Beyond Beijing Unlocking India Bold Feminist Future

Topic: GS2 – Social Justice

Context

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995, is a global framework for advancing women’s rights. India has improved gender equality through policies, economic growth, and legal reforms while tackling gender violence.

Background of the Beijing Declaration

• The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995, is a global blueprint for advancing women’s rights.
• The conference brought together leaders and delegates from 189 countries, including over 200 representatives from India.
• Over the past three decades, India has made significant progress in many of these areas.

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

Adopted: At the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China (1995). Purpose: Aimed at achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide. Key Focus Areas: Identifies 12 critical areas, including poverty, education, health, violence against women, economic rights, decision-making, human rights, and media representation. Global Commitments: Calls for policy reforms, legal changes, and increased resource allocation for women’s rights. Impact: Influenced global gender policies, including SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Follow-up Mechanism: Reviewed at Beijing+5 (2000), Beijing+10 (2005), Beijing+25 (2020) to assess progress. Legacy: Considered a blueprint for gender equality, shaping national policies and international frameworks for women’s rights.

Improvements in Maternal Health and Education

• Initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana have increased institutional deliveries to 95%.
• Maternal mortality has decreased from 130 to 97 deaths per 1,00,000 births between 2014 and 2020.
• More than 56.5% of married women now use modern contraceptives, giving them greater control over their reproductive health.
• The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has provided millions of women with free access to critical healthcare.
• The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative has improved the child sex ratio and increased school enrollments for girls.
• The National Education Policy 2020 has helped retain more girls in school, particularly in STEM fields.
• Improved sanitation has reduced menstruation-related school absences.

Economic Empowerment and Digital Inclusion

• The National Rural and Urban Livelihood Missions have connected nearly 100 million women to financial networks via self-help groups.
• The use of digital platforms, particularly through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), has increased financial independence for women.
• The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihood Mission has provided access to credit, financial literacy, and livelihood opportunities to over 100 million rural women.
• The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan has trained over 35 million rural women in digital literacy.
• Gender-responsive budgeting has increased its share in the national budget from 6.8% in 2024-25 to 8.8% in 2025-26, with $55.2 billion allocated to gender-specific programs.

Challenges of Gender-Based Violence

• Gender-based violence remains a serious concern.
• To address this, 770 One Stop Centres provide essential support such as medical, legal, and psychological aid.
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, implemented in July 2024, strengthens legal protections for women.
• A blockchain-based system in Odisha ensures swift, confidential, and coordinated support for survivors.
• Partnerships with institutions like the Rajasthan Police Academy have enhanced gender-responsive policing and improved access to justice.

Women’s Leadership and Policy Changes

• Young women are leading change in areas such as climate action and digital entrepreneurship.
• Initiatives like the Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) project promote women’s participation in STEM.
• The G20 TechEquity platform has trained thousands of young women in emerging technologies.
• The Women’s Reservation Bill ensures 33% legislative representation for women, building on the success of local governance, where close to 1.5 million women hold leadership positions.

Conclusion

• The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration highlights that gender equality is a global responsibility.
• India’s progress has been driven by strong government policies and support from local and international partners.
• Continued investments in young women’s leadership and addressing systemic challenges will be crucial for further progress.

PYQ: “Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu? (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-2 2021)

Practice Question:  India’s progress on gender equality reflects strong policy efforts, yet challenges remain. Discuss the key achievements and persisting issues in women’s empowerment in India. (250 Words /15 marks)

2. Is Artificial Intelligence affecting critical thinking skills?

Topic: GS3 – Science and Technology

Context

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in education, raising concerns about its impact on critical thinking.

AI in College Classrooms

• AI tools are widely used in education globally, including by students and teachers.
• British universities have been advised to assess their evaluation methods as most students use AI tools.
• In India, over 61% of educators already integrate AI into their teaching.
• Despite concerns, AI cannot be completely banned as it is present in daily life and learning environments.
• The extent of AI usage should depend on the course type. For technical and coding courses, AI can assist students in evaluating and validating codes.

Need for Responsible AI Usage

• AI should be used ethically and responsibly in classrooms.
• Since government regulations are not yet in place, institutions should set their own AI policies.
• Policies should be clearly communicated to students at the beginning of the course.
• Teaching AI usage should focus on maintaining ethical standards and preventing misuse.

AI as a Critical Educational Infrastructure

• AI is expected to become a core part of educational institutions, businesses, and organizations.
• The Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights analytical thinking, AI-related skills, and adaptability as top future skills.
• Programming skills are now considered less critical than AI evaluation and analytical abilities.
• AI integration requires proper security measures to protect personal and institutional data.

Concerns About AI Integration

• Some governments are promoting AI in schools without proper audits of AI tools.
• AI tools may have built-in biases and issues with training data.
• There should be clear disclosure requirements and safety assessments before AI adoption in education.

Regulated AI Adoption Over Prohibition

• AI’s growing role makes regulation necessary instead of outright banning.
• Some countries hesitate to regulate AI to avoid slowing its development.
• Discussions on AI regulation should evolve alongside technological advancements.
• The European Union has taken significant steps toward AI regulation, while India is still developing policies.

Impact of AI on Critical Thinking

• There is concern that AI dependence may reduce students’ ability to think critically.
• While AI can assist in learning, educational institutions should balance practical skills with critical thinking development.
• Over-dependence on AI-generated responses can be an issue for students and educators.
• Responsible AI usage should be taught, emphasizing both its benefits and limitations.

PYQ: Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of Al in healthcare? (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2023)

Practice Question:  Discuss the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in education. How can AI be regulated to balance technological advancement with critical thinking development? (250 Words /15 marks)

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