Content:
- New Pamban bridge an engineering wonder: PM
- Only 12% of judges in High Courts have declared assets: data
- Bridging gaps, building resilience
- Three billion people cannot afford a healthy diet
- CAPTCHA: a digital border between humans and bots
New Pamban bridge an engineering wonder: PM
The New Pamban Bridge, inaugurated in April 2025, is India’s first vertical lift sea bridge connecting Rameswaram island with the mainland, marking a major leap in coastal infrastructure and engineering excellence
Relevance : GS Paper 3 (Infrastructure,Technology )
- Type: India’s first vertical lift sea bridge.
- Length: 2.08 km over the Palk Strait.
- Vertical Lift Span: 72.5 metres, can be raised to 17 metres for ship movement.
- Material Features: Uses stainless steel reinforcement and high-grade protective paint to withstand corrosive marine environment.
- Elevation: The bridge is 3 metres higher than the old structure, improving clearance.
Cost and Construction
- Total Cost: ₹531 crore.
- Constructed by: Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL).
- Replaces the 126-year-old British–era Pamban Bridge (opened in 1914), which had a manual Scherzer rolling lift span.
Connectivity and Economic Impact
- Enhanced Rail Connectivity: Links Rameswaram island with Ramanathapuram on the mainland.
- Ease of Travel and Business: Expected to boost tourism, pilgrimage (notably to Rameswaram), and local trade.
- New Train Flag-off: Rameswaram to Tambaram, Chennai.
Broader Infrastructure Push
- Part of a multi-modal infrastructure push in southern India.
- PM also laid foundation for NH-40 four-laning (Walajahpet to Andhra Pradesh border).
- Dedicated three four-lane national highways — promoting better road-rail integration.
Prime Minister’s Remarks
- Called the bridge an “engineering wonder” blending technology and tradition.
- Said it fulfills a long-pending demand of the local population.
- Emphasized positive impact on lives of lakhs of people, especially in Tamil Nadu.
Strategic and Regional Relevance
- Palk Strait significance: A challenging marine environment; enhanced shipping and coastal security.
- Symbol of Modernisation: Part of broader effort to modernize India’s infrastructure.
Only 12% of judges in High Courts have declared assets: data
Context : Out of 769 judges across 25 High Courts, only 95 judges (12.35%) have disclosed their assets.Highlights a significant lack of transparency in the higher judiciary.
Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary ), GS 4(Ethics in Public Life)
Highs and Lows Among High Courts
- Kerala High Court: Leads with 93.18% (41/44 judges) having declared assets.
- Himachal Pradesh High Court: 91.66% (11/12 judges) compliance.
- Chhattisgarh High Court: Only 1 out of 16 judges disclosed assets.
- Madras High Court: Only 5 out of 65 judges declared.
- Delhi High Court: Disclosure fell from 29/35 judges in 2018 to just 7/38 judges now.
Triggering Incident
- The recovery of partially burnt currency notes at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma (Delhi HC) has reignited the debate over judicial transparency and ethics.
Supreme Court’s Proactive Step
- In response, all 33 serving Supreme Court judges unanimously agreed (Full Court Meeting, April 1) to publish their asset declarations on the apex court website — setting a positive precedent.
Concerns Raised
- Sharp decline in voluntary disclosure over the years despite public expectations.
- Lack of a uniform, mandatory mechanism for periodic asset disclosure.
- Potential erosion of public trust in judicial integrity.
Legal and Ethical Context
- Asset disclosure by judges is not legally mandatory, but encouraged as a voluntary ethical practice.
- Originally inspired by a 2009 SC resolution post-CJI K.G. Balakrishnan era, urging voluntary disclosures.
- Non-disclosure undermines the principle of accountability in public institutions.
Way Forward
- Need for a uniform national policy or law mandating periodic asset disclosure by judges.
- Could be anchored under Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill (pending for years).
- Transparency could enhance public confidence, ensure judicial propriety, and deter unethical conduct.
