UPSC Mains 2022 GS Paper 3 Q5: model answer
The increase in life expectancy in the country has led to newer health challenges in the community. What are those challenges and what steps need to be taken to meet them?
What the question wants
Identify the health challenges that rising life expectancy brings and the steps needed to meet them.
How to structure it
Challenges, then steps.
- The ageing shift
- Health challenges
- Steps
How to think it through
Life expectancy ~70 years (SRS 2016–20 70.0; latest ~70.8 for 2017–21?). Elderly 10.1% of pop 2021, to ~20% by 2050 (UNFPA India Ageing Report 2023). Challenges: NCDs (diabetes, hypertension, cancer), dementia, multimorbidity, disability, mental health and loneliness, falls, out-of-pocket costs, few geriatricians, feminisation of ageing, long-term care. Steps: NPHCE, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY extended to all 70+ (Oct 2024), HWCs (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs) NCD screening, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007, geriatric care training, LASI data, community care.
Model answer
India's elderly population is expected to double from about 10% in 2021 to around 20% by 2050 (UNFPA India Ageing Report, 2023). A country that spent decades fighting infections now has to learn to care for long lives.
New health challenges
- Non-communicable diseases: diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer.
- Multimorbidity: many elderly have two or more chronic conditions.
- Dementia and mental health problems, including loneliness.
- Disability, falls and poor eyesight or hearing.
- High out-of-pocket costs for long treatment.
- Feminisation of ageing: elderly widows are often poorer and alone.
- Very few geriatricians and long-term care homes.
Steps needed
- Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY extended to all people aged 70 and above (2024).
- NCD screening at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
- National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly in every district.
- Training in geriatrics; home-based and palliative care.
- Community care and the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
- Use LASI survey data to plan.
Living longer is a success; living those years in health is the next goal.
Draw: A population pyramid widening at the top by 2050.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
elderly 10% to 20% by 2050, UNFPA India Ageing Report 2023, NCDs, multimorbidity, dementia, feminisation of ageing, PM-JAY 70+, NPHCE, Ayushman Arogya Mandir, LASI, MWPSC Act 2007.
Where most answers lose marks
- Writing only about pensions. The question is about health.
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Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
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