BharatNotes Overview
Health technology is transforming healthcare delivery worldwide — from telemedicine reaching remote villages to mRNA vaccines revolutionising immunology, from genomics enabling personalised medicine to AI diagnosing diseases faster than human radiologists. For UPSC, this topic spans GS3 (Science & Technology) and GS2 (Health, Governance) — questions test understanding of technologies, government schemes (ABDM, eSanjeevani), regulatory frameworks (Medical Devices Rules), and ethical implications.
Telemedicine in India
eSanjeevani — India's National Telemedicine Platform
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | November 2019 (eSanjeevani AB-HWC); April 2020 (eSanjeevani OPD for patient-to-doctor) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) |
| Models | eSanjeevani AB-HWC (provider-assisted — health worker at a village Health and Wellness Centre connects patient to a doctor at a hub hospital); eSanjeevani OPD (direct patient-to-doctor consultation via app/web) |
| Scale (2025) | Over 43 crore (430 million) teleconsultations facilitated (as of November 2025); connected to ~1,55,000 public health facilities; ~2,20,000 providers nationwide |
| Utilisation | AB-HWC model accounts for >93% of usage; highest utilisation among women and adults aged 25–45 |
| eSanjeevani 2.0 | Launched March 2023 — enhanced audio-video stability, prescription synchronisation, electronic health record integration |
| AI integration | AI-based clinical decision support system (CDSS) introduced; expanded to 300 symptoms with branching logic (2025) — aids doctors in differential diagnosis |
Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Released | 25 March 2020 — by the Board of Governors, Medical Council of India (in partnership with NITI Aayog) |
| Significance | First-ever formal guidelines for telemedicine practice in India — released just one day after the COVID-19 national lockdown |
| Scope | Covers physician-patient relationship, consent, privacy, prescribing norms, record-keeping, liability, and continuity of care |
| Who can practise | Only Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs); separate guidelines issued for Ayurveda/Siddha/Unani and Homeopathy practitioners |
| Prescribing | Categorised medicines into List O (over-the-counter — can prescribe in first consultation), List A (can prescribe in first consultation for common conditions), and List B (only in follow-up consultations) |
For Mains: eSanjeevani is one of the world's largest government-led telemedicine platforms. Its success demonstrates how technology can bridge India's healthcare access gap — but challenges remain: digital literacy, internet connectivity in rural areas, quality of teleconsultation vs in-person examination, and the risk of over-prescribing antibiotics in teleconsultations.
mRNA Technology
How mRNA Vaccines Work
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Design | Scientists identify a target protein (e.g., the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2) and synthesise the mRNA sequence that codes for it |
| 2. Delivery | The synthetic mRNA is encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) — tiny fat bubbles that protect the fragile mRNA and help it enter human cells |
| 3. Translation | Once inside the cell, the mRNA instructs the cell's ribosomes to produce the target protein |
| 4. Immune response | The immune system recognises the foreign protein, mounts an immune response (antibodies + T cells), and creates immunological memory |
| 5. Degradation | The mRNA is naturally degraded by the cell within days — it does NOT enter the nucleus or alter DNA |
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines
| Vaccine | Developer | Efficacy (original strain) | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comirnaty | Pfizer-BioNTech | ~95% | First mRNA vaccine authorised (December 2020); stored at -70 C initially, later -20 C |
| Spikevax | Moderna | ~94% | Uses a slightly modified mRNA and higher dose; stored at -20 C |
Future mRNA Applications
| Application | Status (2025–26) |
|---|---|
| Cancer vaccines | Personalised mRNA cancer vaccines in clinical trials (Moderna + Merck — melanoma); mRNA instructs cells to produce tumour-specific antigens, training the immune system to attack cancer cells |
| Malaria | Current RTS,S vaccine (Mosquirix) is only ~40% effective and requires annual doses; mRNA-based malaria vaccines under development aim for higher efficacy and longer-lasting immunity |
| Influenza | mRNA flu vaccines in Phase 3 trials; could enable faster annual vaccine updates (weeks vs months for traditional egg-based production) |
| HIV | Early-stage mRNA vaccine trials underway; challenges remain due to HIV's extreme genetic variability |
| Autoimmune diseases | mRNA technology being explored for tolerance-inducing vaccines — training the immune system NOT to attack self-tissues (e.g., in multiple sclerosis) |
For Prelims: mRNA vaccines do NOT alter DNA. They work by instructing cells to produce a target protein, triggering an immune response. The mRNA degrades naturally within days. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the delivery mechanism. The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their foundational work on nucleoside base modifications that made mRNA vaccines possible.
