Social Issues in India - Classification
Social issues in India are in plenty and they need to be addressed in a systematic manner to
achieve social justice and economic justice to all the citizens of India. Founding fathers of India
were keen on addressing the social issues of India by framing the constitution accordingly.
The below table gives the broad classification of major social issues in India
Classification of Major Social Details
Issues
Gender Issues 1. Gender Gap
2. Triple Talaq
3. Sexual Harassment at Workplace
Poverty Related Issues 1. Poverty Report
Caste Related Issues 1. Lynchings
2. I&B advisory on the term Dalit
3. Implications of Caste Census.
Migration 1. Changing Pattern of Migration
2. Plight of migrants
Health 1. Impact of air pollution
2. Campaign against Drugs
3. Substance Abuse in India
Other Issues [Link] Youth Suicides
Gender Issues
The details of 3 major gender issues are given below.
Gender Gap
1. As per the report of Economic Survey 2017-18, there are 63 million missing women in
India.
2. Missing women are women who are not alive due to foeticide or infanticide.
3. As per the World Economic Forum, India is ranked very low at 87th position in the
“Global Gender Parity Report.”
4. Indian Government launched the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme to address the
problem of the gender gap.
5. The government has been carrying out information campaigns to address the problems
by bringing in behavioural change in society.
Triple Talaq
1. Many Muslim majority countries have banned triple talaq.
2. To bring equality and justice to women, the Government of India has passed the Triple
Talaq Bill, henceforth all declaration of talaq including written and electronic form will be
null and void.
Sexual Harassment at Workplace
1. The government have passed Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition,
and Redressal) Act in 2013
2. It aims to protect the rights of women in any workplace in any capacity.
Poverty Report
1. As per World Banks Brookings Institute report, as per May 2018, there are only 73
million people in the poorest of the poor index.
2. As per the report, 44 people in India are taken out of poverty every minute.
3. If the growth continues at the same pace, then 50 million people will move out of poverty
by 2022.
4. India is no longer the country with the highest poverty.
Caste Related Issues
The details of caste related issues are given below.
Lynchings
1. Majority of the lynchings carried out were due to bovine related issues.
2. Most of the attacks are based on rumours.
3. This needs to be stopped to prevent harm caused to the social harmony in society.
4. The Ministry of Electronics and IT is holding Watsapp responsible and has advised the
platform to take measures to stop the proliferation of fake messages.
Information and Broadcasting Advisory
1. Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued an advisory that word ‘Dalit’ can no
longer be used, this is as per the directive of Bombay High Court and Madhya Pradesh
High Courts. This is because the word found no mention in the Constitution of India or
any statute.
2. There was another directive from the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry to use
only the term ‘Scheduled Castes’.
Implications of Caste Census
1. The next caste census will take place in 2021, the problems associated with it is that it
will encourage caste-based politics rather than concentrating on developmental
activities. In addition, there will be strong sentiments for or against reservations.
Migration
This is also one of the major social issues in India. The details are given below.
Changing Pattern of Migration
1. As per recent reports, the number of women migrating in India is increasing at a faster
pace than men. Marriage continues to play an important role in the migration of women;
however, now other economic factors like employment, business, education is also
playing an important role in migration.
Plight of migrants
1. There has been an increase in violence against migrants coming to a state from different
parts of the country.
2. Lack of job opportunities to the locals have led to growing resentment against the
migrants who are dubbed ‘outsiders’
Health
A country’s sustainable progress is dependent on availability of healthy human resource. With a
deteriorating environment and unhealthy lifestyle, health is turning out to be one of the major
social issues in India.
Impact of Air Pollution
1. As per India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative report, India faces 26% of the worlds
premature deaths and disease burden due to air pollution.
2. 1 in 8 deaths in India was attributed to air pollution, which makes it a leading risk factor
for death.
3. Poor air quality is responsible for heart ailments as well.
Campaign against Drugs
1. Drug menace is extremely severe in Punjab.
2. Punjab’s prisons are overcrowded with drug users and peddlers.
3. Punjab set up a Special Task Force to tackle the menace.
Substance Abuse in India
1. As per a recent report released by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, India
has 6 crore alcohol addicts
2. More than 3 crore Indians are using cannabis products.
3. 8.5 lakh people in India inject drugs.
Other Issues
There are other issues plaguing the nation due to an imperfect education system in India.
Increasing Youth Suicides
1. As per reports from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) between 2014 and
2016; 26,476 students committed suicide in India. Of these around 7,500 committed
suicide due to failure in various examinations.
2. The main blame lies with India’s education system.
3. The education system has not been able to generate enough jobs.
