Why in the news
The Economic Survey 2024-25 reviewed social services spending and how health and school indicators have moved.
Key facts
- Social sector expenditure (SSE) covers education, health, water and sanitation, housing, urban development, SC/ST/OBC welfare, labour and more.
- SSE share: 23.3% to 26.2% of total spending; 15% CAGR.
- Out-of-pocket expenditure on health has fallen thanks to insurance and infrastructure.
- WHO norm of 1 doctor per 1,000 is targeted by 2030; 50,000 doctors are licensed yearly.
| Sector | FY21 | FY25 BE | CAGR |
|---|
| Health | ₹3.2 trillion | ₹6.1 trillion | 18% |
| Education | ₹5.8 trillion | ₹9.2 trillion | 12% |
| Level | GER | Dropout |
|---|
| Primary | 93% | 1.9% |
| Upper primary | – | 5.2% |
| Secondary | 77.4% | 14.1% |
| Higher secondary | 56.2% | – |
Way forward
- A fair medical education policy to fix the urban-rural doctor gap.
- More investment at secondary and higher secondary levels.
Exam angle
- GER means Gross Enrolment Ratio; OOPE means out-of-pocket expenditure.
- Doctor ratio: 1 per 1,263 people.