Genomics
Human Genome Project (HGP)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1990–2003 (13 years) |
| Lead agencies | US Department of Energy + National Institutes of Health (NIH); international consortium including UK, France, Germany, Japan, China |
| Achievement | Mapped the entire human genome — approximately 3.2 billion base pairs across 23 pairs of chromosomes |
| Genes identified | ~20,000–25,000 protein-coding genes (far fewer than the initially expected 100,000) |
| Cost | ~USD 2.7 billion (1990 dollars); today, a whole genome can be sequenced for under USD 200 |
| Significance | Foundation for personalised medicine, pharmacogenomics, genetic diagnostics, and gene therapy |
Genome India Project (GIP)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 2020; led by Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore |
| Completed | January 2025 — DBT announced completion of 10,074 whole-genome sequences across India |
| Scope | 10,074 healthy individuals from 85 populations (32 tribal + 53 non-tribal) across India; sequenced and made publicly accessible at IBDC |
| Data platform | Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) — India's first national repository for life science data; Framework for Exchange of Data Protocols (FeED) launched |
| Key findings | 180 million genetic variants identified; 44 million previously unknown variants not in any global database; ~27 million rare variants — corrects massive under-representation of South Asian genomes in global datasets |
| Publication | Published in Nature Genetics (Vol. 57, April 8, 2025) |
| Phase 2 | Disease-specific sequencing (cardiovascular, oncology, neurological) outlined by DBT; not yet formally notified/funded as of mid-2026 |
Pharmacogenomics
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Definition | The study of how an individual's genetic makeup affects their response to drugs — enabling personalised medicine |
| Application | Identifying which patients will respond to a drug, which will not, and which are at risk of adverse reactions — before prescribing |
| Examples | Warfarin dosing (varies by CYP2C9 genotype); cancer treatment selection based on tumour genomic profiling; codeine metabolism (CYP2D6 variants) |
| India relevance | Genome India data will enable India-specific pharmacogenomic databases — critical because drug responses vary across populations |
For Mains: The Genome India Project is India's most significant genomics initiative. Its completion in January 2025 provides the foundation for precision medicine tailored to India's genetically diverse population. However, ethical challenges remain — data privacy, potential for genetic discrimination (insurance, employment), and equitable access to genomic medicine.
AI in Healthcare
Applications
| Application | How It Works | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Medical imaging / Radiology | Deep learning algorithms analyse X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and retinal images to detect diseases (cancer, diabetic retinopathy, tuberculosis) | FDA/CDSCO-approved AI tools in use; some outperform human radiologists in specific tasks |
| Drug discovery | AI models predict molecular interactions, identify drug candidates, and simulate clinical trials — reducing development time from 10+ years to potentially 2–3 years | AlphaFold (DeepMind) predicted structures of 200 million+ proteins; AI-designed drugs entering clinical trials |
| Clinical decision support | AI analyses patient data (symptoms, history, lab results) to suggest diagnoses and treatment options | eSanjeevani's CDSS — covers 300 symptoms with branching logic |
| Pathology | AI-powered digital pathology analyses tissue samples for cancer detection and grading | Reduces turnaround time; improves consistency of diagnosis |
| Epidemic prediction | ML models analyse epidemiological data, mobility patterns, and environmental factors to predict disease outbreaks | Used during COVID-19 for forecasting case trajectories |
Challenges of AI in Healthcare
| Challenge | Detail |
|---|---|
| Data quality | AI models are only as good as their training data — biased or incomplete datasets lead to unreliable outputs |
| Regulatory gaps | India's CDSCO released a Draft Guidance Document on Medical Device Software (October 21, 2025) — distinguishes SiMD (Software in Medical Device) from SaMD (Software as a Medical Device, e.g., AI diagnostic apps); not yet finalized |
| Accountability | If an AI system misdiagnoses, who is liable — the developer, the hospital, or the doctor who relied on it? |
| Equity | AI tools developed on Western populations may not perform well on Indian patients with different disease profiles and genetic backgrounds |
| Black box problem | Deep learning models often cannot explain their reasoning — clinicians may not trust or understand AI recommendations |
Medical Devices — Regulation and Manufacturing
Medical Devices Rules, 2017
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Governing law | Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 + Medical Devices Rules, 2017 (amended 2020) |
| Regulator | Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare |
| Classification | Devices classified into 4 risk categories (Class A — lowest risk to Class D — highest risk); classification determines the level of regulatory scrutiny |
| Coverage | Registration, manufacturing, import, labelling, sale, clinical investigation, and post-market surveillance |
| Key amendment (2020) | All medical devices brought under regulatory purview — previously, only a limited list of devices was regulated |
National Medical Devices Policy 2023
The National Medical Devices Policy was notified on May 2, 2023 (approved by Union Cabinet April 26, 2023) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers).
