Social Justice — Vulnerable Sections

Definition

Poverty in India is a complex, multi-dimensional phenomenon, traditionally defined by a lack of income to acquire basic necessities (absolute poverty) or relative to the average income of the population (relative poverty). The NITI Aayog's Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), based on the Alkire-Foster method, captures deprivations across health, education, and living standards. Hunger, closely linked to poverty, encompasses undernutrition, stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies, reflecting chronic food insecurity and inadequate dietary intake.

Key Facts

• Poverty Concentration: As per reference material, poverty is largely concentrated in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal, accounting for over 50% of India's total poor population. The Tendulkar Committee (2011) estimated 21.9% of the population below the poverty line, while the Rangarajan Committee (2014) estimated 29.5%. NITI Aayog's National MPI (2023) indicates a significant decline in poverty, with 13.5 crore people exiting multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.
• Causes of Poverty: Key factors include large economic dependence on a subsistence agricultural sector, high levels of adult illiteracy, a significant number of landless, small, and marginal farmers, and an absence of sufficient employment opportunities in the manufacturing sector.
• Hunger & Malnutrition: India consistently ranks low on the Global Hunger Index (GHI). In 2023, India ranked 111th out of 125 countries. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) data shows 35.5% of children under five are stunted, 19.3% are wasted, and 32.1% are underweight. Anaemia remains a significant public health challenge, affecting 57% of women aged 15-49 and 67% of children aged 6-59 months.
• Vulnerable Sections: The social sector largely comprises those Below Poverty Line (BPL), the underprivileged, backward classes, Scheduled Castes/Tribes, landless, small, and marginal farmers, often engaged in casual work in the informal sector.

Mechanism/Framework

India's government has adopted a three-pronged strategy to address social sector issues: Broad Targeting, Narrow Targeting, and Social Security. This involves a range of flagship schemes:

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005: Guarantees 100 days of wage employment per financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. It aims to provide livelihood security and promote rural development.
• National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan), 2017: Aims to combat malnutrition, especially in women and children, by reducing stunting, undernutrition, and anaemia through targeted interventions and behaviour change. It converges with schemes like Anganwadi Services, PMMVY, NHM, and Swachh Bharat Mission.
• Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), 2018: Provides a health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families (approx. 50 crore beneficiaries).
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), 2014: A National Mission for Financial Inclusion, aiming to integrate the poorest of the poor with bank accounts, covering all rural and urban households.
• Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), 2014: Aims to eradicate open defecation and improve public health through universal sanitation coverage.
• National Health Mission (NHM), 2013: Focuses on improving healthcare services, infrastructure, and accessibility to provide universal access to quality healthcare and reduce maternal and child mortality rates.
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), 2013: Focuses on urban poverty alleviation and livelihood promotion through skill training, access to credit, and entrepreneurship development.
• National Skill Development Mission (NSDM), 2015: Aims to provide skill training to the youth and enhance employability by creating a skilled workforce.
• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP), 2015: Aims to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) through a mass campaign and multi-sectoral action, focusing on changing societal mindsets.
• Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0: Links Higher Education Institutions with villages for economic and social betterment using their knowledge base.

Exam Angle

For Prelims, focus on the year of launch, nodal ministry, target beneficiaries, and key features/objectives of each scheme. For Mains, analyze the effectiveness, challenges, inter-linkages between poverty, hunger, and other social issues (e.g., gender, education, health), and critically evaluate the government's strategies and their impact. Understanding the evolution of poverty measurement and India's position in global indices is also crucial.

A Social Audit is a tool for transparency and accountability. It is a public assembly where the community examines the records of MGNREGA projects. The Gram Sabha reviews whether the money was spent correctly and if the work actually exists. This helps prevent corruption and ensures the quality of infrastructure. Example: Villagers meeting to check if the new village pond was built according to the measurements mentioned in the official registers.

The unorganized sector includes workers who do not have fixed jobs or social security. Examples include domestic helpers, daily wage laborers, and street vendors. They do not get paid leave or health insurance from their employers. The government creates schemes like PM-SYM to give them a safety net. This ensures they have a monthly income after they retire at the age of 60.

