Current Affairs

Editorials · Social Justice & Development

Syllabus-mapped editorials, PIB updates, reports, judgments, and policy news for prelims and mains revision.

Today's practice test

19 August 2026

GS-2Editorials19 Aug 2026thehindu.com

Education must change to account for AI

The article highlights the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the nature of work across various sectors, necessitating a fundamental shift in education. It argues that the traditional model of education, focused on knowledge retention, is becoming obsolete. Instead, the education system must adapt to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, synthesis, judgment, and continuous learning to prepare students for an unpredictable future. The author suggests leveraging the National Education Policy's (NEP) four-year undergraduate research pathway to provide practical, immersive learning experiences in industry or laboratories, emphasizing 'learning on the fly' over simply adding more curriculum material.

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GS-2Editorials19 Aug 2026thehindu.com

Employment guarantee has slipped into limbo

The article details a significant decline in rural employment generation following the transition from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) alias VB-G RAM G Act, effective July 1, 2026. It highlights the confusion during the transition, the substantial drop in person-days of work, and raises concerns about the implementation, budget utilization, and future outlook of the new employment guarantee scheme, particularly its adverse impact on poorer states and potential issues with wage payments and Centre-State cost-sharing.

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GS-2Editorials19 Aug 2026thehindu.com

Treat health as a public good, not a market opportunity

The article advocates for treating health as a public good rather than a market opportunity, particularly in South Asia. It highlights the region's significant burden of preventable illness, malnutrition, and high out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), which pushes families into poverty. Citing India's rising OOPE and relatively low public share of health expenditure compared to countries like Sri Lanka, it argues for sustained public investment in healthcare infrastructure, primary care, medical education, and research. The article emphasizes that robust public health systems are crucial for productivity, resilience, human dignity, and regional preparedness against challenges like outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance, urging governments to prioritize equitable, affordable care.

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17 August 2026

GS-2Editorials17 Aug 2026thehindu.com

How AI can be optimised for better healthcare

The article discusses how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be optimized to improve healthcare delivery, especially in countries like India facing challenges in expanding clinical capacity and managing complex disease burdens. It highlights AI's potential to make accumulated medical knowledge more accessible at the point of care, citing examples from the U.S. and U.K. The piece emphasizes AI's role in enhancing efficiency in diagnostic workflows, hospital operations, appointment scheduling, clinical documentation, and claims processing. It also points out the economic benefits, such as reducing collection costs and freeing up resources, and enabling new services like remote monitoring and risk-based preventive programs. The article stresses the importance of judicious use, clinical validation, representative data, and human oversight to ensure safe and effective AI implementation in diverse healthcare settings, ultimately linking improved healthcare to a nation's economic development and population productivity.

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15 August 2026

GS-2Editorials15 Aug 2026indianexpress.com

Jagjivan Ram to Kharge, the distance not covered

The article traces the political journey of Dalit leaders from Jagjivan Ram to Mallikarjun Kharge, examining the progress made in terms of individual political ascent while critically analyzing the persistent challenges and the 'distance not covered' in achieving comprehensive social and political empowerment for the Dalit community. It likely delves into issues of representation, systemic discrimination, and the effectiveness of constitutional safeguards and welfare policies.

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13 August 2026

GS-2Editorials13 Aug 2026indianexpress.com

Indian higher education’s three challenges

The article title 'Indian higher education’s three challenges' suggests a discussion on critical issues within the higher education sector in India. However, the article body is empty, preventing a detailed analysis of its specific content. Based on the title, it would likely cover aspects such as access, quality, equity, funding, or relevance of education to the job market.

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GS-2Editorials13 Aug 2026thehindu.com

A timely reset for the Food Security Act

The article discusses the need for a timely reset of India's National Food Security Act (NFSA), highlighting progress in affordability of healthy diets but noting persistent challenges. It analyzes proposed amendments to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) entitlements, advocating for a 'no-loss safeguard' to protect existing beneficiaries and a recalculation of NFSA coverage based on updated population figures. A significant focus is placed on the 'double burden of malnutrition' (undernutrition and non-communicable diseases like diabetes) and the imperative for dietary diversification beyond cereals, suggesting complementary programs like Anganwadi services and PM POSHAN. The article also emphasizes strengthening delivery mechanisms like PDS and One Nation One Ration Card, while linking food access with nutrition support and health services.

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12 August 2026

09 August 2026

GS-2Editorials09 Aug 2026indianexpress.com

On rural jobs, the 60:40 dilemma

The article discusses the '60:40 dilemma' within the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a crucial provision mandating that 60% of the expenditure should be on material costs for asset creation and 40% on unskilled labor wages. It likely explores the challenges faced by states and local bodies in adhering to this ratio, often leading to delays in wage payments or a shift away from labor-intensive works. The dilemma highlights the tension between creating durable assets and ensuring timely wage employment for rural households, impacting the scheme's effectiveness in providing social safety nets and promoting rural development.

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08 August 2026

07 August 2026

GS-2Editorials07 Aug 2026thehindu.com

Access paradox: On medical education in India

The article discusses the paradox of rapid expansion in medical education seats in India, with a significant increase over the last 12 years, largely driven by the private sector. While this growth aims to address the shortage of healthcare professionals and keep talent domestically, it has led to issues of access due to high costs in private institutions (often 10 times more than government colleges). This commercial viability concentrates institutions and doctors in prosperous urban areas, exacerbating the shortage in rural regions. Concerns about uneven quality, 'capitation fees', and lack of incentives for rural service also persist. The article suggests that the government must continue to increase affordable seats, enforce regulations like the NMC's rule on private seat pricing, and provide better incentives and facilities for rural healthcare workers.

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