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Target market size | Grow from ~USD 11 billion (baseline 2023) to USD 50 billion by 2030 |
| Global market share | Achieve 10–12% share of global medical devices market (25-year vision) |
| Import reduction | Reduce import dependence from ~70–80% to ~30% |
| Manufacturing hub | Become one of the top 5 global manufacturing hubs |
| Eight missions | Access & Universality, Affordability, Quality, Patient-Centred Care, Preventive Health, Security, R&D, Skilled Manpower |
PLI Scheme for Medical Devices
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Objective | Promote high-value domestic manufacturing; reduce import dependence (~70–80% of high-value devices imported) |
| Approved projects | 26 projects; committed investment Rs 4,329.95 crore (greenfield); Rs 4,763.34 crore invested (September 2025 — exceeded commitment) |
| Cumulative sales | Rs 12,344.37 crore; PLI-scheme exports Rs 5,869.36 crore (September 2025) |
| Products in production | 55 high-end devices — MRI scanners, CT scanners, mammography, C-arm X-ray, linear accelerators (LINACs) |
| Medical Device Parks | 4 parks — Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh (Ujjain), Tamil Nadu (Kanchipuram), Uttar Pradesh (YEIDA) — 3 parks expected operational by early 2027 |
For Prelims: National Medical Devices Policy 2023: notified May 2023; USD 50 billion target by 2030; Medical Devices Rules 2017: CDSCO regulator; 4 risk classes (A–D); PLI Medical Devices: 26 projects, Rs 4,763 crore invested, exports Rs 5,869 crore (September 2025).
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
Core Components
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) | Unique 14-digit health ID for every Indian citizen; linked to Aadhaar; can be created via abha.abdm.gov.in or the ABHA App |
| Health Records | Longitudinal electronic health records linked to ABHA ID — medical history, prescriptions, lab results, discharge summaries travel with the patient across hospitals |
| Health Facility Registry (HFR) | Comprehensive database of all healthcare facilities — public and private |
| Health Professional Registry (HPR) | Digital registry of all healthcare professionals — doctors, nurses, paramedics |
| Scan & Share | QR-code-based OPD registration — patients scan a QR code at the hospital to register instantly using their ABHA ID |
Scale (as of May 2026)
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| ABHA accounts (IDs) created | ~73 crore (January 2025, PIB-confirmed); ongoing growth |
| Health records linked to ABHA | 100 crore (milestone crossed May 2026 — DD News/PIB) |
| Health Facility Registry | 2.5 lakh+ health facilities |
| Healthcare Professionals Registry | 5+ lakh doctors |
| Leading state | Uttar Pradesh — 15.03 crore+ linked health records (May 2026) |
For Mains: ABDM is India's most ambitious digital health initiative. The vision is a unified national health ecosystem where every citizen has a digital health identity, and their medical records are portable across all healthcare providers. However, challenges include: interoperability between different hospital software systems, data privacy (health data is highly sensitive), digital literacy among patients and providers, and the risk of a digital divide excluding the poorest and most remote populations.