Definition

Vulnerable sections of society in India refer to groups that face systemic disadvantages, discrimination, and lack of access to resources, opportunities, and rights due to various socio-economic, cultural, and historical factors. These include women, children, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), religious minorities, persons with disabilities, the elderly, transgender persons, and manual scavengers. The Indian state, guided by its constitutional mandate for social justice and equality, has adopted a comprehensive approach to uplift these groups.

Key Facts

• Constitutional Mandate: The Preamble envisions 'Justice, social, economic and political' and 'Equality of status and of opportunity'. Fundamental Rights (Part III) like Article 14 (Equality before law), Article 15 (Prohibition of discrimination), Article 17 (Abolition of Untouchability), and Article 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty) are crucial. Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) such as Article 39 (equal justice and free legal aid), Article 46 (promotion of educational and economic interests of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections), and Article 42 (just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief) guide state action.
• Key Legislation:
  • The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (originally Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955).
  • The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
  • The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
  • The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
  • The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
  • The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
  • The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
• Institutional Framework:
  • National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Article 338).
  • National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Article 338A, bifurcated from NCSC by 89th Amendment Act, 2003).
  • National Commission for Backward Classes (Article 338B, constitutional status by 102nd Amendment Act, 2018).
  • National Commission for Women, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, National Commission for Minorities.

Mechanism/Framework

The government, primarily through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, adopts a multi-pronged strategy encompassing social, economic, educational, and rehabilitative empowerment. This involves:

1. Protective Legislation: Enacting laws to prevent discrimination, atrocities, and exploitation.
2. Affirmative Action: Implementing reservations in educational institutions, government services (Articles 15(4), 16(4)), and representative bodies (Articles 330, 332 for SC/ST in legislatures; 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts for SC/ST/Women in Panchayats/Municipalities).
3. Targeted Schemes: Launching specific welfare and development programs, including scholarships (Pre-matric, Post-matric for SCs, STs, OBCs, Minorities), free coaching, residential education (Eklavya Model Residential Schools for STs), credit support (VISVAS Yojana, National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation), and livelihood promotion (MUDRA, NRLM).
4. Capacity Building: Initiatives like Adi Karmyogi Abhiyaan for tribal leadership or DA-JGUA for infrastructure development in tribal areas.
5. Rehabilitation: Programs for manual scavengers, victims of trafficking, and persons with disabilities.

Exam Angle

For Prelims, focus on specific articles, acts, years of enactment, names of commissions, and major schemes (e.g., ICDS launch year, Acts related to SC/ST). For Mains, analyze the effectiveness of these measures, constitutional philosophy, challenges in implementation, cross-cutting issues (e.g., gender and caste intersectionality), and suggest reforms. Essay questions often require a holistic understanding of social justice, linking constitutional provisions with policy outcomes and ethical considerations.

Definition

'Vulnerable sections' in India refer to groups facing systemic disadvantages, discrimination, and barriers to equal opportunities due to historical, social, economic, or physical factors. These include Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), women, children, persons with disabilities (PwDs), senior citizens, minorities (Sikh, Jain, Christian, Muslim, Parsi, Buddhist), and other marginalized groups like sanitation workers and manual scavengers. 'Social Justice' is a foundational principle enshrined in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, aiming to eliminate all forms of exploitation and provide equal opportunities for the development of every individual, ensuring dignity and equal rights for all sections of society.

Key Facts

• Constitutional Mandate: The Preamble secures "Justice, social, economic and political" and "Equality of status and of opportunity." Article 38 (DPSP) mandates the State to "strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting... a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life." It also directs the State to "minimise the inequalities in income, and endeavour to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities, not only amongst individuals but also amongst groups of people." Article 46 specifically directs the State to "promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation."
• Fundamental Rights: Articles 14 (Equality before law), 15 (Prohibition of discrimination), 16 (Equality of opportunity in public employment), 17 (Abolition of Untouchability), 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty), 23 (Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour), and 24 (Prohibition of employment of children in factories) are crucial for protecting vulnerable sections.
• Legislative Framework: Key acts include the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1976 (originally Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955), the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
• Institutional Mechanisms: National Commissions for SCs (Art 338), STs (Art 338A, bifurcated by 89th Amendment Act, 2003), OBCs (Art 338B, added by 102nd Amendment Act, 2018), Women, Minorities, and Child Rights ensure protection and promotion of their interests.
• Key Schemes (Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights):
  • Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment: Pre-matric and Post-matric scholarship schemes for SCs & others (17.14 lakh beneficiaries, ₹359.47 crore central share released in FY26 up to Dec 2025). Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) for senior citizens, Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PMAJAY) for SCs. VISVAS Yojana for financial inclusion of marginalized groups, offering credit support and interest subvention, converging with MUDRA, NRLM, PRAYAAS. Venture Capital Fund for SC and Backward Classes startups (supported over 160 enterprises).
  • Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Adi Karmyogi Abhiyaan for tribal leadership, DA-JGUA for infrastructure, health, education, Anganwadi services. Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for quality education to ST children. Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adiwasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) for 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Credit support through National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation.

