BEYOND ELECTIONS: WHAT SHOULD GOVERNMENTS ACTUALLY DELIVER?

Most Indian citizens today do not just fear illness, they fear the financial burden that comes with it. Public healthcare still struggles with overcrowding and accessibility, forcing millions toward expensive private hospitals. Let’s look at the major problems:

• No Preventive Healthcare Culture

  India still focuses more on treatment than prevention. Poor air quality, unsafe water and weak health awareness continue increasing diseases like respiratory illnesses, dengue and typhoid. (As of 21/05/2026, according to AQI rankings, the top 20 most polluted cities are all Indian cities.)

• Expensive Private Healthcare

  Nearly 60% of healthcare expenditure in India still comes from out-of-pocket spending, making medical emergencies financially devastating for many families.

• Urban-Rural Divide & Low Spending

  Quality healthcare remains concentrated in cities while rural India still lacks proper infrastructure and doctors. At the same time, India spends only around 1.5% of its GDP on public healthcare, far below what is required for strong Universal Health Coverage (at least 5%).

Way Forward:

In my opinion, greater focus on preventive healthcare, stronger rural infrastructure, faster implementation of Health and Wellness Centres and increased public health spending can bring significant improvement to India’s healthcare system.

Because healthcare should not feel like a privilege available only to those who can afford it.

Education is probably the strongest long-term investment any government can make.

Because a country that fails to educate its population eventually weakens its own future workforce and economy.

According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, India’s school education system serves nearly 24.8 crore students across 14.72 lakh schools with around 98 lakh teachers. Yet despite these massive numbers, the quality and accessibility of education still remain deeply uneven. Let me take you through the major problems:

• Poor Infrastructure in Government Schools

  According to UDISE 2019-20 data, only around 12% of government schools had internet facilities while only 30% had computers.

  Many schools still lack basic necessities like clean toilets, proper furniture, electricity and proper WASH facilities.

• Shortage of Well-Trained Teachers

  India does not just face a shortage of teachers, but also a shortage of properly trained educators. In many schools, especially in rural areas, a single teacher often handles multiple classes and subjects together. Teacher absenteeism is also a grave issue.

• Government vs Private Education Divide

  According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, government schools still educate nearly 50% of India’s students. Yet a large section of society continues moving toward private education due to better infrastructure, English exposure and perceived teaching quality.

Way Forward:

In my opinion, improving education in India is not only about building more schools, but about improving the quality of learning inside them.

Better teacher training, cleaner school infrastructure, stronger implementation of schemes like Mid-Day Meals, digital access and greater focus on practical and skill-based learning can significantly improve the system.

Recently, unemployed youth in India were called “cockroaches” in a remark associated with the CJI (Chief Justice of India).

At a time when millions of young people are already struggling with unemployment, uncertainty and financial pressure, such statements — that too from such an important post — naturally spark outrage among youth and for me, one question arises:

Has the youth become a liability to the government?

Employment is not a luxury for millions of Indians — it is about survival, dignity and hope for a better future.

• Extreme Competition & Limited Opportunities

  Over an eight-year period, nearly 220 million applications were submitted for central government jobs, yet only around 7.2 lakh candidates were selected, a selection rate of barely 0.33%.

• Rising Youth Unemployment

  Young people aged 15–29 form nearly 83% of India’s unemployed population. Unemployment reaches its peak among those aged 20–24, with millions spending years preparing for competitive examinations instead of actively participating in the workforce.

• Degree Inflation & Informal Employment

  Higher qualifications no longer guarantee jobs. Graduate unemployment in India stands at nearly 29.1%, while almost 90% of Indian workers are still forced into informal employment without proper security or benefits.

Way Forward:

In my opinion, India’s employment crisis cannot be solved only through government job creation.

Greater focus on manufacturing, startups, MSMEs, vocational skills, entrepreneurship and industry-oriented education is equally necessary. Recruitment processes also need far greater transparency and speed to reduce years of uncertainty among the youth.

Public infrastructure is probably the most visible form of governance in a citizen’s daily life. Roads, railways, drainage systems, electricity, internet connectivity and public transport directly affect the quality of life people experience every day.

India has witnessed major infrastructure growth in recent years through highways, metro systems and digital expansion. However, serious gaps still remain.

• Poor Urban Planning

  Many Indian cities continue struggling with traffic congestion, flooding, poor drainage systems and waste management issues. During monsoons, waterlogging and damaged roads almost become yearly headlines.

• Rural-Urban Infrastructure Divide

  While major cities continue modernising rapidly, many rural areas still lack quality roads, stable internet connectivity and proper public services.

• Poor Maintenance of Public Infrastructure

  India often focuses more on launching new projects than maintaining existing ones. Broken roads, poor sanitation and damaged public infrastructure continue affecting everyday life.

Way Forward:

In my opinion, infrastructure development should focus not only on speed, but also on quality, sustainability and long-term maintenance.

Better urban planning, stronger rural connectivity, climate-resilient infrastructure and efficient public transport are necessary for improving citizens’ daily lives.

Future infrastructure policy needs to move from “building more” to “building smarter”.