Gene Therapy and CRISPR
Gene Therapy
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Definition | Treating or preventing disease by introducing, altering, or replacing genetic material within a patient's cells |
| Types | Somatic gene therapy — targets non-reproductive cells; changes are NOT passed to offspring; ethically accepted. Germline gene therapy — targets reproductive cells; changes ARE heritable; ethically controversial and banned in most countries |
| Approved therapies | Luxturna (inherited retinal dystrophy, 2017); Zolgensma (spinal muscular atrophy, 2019); Casgevy (sickle cell disease — first CRISPR-based therapy approved, 2023) |
| India | Clinical trials underway; regulatory framework through RCGM (Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation) and GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee) |
CRISPR-Cas9
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| What | A gene-editing tool that allows precise cutting and modification of DNA at specific locations — like "molecular scissors" |
| Discovery | Developed as a gene-editing tool by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2020) |
| How it works | A guide RNA directs the Cas9 enzyme to a specific DNA sequence; Cas9 cuts the DNA; the cell's repair mechanisms then fix the break — genes can be deleted, corrected, or inserted |
| Applications | Sickle cell disease treatment (Casgevy), cancer immunotherapy, agricultural crop improvement, disease-resistant livestock, malaria vector control (gene drives) |
| Ethical concerns | Off-target edits (unintended mutations); germline editing (heritable changes); equity of access; the "designer baby" debate — the He Jiankui case (2018) in China, where twin embryos were edited, drew global condemnation |
For Prelims: CRISPR-Cas9 = Nobel Prize 2020 (Doudna and Charpentier). Casgevy = first CRISPR-based therapy approved (sickle cell disease, 2023). CRISPR does NOT create new genes — it edits existing DNA.
Wearable Health Technology
| Device Type | Examples | Health Application |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatches | Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Noise, boAt | Heart rate monitoring, ECG (electrocardiogram), blood oxygen (SpO2), fall detection, sleep tracking |
| Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) | FreeStyle Libre, Dexcom | Real-time blood glucose tracking for diabetes management — eliminates painful finger pricks |
| Smart rings | Oura Ring | Sleep quality, body temperature, heart rate variability — used for early illness detection |
| Patch sensors | BioSticker, VitalConnect | Continuous monitoring of heart rhythm, respiratory rate, temperature — used in hospitals and home care |
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| What | Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist drugs that once killed them — making infections harder to treat |
| Scale | AMR directly caused an estimated 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019 (The Lancet); projected to cause 10 million deaths/year by 2050 if unchecked |
| India's burden | India is among the highest consumers of antibiotics globally; irrational prescribing, over-the-counter antibiotic sales, and antibiotic use in agriculture drive resistance |
| Key pathogens | ESKAPE pathogens: Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp. |
| India's response | NAP-AMR 1.0 (2017–2021) — first plan; NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025–2029) launched by Union Health Minister JP Nadda on 18 November 2025 (World AMR Awareness Week); One Health approach covering 20+ ministries; AMR surveillance network (ICMR); Red Line Campaign; Delhi Declaration on AMR (2017) |
| Global response | WHO Global Action Plan on AMR (2015); WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics (Access, Watch, Reserve) |
One Health Approach
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Definition | An integrated approach recognising that human health, animal health, and environmental health are interconnected — addressing health threats at the human-animal-environment interface |
| Relevance | ~75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic (originate in animals) — COVID-19, Ebola, Nipah, avian influenza, mpox |
| India | National One Health Mission (NOHM) — operationally launched at Bharat Mandapam, 20–21 November 2025 (PM Modi inaugural; Health Minister JP Nadda); implementing agency ICMR; budget Rs 383 crore; integrates 16 central/state ministries; National Institute of One Health, Nagpur as anchor institution |
| International | Quadripartite: WHO + FAO + WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health) + UNEP jointly lead the One Health approach |
For Mains: One Health is increasingly relevant for UPSC — it connects science (zoonotic diseases, AMR), governance (inter-ministerial coordination), and environment (deforestation driving human-wildlife contact). Questions often ask: "Discuss the One Health approach in the context of emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance."