Bridging gaps, building resilience
Context & Theme
- World Health Day 2025 theme: “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”, focusing on maternal and newborn health.
- Aims to highlight equitable, accessible, and quality healthcare as a global and national priority.
Relevance : GS 2(Health , Governance)
India’s Health Progress & Challenges
- Ayushman Bharat & PM-JAY: Provides financial protection to over 500 million people.
- Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs): Strengthen primary healthcare, but face shortages in staff, diagnostics, and medicine.
- Despite 70% rural population, only 35–40% of healthcare infrastructure is rural — reflects urban–rural disparity.
- Investment needed in Tier-2/Tier-3 cities and incentives for medical professionals in underserved areas.
Disease Burden & Socioeconomic Factors
- Dual burden: Infectious diseases + rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (65% of deaths).
- Lifestyle issues: Sedentary habits, poor diets, tobacco use → diabetes, heart disease, cancer.
- 101 million Indians have diabetes (IDF 2024).
- 1.6 million deaths due to air pollution (The Lancet, 2019).
- NFHS-5 data:
- 35% of under-5 children stunted.
- 57% women (15–49) anemic.
- Reflects issues of poverty, sanitation, education, gender inequality.
Policy Responses to Malnutrition
- Poshan Abhiyaan & ICDS aim at child nutrition but need:
- Strong data tracking.
- Community-level engagement.
- Multi-sectoral coordination.
Healthcare Funding & Economic Stress
- Health Ministry’s allocation in 2025–26 Budget: ₹99,858.56 crore (1.97% of total).
- High out-of-pocket expenditure pushes ~55 million Indians into poverty annually.
- Emphasis must shift to preventive care: screenings, health education, school-based health programs.
Digital Health: Promise & Pitfalls
- Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission & eSanjeevani: Over 10 crore teleconsultations.
- Challenges:
- Only 37% rural internet penetration.
- Low digital literacy among patients and providers.
- Concerns over cybersecurity and data privacy.
- Needs:
- Rural internet infrastructure.
- Training for healthcare workers.
- Strong data protection laws.
Future-Ready Innovations
- AI diagnostics, wearables, remote monitoring — promise early detection and personalized care.
- Must be inclusive, accessible, and equitable across regions and social groups.
Resilience & Global Health Alignment
- India aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
- Leverages strengths: young population, pharma industry, digital ecosystem.
- G20 presidency (2023): Showcased health diplomacy and digital health leadership.
- Need to align with
- International Health Regulations & Global Health Security Agenda.
Mental Health & Climate Resilience
- Tele-MANAS and NAP on Climate Change and Human Health are key initiatives.
- 14% of Indians suffer mental disorders (NIMHANS 2023) — requires more investment and destigmatisation.
Conclusion & Way Forward
- India must view health as strategic investment, not just a social service.
- Requires a cohesive, inclusive, well-funded system focused on:
- Innovation
- Equity
- Resilience
- Whole-of-society approach: Collaboration between government, civil society, and private sector essential for achieving Health for All.
Three billion people cannot afford a healthy diet
Global Context of Nutrition Affordability
- A healthy, nutritious diet is 4x more expensive than a basic calorie-sufficient one.
- 3 billion people globally cannot afford a healthy diet — even if they spent most of their income on food.
- 1.1 billion people (14% of the global population) cannot even afford the most basic energy-sufficient diet (rice/maize only).
Relevance : GS 2(Health , Hunger , Poverty)
Hidden Hunger and Micronutrient Deficiency
- Billions suffer from “hidden hunger” – deficiencies in iron, calcium, Vitamin A, iodine, etc.
- A calorie-sufficient diet (mostly cereals and starches) lacks proteins, essential fats, and micronutrients vital for health.
Economic & Structural Drivers
- The cost of a healthy diet globally averages $3.67/day, unaffordable for low-income populations.
- Subsistence farmers are also counted among the undernourished — if they cannot produce or afford calorie/nutrient-sufficient diets.
- Diet affordability is based on total income minus non–food essential expenditures like housing and transport.
Regional Disparities
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, over 80% of the population cannot afford a healthy diet.
