Content:

1. From a republic to a republic of unequals
2. An ideal way to treat India’s corneal blindness problem
3. Timely reiteration

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From a Republic to a Republic of Unequals

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Relevance :GS 2 (Indian Polity )

Practice Question :Explain economic inequality crisis in india . Suggest key measure to address the issue .(250 Words )

Significance of Constitution Day

• Marks 75 years since the adoption of the Indian Constitution, a transformative document for governance.

• Highlights the inclusive and intellectual debates of the Constituent Assembly representing a wide ideological spectrum.

Liberty and State’s role :

• Liberty: Essential for the realisation of human potential.

• State’s Role: Necessary intervention to reduce inequalities in post-Independence India.

• Balancing liberal values with welfare measures like affirmative action and reservations to ensure equality.

Egalitarian Vision of the Constitution

Inspired by John Rawls’ egalitarian liberalism, emphasising:

• Equal basic liberties.
• Equal opportunities.
• Difference principle (benefits to the least advantaged).

Reflected in:

• Part III (Fundamental Rights): Guarantees individual freedoms.
• Part IV (DPSPs): Directs state action to minimise inequalities.
• Article 38(2) and Article 39(c) explicitly mandate reducing income and wealth inequalities.

Judicial Interpretation of Egalitarian Ideals

• D.S. Nakara (1982): Advocated decent living standards and cradle-to-grave security.
• Samatha Case (1997): Defined socialism as reducing income disparities and promoting equal opportunities.
• Justice Krishna Iyer’s interpretation of Article 39(b): Resources as community assets for equitable distribution.

Impact of Economic Reforms on Inequality

• Pre-1990s Welfare State: Reduced top 1% income share from 21% (1930s) to 6% (1980s).
• Post-1990s Neoliberal Reforms: Shift from welfare to market-oriented policies:
• Top 1% now controls 22.6% of total income (2022-23).
• Structural changes favour private capital over equitable growth.

Evidence of Worsening Inequality

Paris School of Economics (2024):

• Top 1% wealth share: 40.1% (2022-23).
• Extreme inequality levels resemble pre-Independence disparities.

State of Inequality in India Report (2022):

• Top 10% earn ₹25,000/month, while 90% earn less than this amount.

Intersection of Economic and Social Inequalities

Wealth Concentration by Caste:

• 90% of billionaire wealth held by upper castes.
• SCs (2.6%) and STs (0%) are underrepresented.
• OBC share of wealth reduced from 20% (2014) to 10% (2022).
• Rise of Billionaires: From 9 (2000) to 119 (2023), illustrating widening disparities.

Threat to Constitutional Vision

• Neoliberal Policies:Undermine the welfare state, increasing wealth concentration.Violate Article 39(c) and constitutional egalitarian principles.

• Overlapping Inequalities: Social inequalities amplify economic disparities, giving systemic advantages to dominant groups.

Call for Reflection

• Need to critically assess policies against constitutional ideals.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s warning: Social and economic inequality threatens political democracy.
• Reaffirm commitment to constitutional values to create a more just and equitable society.

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An Ideal Way To Treat India’s Corneal Blindness Problem

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Relevance : GS 2 (Health )

Practice Question : Discuss an ideal approach to addressing India’s corneal blindness problem . Explain challenges in the current healthcare infrastructure .(250 Words )

Context: Acute Shortage of Corneas

Current Need vs Supply:

• Required: 1,00,000 corneal transplants annually.
• Availability: Only 30% of this demand is met.
• Impact: Many individuals live with avoidable blindness due to unavailability of corneal tissue.

Magnitude of Corneal Blindness

• 1.2 million Indians suffer from corneal opacities.
• Corneal blindness is the second leading cause of blindness in those aged 50+ and the primary cause in younger individuals.

Treatable Cases:

• One-third of corneal opacity cases can be treated through transplantation.

Systemic Gaps:

Eye Banks:

• Required: 50 high-functioning banks.
• Current: Only 12-14 meet high standards.

Corneal Surgeons:500 surgeons performing 200 transplants/year.

• Current: Insufficient skilled professionals.
• Proposed Solution: ‘Presumed Consent’

Mechanism:

Treat all eligible deaths in hospitals as potential cornea donors unless explicitly opted out.

Advantages:

• Reduces delays in retrieval (corneas must be retrieved within 8-10 hours post-death).
• Simplifies the process by bypassing the need for next-of-kin consent.
• Potentially increases supply significantly.

Challenges with Presumed Consent

Ethical Concerns:

• Risk of undermining voluntary donation by removing the consent process.
• Can erode trust in the healthcare system and the donor-recipient relationship.

Global Evidence:

• High organ donation rates in Spain, the U.S., and Portugal are achieved through public education and soft opt-in/required request models, not presumed consent.

Effective Alternative:

• Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme (HCRP):Involves grief counsellors approaching families to seek explicit consent for donation.

Successful examples:

• LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI):
  • Over 70% of 1,40,000 corneas harvested in 35 years through HCRP.
  • Eliminated waiting lists for corneal transplants in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha.

Benefits:

• Supports the grieving process for families.
• Builds trust and public support for corneal donation.

Actionable Steps

Investments in Infrastructure:

• Increase the number of high-functioning eye banks from 14 to 50.
• Train and deploy 500 active corneal surgeons nationwide.

Public Education:

• Raise awareness about corneal blindness and the donation process.
• Emphasise the transformative impact of donation on recipients’ lives.

Scaling HCRP:

• Expand the programme to all general hospitals.
• Employ and train more grief counsellors to improve donor rates.

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Timely Reiteration

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Relevance : GS 2 (Judiciary )

Practice Question :Discuss the significance of the Supreme Court’s reaffirmation of secularism and socialism in India’s constitutional framework.(150 Words )

Secularism Reaffirmed:

• Supreme Court rejected challenges against ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ added via the 42nd Amendment (1976).
• Emphasised secularism as integral to India’s constitutional framework.

Clarification on ‘Socialist’:

• The term does not enforce a rigid economic system but ensures economic and social justice.
• Allows flexibility for policies like market-driven reforms while addressing inequalities.

Historical Context:

• Original Preamble (1949) excluded these terms.
• Terms were added during the Emergency but retained after thorough debates in the 44th Amendment (1978).

Judicial Precedents:

• S.R. Bommai Case (1994): Secularism declared a basic feature of the Constitution, immune to amendments.
• Other rulings emphasised neutrality of the State and freedom of religious practice.

Interpretation of the Terms:

Secularism:

• Unique to India, ensuring State neutrality toward all religions.
• Allows individuals freedom to practice and propagate their faith.
• Rejects the Western model of strict Church-State separation.

Socialism:

• Focuses on economic and social justice, not ideological rigidity.
• Balances market competition with policies for equitable growth.

The Debate:

Court’s Position:

• The Emergency-era origin of the amendment insufficient to invalidate the terms.
• Parliamentary debates in 1978 reinforced their relevance.

Significance of the Verdict:

Upholds Constitutional Values:

• Secularism and socialism remain foundational principles safeguarding equality and justice.
• Reinforces their compatibility with evolving governance and policies.

Timely Reiteration:

• On the 75th anniversary of the Constitution, the verdict reaffirms India’s commitment to inclusivity and fairness.
• Counters attempts to dilute secularism or question its relevance.

Conclusion:

The Supreme Court’s decision reinforces secularism and socialism as guiding principles for governance, ensuring inclusivity, justice, and adaptability to changing socio-political contexts.