UPSC Relevance
Prelims Focus Areas
- eSanjeevani: launched 2019; 43 crore+ consultations (November 2025); MoHFW
- Telemedicine Practice Guidelines: 25 March 2020; by Board of Governors, MCI
- mRNA vaccines: do NOT alter DNA; LNP delivery; Kariko and Weissman — Nobel Prize 2023
- Human Genome Project: 1990–2003; ~3.2 billion base pairs; ~20,000–25,000 genes
- Genome India Project: completed January 2025; 10,074 genomes; 85 populations; 44 million novel variants; published Nature Genetics April 2025
- ABHA: 14-digit health ID; ~73 crore IDs (January 2025); 100 crore health records linked to ABHA (May 2026)
- National Medical Devices Policy 2023: notified May 2023; USD 50 billion target by 2030
- Medical Devices Rules 2017: CDSCO; 4 risk classes (A–D); SaMD guidance draft (October 2025)
- PLI Medical Devices: 26 projects; Rs 4,763 crore invested; 55 devices in production; PLI-scheme exports Rs 5,869 crore (September 2025)
- India medical device exports overall: ₹28,106 crore FY26; imports ₹94,664 crore FY26 — trade deficit underlines import dependence
- AMR: 1.27 million deaths (2019); ESKAPE pathogens; WHO AWaRe classification; NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025–2029) launched November 18, 2025
- One Health: WHO + FAO + WOAH + UNEP (Quadripartite); NOHM launched November 20–21, 2025; ICMR implementing; Rs 383 crore
Mains Focus Areas
- Telemedicine as a tool for healthcare equity — potential and limitations in rural India
- mRNA technology — beyond COVID: cancer vaccines, malaria, and the platform's revolutionary potential
- Genomics and personalised medicine — Genome India Project's significance for India's diverse population
- AI in healthcare — opportunities, regulatory challenges, accountability, and equity concerns
- Digital health ecosystem (ABDM) — vision vs ground reality; data privacy; digital divide
- AMR as a silent pandemic — India's role as both part of the problem and part of the solution
- One Health — integrating human, animal, and environmental health governance
Cross-paper relevance
- GS3 — Science-Technology (primary) — Health tech: ABDM (100 crore health records linked, May 2026), National Medical Devices Policy 2023, AI diagnostics (CDSCO SaMD draft 2025), AMR as "silent pandemic", Genome India 180M variants, NOHM
- GS3 — Economy — PLI for medical devices (Rs 4,763 crore invested; exports Rs 5,869 crore; Sept 2025), National Medical Devices Policy 2023 (USD 50 billion target), eSanjeevani scale (43 crore consultations)
- GS2 — Governance/social dimension: National Digital Health Mission (ABHA 100 crore health records), CDSCO oversight of medical devices, data privacy in ABDM (DPDP Act intersection)
- Essay — Recurring theme: "Digital health: India's opportunity to leapfrog" (2022); "One Health: towards integrated planetary wellbeing" (2023)
Recent Developments (2024–2026)
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) — 100 Crore Health Records Linked (May 2026)
India crossed a landmark milestone in May 2026: 100 crore (1 billion) health records linked to ABHA accounts — announced via PIB/DD News on May 22, 2026. Uttar Pradesh leads with 15.03 crore+ linked health records. As of January 2025, approximately 73 crore ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) IDs had been created (PIB-confirmed figure), with the pace accelerating through FY2025–26 (8.79 crore new IDs in FY26).
Note: Two distinct metrics — ABHA accounts created (~73 crore, Jan 2025) vs health records linked to those ABHA accounts (100 crore, May 2026). The records milestone is particularly significant because it means citizens are actively using ABHA to store and share their health data, not just registering accounts.
The National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) — enabling real-time insurance claims processing — was operationalised in 2024, with 30+ major insurers and TPAs (Third Party Administrators) integrated. The Unified Health Interface (UHI), analogous to UPI for healthcare, allows patients to discover and book health services from any platform interoperably.
UPSC angle (Prelims 2027): ABDM milestones — 100 crore health records linked to ABHA (May 2026); ABHA = 14-digit health ID; NHCX; UHI; ABHA-linked electronic health records are Prelims data points; digital health governance and access/equity challenges are Mains GS-2/GS-3 content.
National Medical Devices Policy 2023 and Regulatory Reform
The National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 was notified on May 2, 2023 (Union Cabinet approval April 26, 2023) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals. This is a landmark policy — the first comprehensive national-level strategy for India's medical devices sector. Key targets: grow India's market from ~USD 11 billion (2023 baseline) to USD 50 billion by 2030; reduce import dependence from ~70–80% to ~30%; achieve top-5 global manufacturing hub status; target 10–12% share of global medical devices market over 25 years.
On the regulatory side, India's existing Medical Devices Rules, 2017 (under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940) provide the operative framework. A new "Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Act, 2025" — which would replace the 1940 Act — was unveiled as a draft in October 2025 but had not been introduced in Parliament as of May 2026. The PLI scheme for medical devices has achieved Rs 4,763.34 crore in investment (September 2025), supporting production of 55 high-end devices including MRI scanners, CT scanners, linear accelerators (LINACs), and mammography systems.