Mechanism/Framework

India's approach to social justice for vulnerable sections is comprehensive, multi-pronged, and implemented through various ministries, primarily the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The strategy focuses on four key areas:

1. Social Empowerment: Combating discrimination and promoting inclusion through legislative measures (e.g., anti-discrimination laws), awareness campaigns, and community participation. This includes protecting tribal rights and dignity.
2. Economic Empowerment: Providing opportunities for livelihood generation, skill development, financial assistance, and asset creation. Schemes like VISVAS Yojana, Venture Capital Fund, and credit support through corporations aim to improve economic conditions and reduce dependency.
3. Educational Empowerment: Ensuring access to quality education from primary to higher levels through scholarships (Pre-matric, Post-matric), residential schools (EMRS), free coaching, and targeted educational infrastructure.
4. Rehabilitative Empowerment: Focusing on rehabilitation measures for specific vulnerable groups, such as manual scavengers (Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013) and persons with disabilities, ensuring their integration into mainstream society with dignity. This also includes addressing specific needs of senior citizens through schemes like AVYAY.

This framework often involves convergence with other national programs like MUDRA, NRLM, and PRAYAAS to maximize impact and ensure holistic development. Decentralized tribal leadership and governance are strengthened through initiatives like Adi Karmyogi Abhiyaan.

Exam Angle

• Prelims: Focus on specific constitutional articles (e.g., 38, 46, 17, 338, 338A, 338B), key acts (years, main provisions), names of important schemes (e.g., AVYAY, PMAJAY, VISVAS, PM-JANMAN, EMRS), and the constitutional amendments related to commissions (e.g., 89th, 102nd). Questions often test direct recall of facts.
• Mains: Requires analytical depth. Discuss the constitutional philosophy behind social justice, critically evaluate the effectiveness of various schemes and legislative measures, identify challenges in implementation, suggest policy reforms, and analyze the role of the judiciary. Linkages to Ethics (e.g., compassion, integrity, accountability in welfare delivery), Governance (e.g., transparency, efficiency, public participation), and Current Affairs (e.g., recent government reports, judicial pronouncements, new initiatives like PM-JANMAN for PVTGs) are crucial for high scores. Essay questions often revolve around the concept of social justice, inclusive growth, or specific challenges faced by vulnerable groups.

Absolute poverty is when a person cannot meet basic needs like food and shelter. It is measured using a 'Poverty Line.' If you earn less than this line, you are considered poor. India uses this method. Relative poverty compares one person's income to the rest of the society. It shows inequality rather than basic survival. For example, someone might have a house but be 'poor' compared to a billionaire.

Affirmative action means taking positive steps to help people who were treated unfairly in the past. In India, this is mostly done through the 'Reservation System.' Seats are reserved in government jobs and educational institutions for SCs, STs, and OBCs. This is allowed by Article 15 and Article 16 of the Constitution. The goal is to ensure that every community has a fair share in the administration of the country. It is a tool to achieve 'Substantive Equality' rather than just 'Formal Equality.'

Antenatal care is the medical care given to a woman during her pregnancy. It involves regular check-ups to monitor the health of the mother and the baby. This helps in the early detection of any health problems. The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan provides a minimum package of these services. These are usually provided on the 9th day of every month to ensure no mother is left behind.

A 'Central Sector Scheme' is 100% funded and implemented by the Union Government. A 'Centrally Sponsored Scheme' is a program where both the Union and State governments share the cost. For example, DILRMP is 100% funded by the Center, whereas many health schemes share costs with states.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) is a legal right to work. It guarantees at least 100 days of unskilled manual work to every rural household in a year. If the government fails to provide work within 15 days, it must pay an unemployment allowance. This scheme helps stop people from moving to cities out of desperation. Example: Digging a local pond or building a village road.

