted.
  • Laws weaponized to entangle rivals in prolonged legal battles (e.g., Subramanian Swamy v. Sonia Gandhi/Gandhi; Gadkari/Jaitley v. Kejriwal/AAP).
• Impact on governance: Litigation can hinder the functioning of public officials (e.g., Delhi government).

Alternatives & Best Practices

• Civil remedies:
  • Monetary damages.
  • Injunctions to prevent further dissemination.
  • Retractions/apologies.
• Benefits over criminal defamation:
  • Avoids threat of imprisonment.
  • Reduces misuse by powerful actors.
  • Maintains free speech while protecting reputation.

Global Perspective

• Many democratic countries (e.g., UK) have abolished criminal defamation, recognizing it as incompatible with free democratic debate.
• India’s continuation of criminal defamation is increasingly seen as anti-democratic and chilling for journalism and political discourse.

Broader Implications

• Free speech & democracy: Criminal defamation can suppress dissent, critique, and investigative journalism.
• Media freedom: Self-censorship undermines transparency and accountability.
• Rule of law: Overuse of criminal law for civil matters weakens faith in justice.
• Legal reform: Growing consensus for decriminalisation to align with democratic norms and proportionality principles.

Comprehensive Significance

• Democracy & Governance: Ensures citizens, media, and opposition can criticize without fear of imprisonment.
• Judicial efficiency: Civil remedies provide timely resolution without clogging criminal courts.
• Societal trust: Encourages balanced protection of reputation without empowering the powerful to silence criticism.
• India’s global image: Aligns with international best practices on free speech and democratic debate.

Key takeaway: Criminal defamation in India is increasingly misused, disproportionate, and incompatible with democratic debate; civil remedies and legal reform are essential to protect free expression while safeguarding reputations.

Socialism in India: Context and Significance

Context & Concept

• Topic: Indian socialism, its evolution, uniqueness, and relevance today.
• Indian socialism: A political, social, and economic ideology aiming at social justice, equity, and reduction of inequalities, adapted to India’s historical, cultural, and demographic context.
• Contrast with global socialism:
  • European socialism traditionally emphasized class struggle, reduction of economic inequalities through electoral democracy and state control.
  • Indian socialism combines socio-economic equality with attention to caste, community, and local diversity.

Relevance:

• GS 2 (Governance & Policy): Affirmative action, social welfare schemes, decentralization, inclusive governance, policy models.
• GS 1/2 (History & Polity): Independence-era socialist movements, Emergency influence, leaders like Lohia, Joshi, Achyut Patwardhan.

Practice Questions:

• Examine the evolution of Indian socialism and its impact on social justice and democratic governance.(250 Words)

Historical Background

• Key historical movements:
  • Samajwadi/leftist movements in India over 90 years, including involvement of intellectuals, activists, and leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia, Acharya Narendra Deva, etc.
  • Independence-era socialists: Advocated for egalitarian policies alongside democratic participation, not violent revolution.
• Influence of Emergency (1975–77):
  • Deepened commitment to democracy, shaping socialist thought around protecting rights and resisting authoritarianism.
• Prominent Indian Socialists:
  • Lohia, Joshi, Raj Narain, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Achyut Patwardhan, Anil Kumar, and others emphasized justice for backward castes, marginalized communities, and democratic governance.

Ideological Foundations

• Core principles:
  • Reduction of inequalities (economic, social, caste-based).
  • Democratic participation and decentralization of power.
  • Social justice and affirmative action for marginalized groups (SC/ST/OBC, women).
  • Emphasis on Indian cultural, linguistic, and social diversity.
• Distinctive features of Indian socialism:
  • Non-Marxist in rigid economic terms, combining ethical, cultural, and political egalitarianism.
  • Flexible approach: integrates local realities (rural-urban, caste, community) with global socialist ideals.
  • Rejects European revolutionary and centralised models; adopts democratic, reformist approach.

Contemporary Relevance

• Current challenges addressed:
  • Persistent social and economic inequalities, especially caste and gender-based disparities.
  • Need for inclusive governance balancing equity and democracy.
  • Addressing under-representation of marginalized communities in politics and policy-making.
• Policy & governance implications:
  • Affirmative action, reservations in education and employment.
  • Social welfare schemes aimed at reducing structural inequalities.
  • Promotion of decentralized political and social decision-making.

Critiques & Observations

• Ideological fragmentation:
  • Some historical and modern leaders had divergent interpretations; sometimes personal or political conflicts overshadowed collective vision.
• Misunderstanding by popular perception:
  • Indian socialism often misrepresented as “leftist extremism,” ignoring its unique context-sensitive adaptation.
• Implementation challenges:
  • Political and bureaucratic resistance.
  • Need to continuously balance redistribution with economic growth.

Global and Strategic Significance

• Distinctive Indian contribution:
  • Indian socialism adapted universal principles of equality to local realities (caste, gender, culture).
  • Expanded the notion of social justice globally, influencing debates on inclusive democracy and human rights.
• Contrast with other socialist traditions:
  • Less doctrinaire, avoids violent class struggle; more ethical, humanistic, and context-sensitive.
  • Combines political democracy with social equity, unlike some European models that prioritize economic equality alone.

Comprehensive Significance

• Democracy & Governance: Strengthens participatory politics, decentralization, and protection of civil rights.
• Social Justice: Focuses on historically disadvantaged communities and equitable access to resources.
• Policy Model: Serves as a blueprint for inclusive social and economic policy in multi-ethnic, multi-religious societies.
• Long-term Vision: Seeks to balance equity with economic development, cultural pluralism, and democratic norms.

Key takeaway: Indian socialism is a unique, context-driven ideology that prioritizes social justice, equality across caste, gender, and community lines, and democratic participation, offering a model distinct from global socialist traditions while remaining relevant for India’s contemporary governance and social equity challenges.