Context:
India to have 350 million children by 2050, faces urgent challenges to secure their future, says UNICEF report
Key Findings:
- Projected Child Population – By 2050, India will have 350 million children, constituting 15% of the global child population.
- Climate Risks – By 2050, the number of children exposed to extreme heat will be nearly eight times higher than in the 2000s.
- Digital Divide – A significant digital divide remains, with only 26% of people in low-income countries having internet access, compared to over 95% in high-income countries.
- Impact on Health and Education – Climate crises are expected to disproportionately affect children’s health, education, and access to essential resources like water, especially in rural and low-income areas.
- Urbanization Needs – With nearly half of India’s population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, there is an urgent need for child-friendly, climate-resilient urban planning and infrastructure investments.
UNICEF:
- Created in – 1946 as International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF) by UN relief Rehabilitation Administration to help children affected by World War II.
- Became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953
- Headquarters – New York, USA
- Mandate – Advocate for children’s rights and to help meet their basic needs
- Guided by – Convention on the Rights of Child, a global human rights treaty for children.
- Governed by – Executive Board consisting of 36 members that are elected to terms of 3 years by the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council.
- Funding – Entirely funded by voluntary contributions from governments, intergovernmental organizations, private sector etc.
- UNICEF began its work in India in 1949
- Collaborated on various initiatives like Polio Campaign, 2012 and India Newborn Action Plan, 2014
- Publication – State of World’s Children
- In 1965, UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Prize
Source: Press Trust of India
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.
2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct. International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February by UNESCO