This refers to workers who do not have regular jobs or fixed benefits. They include street vendors, construction workers, and domestic help. Schemes like PM-SYM are designed specifically to provide these people with a pension because they do not have formal retirement plans.

MSP is the price at which the government promises to buy crops from farmers. It acts as a safety net. If market prices fall too low, farmers can sell to the government at this fixed price. This encourages farmers to grow more food grains. For example, before the sowing season, the government announces the MSP for crops like wheat and paddy to give farmers financial confidence.

Modern poverty is not just about money. The MPI measures poverty using three dimensions: Health, Education, and Standard of Living. It looks at 10 indicators, such as nutrition, school attendance, and cooking fuel. NITI Aayog releases the National MPI for India. This helps the government see which specific areas (like sanitation or electricity) need more help in a particular state.

PVTGs are the most backward groups among the Scheduled Tribes. They live in very remote areas and follow old traditions. The government uses four criteria to identify them: a declining or stagnant population, very low literacy, the use of ancient technology for farming, and a subsistence-level economy (barely enough to survive). There are 75 such groups in India. Examples include the Irular in Tamil Nadu and the Jarawas in the Andaman Islands. The government provides them with special funds for their protection.

The work done under MGNREGA must create 'durable assets.' This means the labor should result in something useful for the community in the long term. Most activities focus on natural resource management, like water conservation, land development, and irrigation. Example: Constructing a 'Medhbandi' (field bunding) to prevent soil erosion during heavy rains, which helps the entire farming community improve their crop yield.

Buffer stock is the extra stock of food grains maintained by the government. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) keeps this stock in large warehouses. This stock is used during emergencies like droughts, floods, or crop failures. It also helps in keeping market prices stable. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government used this buffer stock to provide free extra food to millions of people.

The Issue Price is the low price at which the government sells food grains to the people through ration shops. This price is much lower than the actual cost of buying and storing the grains. The difference between the actual cost and the Issue Price is called the 'Food Subsidy,' which the government pays from its budget. For example, if wheat costs the government Rs. 25 to buy but is sold at Rs. 2, the Issue Price is Rs. 2.

CSR is a rule that requires big companies to help society. According to the Companies Act 2013, companies with a certain net worth or profit must spend 2% of their average net profit on social projects. These projects can include building schools, providing clean water, or protecting the environment. This ensures that the wealth created by businesses also benefits the poor and helps in social empowerment. It moves the responsibility of social welfare from just the government to private companies as well.

This is a unique feature where the worker initiates the process. Unlike other schemes where the government chooses who gets help, here the citizen demands a job. If a worker applies for work and does not get it within 15 days, they are legally entitled to an unemployment allowance. This shifts the power from the government to the citizen. Example: A farmer who has no work during the summer can demand a job from the Panchayat to sustain his family.

DBT is a mechanism where the government sends money directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries. This prevents corruption and ensures the full amount reaches the right person. Many social welfare schemes now use the Aadhaar-linked DBT system.

Institutional delivery means giving birth to a child in a medical institution. These institutions include government hospitals or private clinics. This is safer than home delivery because trained doctors and nurses are present. They have the equipment to handle emergencies. Schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana provide cash incentives to poor women to choose hospitals. This helps reduce Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR).

This program was launched by NABARD in 1992. It allows Self Help Groups to borrow money from banks without providing any security or collateral. The bank gives the loan to the group as a whole. The group then distributes it to members. This builds a relationship between the formal banking system and the rural poor. Example: A group of 15 women in a village can get a loan of 5 lakh rupees from a bank based on their history of small regular savings.

Microfinance refers to small-scale financial services provided to low-income individuals. These services include tiny loans (micro-credits), savings accounts, and insurance. It targets people who are usually ignored by big commercial banks because they lack assets. SHGs are the most common way to deliver microfinance in India. Example: A member taking a 5000-rupee loan from her SHG to buy a sewing machine to start a small tailoring business.

Social capital refers to the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society. In SHGs, social capital is built through trust, cooperation, and mutual support. When people work together, they can solve problems that they cannot solve alone. This 'unity' is the capital that helps them get bank loans. Example: If one member faces a medical emergency, the group uses their collective funds to help, showing high social capital.