India's medical device trade balance FY26: India exported medical devices worth ₹28,106 crore in FY 2025–26 while importing ₹94,664 crore — a trade deficit of over ₹66,000 crore, underscoring continued import dependence for high-value devices (CT scanners, MRI, cardiac stents, orthopaedic implants). This compares to FY25 exports of ~₹31,120 crore (US$ 3.64 billion, representing 88% growth from FY19 base). Despite export growth, the import-to-export ratio of ~3.4:1 highlights the gap the National Medical Devices Policy 2023 and PLI scheme must close. The four Medical Device Parks (Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh–Ujjain, Tamil Nadu–Kanchipuram, Uttar Pradesh–YEIDA) — each receiving Rs 100 crore central grant — are expected to be operational by early 2027 (3 of 4 on track).
UPSC angle (Prelims 2027): National Medical Devices Policy 2023 — notified May 2, 2023; USD 50 billion by 2030; India medical device exports ₹28,106 crore FY26 (imports ₹94,664 crore — trade gap of ~₹66,000 crore); PLI Medical Devices: Rs 4,763 crore invested (Sept 2025); import dependence ~70–80% are Prelims data points; regulatory reform, Make-in-India in medical devices, and trade deficit reduction are Mains GS-3/GS-2 content.
AI in Healthcare — Diagnostics and Drug Discovery (2024–2026)
AI-assisted diagnostics emerged as a major healthcare technology trend. ICMR-partnered AI tools deployed at scale in India's public health system include: qXR by Qure.ai (TB detection from chest X-rays), Remidio's AI platform (diabetic retinopathy screening), and AI-assisted cervical cancer detection. The National AI in Health portal (MoHFW) registered 45+ validated AI diagnostic tools by 2024.
In drug discovery, AI platforms accelerated drug repurposing and lead compound identification. BIRAC allocated ₹500 crore for AI-biotech convergence projects under BioE3 Policy.
The regulatory framework for AI-based medical devices is crystallising: CDSCO released a Draft Guidance Document on Medical Device Software on October 21, 2025 — it distinguishes SiMD (Software in a Medical Device, embedded firmware) from SaMD (Software as a Medical Device, e.g., standalone AI diagnostic apps). The draft introduces an Algorithm Change Protocol requiring developers to document and validate AI model updates (including retraining) before deployment. As of November 2025, the guidance was under public consultation and not yet finalized.
UPSC angle (Prelims 2027): AI diagnostics in Indian public health (qXR, Remidio), CDSCO SaMD draft guidance (October 2025), SaMD vs SiMD distinction, Algorithm Change Protocol, and AI-drug discovery are Mains GS-3/GS-2 content.
National One Health Mission — Launched November 2025
India's National One Health Mission (NOHM) was operationally launched at a two-day National Conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 20–21 November 2025 (PM Narendra Modi delivered the inaugural message; Union Health Minister JP Nadda led the proceedings in person). The Mission's implementing agency is ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government.
Key features:
- Budget: Rs 383 crore (cross-ministerial initiative)
- Integration: 16 Central and State Ministries/Departments — human health, animal health, environment, agriculture, food systems, pharmaceuticals, defence, disaster management
- Anchor institution: National Institute of One Health, Nagpur
- Surveillance: Integrated zoonotic disease surveillance at slaughterhouses, bird sanctuaries, zoos, and wastewater systems across major cities (AMR monitoring, Nipah, avian influenza, scrub typhus)
NOHM directly links to AMR control, emerging infectious disease preparedness, and the recognition that ~75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin (COVID-19, Ebola, Nipah).
UPSC angle (Prelims 2027): NOHM launched November 20–21, 2025; ICMR implementing; Rs 383 crore; National Institute of One Health (Nagpur); 16 ministries; anchor in One Health Quadripartite (WHO + FAO + WOAH + UNEP).
NAP-AMR 2.0 — National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2025–2029)
Union Health Minister JP Nadda launched NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025–2029) on 18 November 2025 — Day 1 of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW, November 18–24, 2025). The second NAP-AMR succeeds NAP-AMR 1.0 (2017–2021) after a ~4-year gap with no formal plan in place.
Key distinctions from NAP-AMR 1.0:
- 20+ ministries/departments have submitted specific, time-bound, budgeted action plans — "Enforceable Accountability" model vs the advisory model of the first plan
- One Health approach — integrates human health, animal health, agriculture, aquaculture, food systems, and environmental sectors (NAP 1.0 was predominantly human-health-focused)
- Stronger private sector engagement; AMR surveillance capacity building (new referral lab network); infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols in all Level 3 hospitals
- Medical curriculum integration — AMR stewardship to be part of MBBS curriculum
UPSC angle (Prelims 2027): NAP-AMR 1.0 (2017–2021) → NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025–2029) — know the period; One Health approach; JP Nadda; 18 November 2025 (WAAW first day).