- In India, a healthy diet costs nearly as much as the median income, leaving no room for other expenses.
- In contrast, people in France or Denmark spend just 5–6% of their income on food — showcasing stark inequality.
Food Guidelines vs Reality
- Most countries have Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) recommending a diverse intake from all food groups.
- But these guidelines are economically inaccessible to the poor in many regions.
- Researchers used regionally representative guidelines — not imposing Western models universally.
Policy Implications
- A calorie-sufficient diet might help survival, but fails to ensure health or human potential.
- Economic inequality, food price volatility, and low incomes must be tackled together.
- A sustainable solution must go beyond calorie sufficiency — focusing on nutrition security.
Key Takeaways
- Affordability of food is not just about price, but income and essential non-food needs.
- Three billion people lack the means to eat for long-term health — a global public health crisis.
- Addressing this gap is essential for achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
India’s Government Initiatives :
1. Public Distribution System (PDS)
Provides subsidized grains to around 800 million people.
Fulfills calorie needs but lacks nutritional diversity.
2. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
Initially launched during COVID-19 for free ration distribution.
Now a permanent scheme under NFSA providing free foodgrains to PDS beneficiaries.
3. PM POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme)
Offers nutritious meals to school children.
Some states include eggs, milk, or fruits.
4. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
Through Anganwadi centres, offers supplementary nutrition, health check-ups, and pre-school education for children (0–6 years) and pregnant/lactating women.
5. National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013
Provides legal entitlement to 5 kg of foodgrains per person/month for priority households.
Covers 75% of rural and 50% of urban population.
6. POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission)
Aims to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia, and low birth weight.
Uses technology integration and real-time Poshan Tracker.
7. Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB)
Focuses on reducing anaemia in children, adolescents, and women through IFA supplementation, deworming, and fortified foods.
8. Fortification Initiatives
Staples like rice, wheat, oil, milk, and salt fortified with iron, folic acid, Vitamin A & D.
Fortified rice being distributed through PDS, PM POSHAN, and ICDS.
CAPTCHA: a digital border between humans and bots
What is CAPTCHA?
- CAPTCHA stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.
- A security mechanism to differentiate human users from bots using puzzles/challenges.
- Inspired by the Turing Test, proposed by Alan Turing in the 1950s.
Relevance : GS 3(Technology)
Purpose and Origin
- Introduced in the early 2000s to combat automated bots creating fake accounts, spamming, and stealing data.
- First patent filed in 2003 by Luis von Ahn and others.
- Early CAPTCHA involved reading distorted text that bots couldn’t easily decipher.
How It Works
- Presents tasks (e.g., reading distorted text, selecting objects in images) that humans can do but bots find difficult.
- Leverages human cognitive abilities (pattern recognition, context interpretation) which machines lack.
Evolution of CAPTCHA
- 2000s: Distorted alphanumeric CAPTCHA.
- 2009 (reCAPTCHA): Used scanned book words—helped digitise texts while blocking bots.
- 2014 (Invisible reCAPTCHA): Google introduced mouse-movement tracking for less intrusive verification.
- Modern CAPTCHAs now include image and logic-based puzzles, motion tracking, and behavioral analysis.
Benefits of CAPTCHA
- Protects websites from:
- Spam submissions
- Fake account creation
- Credential stuffing
- Fraudulent transactions
- Used in:
- Login/registration pages
- Online polls and surveys
- E-commerce checkouts
- Account recovery processes
Limitations and Concerns
- Accessibility issues: Difficult for visually or hearing-impaired users.
- User experience: Can be frustrating, especially on mobile.
- Advanced bots: Machine learning is making bots capable of solving some CAPTCHA challenges.
- Bypass risk: CAPTCHA is no longer foolproof and may need to be paired with other security layers.
Future Challenges
- Must balance:
- Security: Evolving to outsmart smarter bots.
- Usability: Becoming easier and more inclusive for real users.
- Likely to be integrated with AI, biometric, and behavioral-based security systems in future.