Vocabulary
Pharmacogenomics
- Pronunciation: /ˌfɑːrməkoʊdʒɪˈnɒmɪks/
- Definition: The branch of genomics that studies how an individual's genetic makeup influences their response to pharmaceutical drugs, enabling the selection of optimal drug types and dosages tailored to a patient's genotype — the foundation of personalised or precision medicine.
- Root: Greek pharmakon = drug; genos = race, kind; -omics = comprehensive study suffix; portmanteau coined late 1990s
- Origin: A portmanteau of pharmacology (from Greek pharmakon, "drug") and genomics (from Greek genos, "race, kind" + the -omics suffix denoting comprehensive study); the field emerged in the late 1990s as the Human Genome Project made large-scale genetic analysis feasible.
- Part of Speech: noun (usually treated as singular)
- Word Family: pharmacogenomic (adj), pharmacogenomicist (n), pharmacogenetics (n), pharmacogenetic (adj)
- Usage: As India advances its precision-medicine agenda under the Genome India Project, the integration of pharmacogenomics into public health care could drastically reduce adverse drug reactions and wasteful expenditure, though it simultaneously raises pressing questions of genetic data privacy and equitable access.
- Synonyms: pharmacogenetics, precision medicine, personalised medicine, genomic medicine, individualised therapeutics
- Antonyms: one-size-fits-all medicine, empirical prescribing, standardised therapy
- Mnemonic: Break it as PHARMACO (drug) + GENOMICS (genes): "your GENES decide which PHARMACy drug works for you" -- medicine matched to your DNA.
Telemedicine
- Pronunciation: /ˌtɛlɪˈmɛdɪsɪn/
- Definition: The delivery of healthcare services — consultation, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring — remotely through telecommunications technology (video, audio, or text), enabling patients to access medical expertise without physical travel to a healthcare facility.
- Root: Greek tele (τῆλε) = far off, at a distance; Latin medicina = the healing art; modern compound
- Origin: From Greek tele (τῆλε, "far off, at a distance") + Latin medicina ("the healing art"); early telemedicine experiments date to the 1960s (NASA's remote health monitoring of astronauts), but the field expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic with platforms like eSanjeevani.
- Part of Speech: noun (uncountable)
- Word Family: telehealth (n), teleconsultation (n), telemedicinal (adj), telemedicine (n), telemedical (adj)
- Usage: By extending specialist care to remote and underserved regions, telemedicine has emerged as a cost-effective instrument for bridging India's rural-urban health divide, with platforms such as eSanjeevani democratising access to quality consultation.
- Synonyms: telehealth, e-medicine, remote healthcare, virtual care, digital health, e-consultation
- Antonyms: in-person consultation, face-to-face care, bedside medicine
- Mnemonic: "Tele-" as in television/telephone means "at a distance" + "medicine" = healing delivered from afar, the doctor on your screen rather than at your bedside.
Bioprinting
- Pronunciation: /ˈbaɪoʊˌprɪntɪŋ/
- Definition: A specialised form of 3D printing that uses living cells, biomaterials (bioinks), and growth factors to fabricate biological structures layer by layer — including tissues, organs, and organ models for drug testing and transplantation research.
- Root: Greek bios (βίος) = life; bio- = life-prefix; English printing (modern coinage, early 2000s)
- Origin: From Greek bios (βίος, "life") + English printing; the first bioprinting experiments were conducted in the early 2000s using modified inkjet printers to deposit cells; the field has since advanced to printing vascularised tissues and functional organ models.
- Part of Speech: noun (also used attributively/as a gerund of the verb "bioprint")
- Word Family: bioprint (v), bioprinted (adj), bioprinter (n), bioprints (v 3rd-sg), 3D-bioprint (v)
- Usage: As India confronts a chronic shortfall in donor organs, bioprinting holds out the prospect of fabricating patient-specific tissues on demand, though it simultaneously compels regulators to frame fresh ethical and biosafety norms before the technology can be scaled responsibly.
- Synonyms: 3D bioprinting, tissue printing, organ printing, biofabrication, additive biomanufacturing, tissue engineering
- Antonyms: organ donation, transplantation, natural tissue regeneration
- Mnemonic: Bio (life) + printing: a printer that prints LIFE itself, laying down living cells layer by layer instead of ink.
Key Terms
Medical Devices Regulation
- Definition: Medical Devices Regulation in India is the framework governing the safety, quality, classification, licensing, import and post-market surveillance of medical devices, administered chiefly by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Medical Devices Rules, 2017.
- Context: Historically only a small set of devices (37 categories until early 2020) were regulated as "drugs" in India, leaving most devices outside any safety net. A February 2020 notification redefined "medical device" and, via the Medical Devices (Amendment) Rules, 2020, brought all devices under regulation from 1 April 2020, phased in by risk class. The sector is also shaped by the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, given heavy import dependence (estimated 70-80 percent).
- UPSC Relevance: This is a foundational GS3 topic at the intersection of science and technology, health, and economy (import substitution, Make in India). Prelims can test the regulator (CDSCO/DCGI), the governing statute (Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; Medical Devices Rules, 2017) and the four risk classes (A-D); Mains GS3 frames it under indigenisation, regulatory governance and self-reliance in critical sectors. No verified UPSC PYQ exists for this exact term, but it underpins recurring questions on the health-tech ecosystem, Atmanirbhar Bharat in healthcare and regulatory capacity.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
- Pronunciation: /ˈaɪjʊʃmɑːn ˈbɑːrət ˈdɪdʒɪtəl ˈmɪʃən/
- Definition: India's national digital health ecosystem launched in September 2021 by the National Health Authority (NHA), creating a unified framework of health IDs (ABHA), electronic health records, health facility and professional registries, and interoperable digital health services to ensure that every citizen's medical history is portable, secure, and accessible across all healthcare providers.
- Context: As of January 2025, approximately 73 crore ABHA IDs have been created (PIB-confirmed); 100 crore health records linked to ABHA accounts (milestone crossed May 22, 2026 — DD News/PIB); the Scan & Share feature enables instant OPD registration at hospitals; key challenges include interoperability, data privacy, digital literacy, and bridging the urban-rural digital divide. Note: ABHA accounts created (~73 crore) and health records linked to ABHA (100 crore) are two distinct metrics.
- UPSC Relevance: GS2 (Health, Governance), GS3 (Science & Technology). Prelims: ABHA = 14-digit health ID; launched September 2021; NHA is the implementing agency. Mains: asked to evaluate India's digital health infrastructure — ABDM's vision of a paperless, portable health record system, its implementation challenges, and its role in achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
- Pronunciation: /ˌæntɪmaɪˈkroʊbiəl rɪˈzɪstəns/
- Definition: The ability of microorganisms — bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites — to survive and multiply in the presence of antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals) that were previously effective against them, rendering standard treatments ineffective and transforming once-treatable infections into potentially lethal conditions.
- Context: AMR directly caused an estimated 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019 (The Lancet); driven by irrational prescribing, over-the-counter antibiotic sales, incomplete courses, and antibiotic use in agriculture; India launched the National Action Plan on AMR (2017) and the Red Line Campaign; the WHO classifies antibiotics into Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) categories to guide rational use.
- UPSC Relevance: GS3 (Science & Technology), GS2 (Health). Prelims: AMR deaths (1.27 million, 2019), ESKAPE pathogens, WHO AWaRe classification, Red Line Campaign. Mains: asked to discuss AMR as a "silent pandemic" — India's dual role as both a major antibiotic consumer and a key manufacturer; the One Health approach to combating AMR; and the need for new antibiotics, rapid diagnostics, and antibiotic stewardship programmes.
Sources: MoHFW (esanjeevani.mohfw.gov.in), pib.gov.in (Genome India, ABDM, NAP-AMR 2.0, NOHM, National Medical Devices Policy 2023 Cabinet approval), DD News (ABDM 100 crore health records, May 2026), Nature Genetics Vol. 57 (Genome India Project, April 8, 2025), WHO (AMR Global Action Plan, One Health Quadripartite), The Lancet (AMR burden study — 1.27 million deaths 2019), CDSCO (Medical Devices Rules 2017; Draft Guidance on Medical Device Software, October 21, 2025), Nobel Prize Committee (2023 — Kariko and Weissman), PIB PRID:1919984 (Cabinet approves National Medical Devices Policy 2023), PIB PRID:2191165 (NAP-AMR 2.0 launch, November 18, 2025)
