Preliminary Examination
Paper-I: Current Events of National and International Importance
Paper-II: Current Events of State Importance and Important Government Schemes and Programs
NIMHANS’ Suicide Prevention Programme to be Expanded Across Bengaluru South
Why in News?
A community-based suicide prevention initiative led by NIMHANS is set to be expanded across the entire Bengaluru South district after encouraging results from a three-year pilot programme in Channapatna taluk.
The programme, called Project SURAKSHA, was launched in 2023 in Channapatna and is described by NIMHANS as India’s first sustained community-based suicide prevention initiative.
It is being implemented by the NIMHANS Suicide Prevention, Research, Implementation Training and Engagement Centre — N-SPRITE, in collaboration with the Karnataka government and Himalaya Wellness Company.
What is Project SURAKSHA?
Project SURAKSHA is a community-based suicide prevention programme designed to identify vulnerable individuals early, provide crisis support, create awareness and prevent repeat suicide attempts.
The word SURAKSHA itself indicates protection and safety. The project aims to build a local support ecosystem involving community members, health workers, teachers, panchayat representatives and frontline staff.
It shifts suicide prevention from a purely hospital-based approach to a community-based public health model.
Objectives of Project SURAKSHA
- Early Identification of Vulnerable Individuals
The project trains community members to identify people facing emotional distress, self-harm risk, family crisis, substance abuse, financial stress or social isolation. - Crisis Intervention
The programme provides immediate support through trained personnel and helpline-based intervention. - Awareness Generation
Awareness sessions are conducted in villages, schools, colleges and local communities to reduce stigma around mental health and help-seeking. - Referral and Follow-up Care
Individuals at risk are referred to appropriate mental health professionals, hospitals or support services. Follow-up care is a major component. - Prevention of Repeat Attempts
The project focuses on supporting individuals who have previously attempted self-harm so that repeat attempts can be prevented.
Major Components of the Programme
- Community-Based Surveillance Teams
The project created local surveillance teams consisting of:
Panchayat representatives
Teachers
Healthcare workers
Self-help group members
Anganwadi workers
Police personnel
Frontline staff
These teams were trained to identify vulnerable persons and refer them for care. - Gatekeeper Training
A major part of Project SURAKSHA was suicide gatekeeper training.
A gatekeeper is a person who is likely to come in contact with vulnerable individuals and can identify warning signs, provide basic support and refer the person to professional help.
The programme trained 4,185 frontline workers, including:
Police personnel
Anganwadi workers
PHC staff
Fire and safety officers
Educators
Students - Awareness in Schools and Colleges
The project reached more than 14,000 students through awareness sessions in schools and colleges.
This is important because adolescents and young adults are vulnerable to emotional stress, academic pressure, family expectations, social media pressure and mental health issues. - IEC Material Dissemination
IEC stands for Information, Education and Communication.
As of February 2026, more than 1.7 lakh individuals in Channapatna taluk were reached through IEC materials. These materials helped spread awareness on mental health, emotional support and help-seeking behaviour. - Self-Harm Registries
The initiative established self-harm registries across 69 hospitals and health centres.
These registries help systematically record suicide attempts and ensure follow-up care. This is important because many individuals who attempt self-harm are at risk of repeat attempts if they do not receive continued psychological and social support.
A total of 1,261 cases were recorded under this system. - Helpline Support
As of February 2026, the project helpline received more than 193 calls, including 33 crisis calls requiring immediate intervention.
Helplines are important because they provide quick emotional support and can connect people to professional care during moments of acute distress.
Encouraging Results
One of the most important outcomes of the pilot programme is that no repeat suicide attempts were reported among individuals who received intervention and follow-up support under the programme.
This shows the importance of continuous care, community support and timely intervention.
Expansion Plan
Bengaluru South District
Project SURAKSHA will now be expanded to all five taluks of Bengaluru South district.
This is significant because urbanising districts face unique mental health challenges such as:
Migration stress
Job insecurity
Family breakdown
Substance abuse
Academic pressure
Financial stress
Social isolation
Digital stress
Ballari District
The Karnataka government has also approved the first phase of implementation in Ballari district, which is among the districts reporting high numbers of suicides.
This indicates that the State is trying to use a district-specific mental health intervention model.
Link with National Suicide Prevention Strategy, 2022
Project SURAKSHA has been developed in line with India’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy, 2022.
The national strategy focuses on:
Reducing suicide mortality
Improving mental health services
Responsible media reporting
Limiting access to means of self-harm
Community-based intervention
Crisis helplines
Training gatekeepers
Creating awareness and reducing stigma
Project SURAKSHA is an example of translating national policy into local action.
Link with WHO LIVE LIFE Framework
The programme is also aligned with the World Health Organisation’s LIVE LIFE framework.
The LIVE LIFE framework focuses on four key interventions:
Limit access to means of suicide
Interact with media for responsible reporting
Foster socio-emotional life skills in adolescents
Early identify, assess, manage and follow up persons affected by suicidal behaviour
Project SURAKSHA reflects these principles through community surveillance, student awareness, follow-up care and crisis intervention.
Why is This Important?
- Suicide as a Public Health Issue
Suicide is not only an individual issue; it is a public health, social and governance challenge. It requires coordinated action by families, communities, schools, health systems, police, local governments and civil society. - Community-Based Model
Mental health services are often concentrated in hospitals and cities. Project SURAKSHA takes prevention to the community level, especially through gram panchayats and frontline workers. - Early Intervention
Many people in distress do not directly approach psychiatrists or hospitals. Community-based gatekeepers can identify early signs and connect them to support. - Reducing Stigma
Mental health problems are often hidden due to social stigma. Awareness campaigns help normalize help-seeking behaviour. - Preventing Repeat Attempts
People who have attempted self-harm need follow-up care. The project’s focus on follow-up support is a major strength.
Governance Dimensions
- Decentralised Public Health Model
The project uses gram panchayats and community institutions, making suicide prevention a decentralised public health intervention. - Convergence Approach
It brings together:
Health department
Panchayat institutions
Police
Schools and colleges
Hospitals
Anganwadi workers
Self-help groups
Mental health professionals
This is an example of inter-sectoral governance. - Data-Based Intervention
Self-harm registries help create evidence for policy-making and targeted intervention. - Public-Private Partnership
The programme involves NIMHANS, Karnataka government and Himalaya Wellness Company. This shows the role of public-private collaboration in health initiatives.
Social Dimensions
- Youth Mental Health
The outreach to students is significant because young people face stress related to exams, employment, relationships, social comparison and digital exposure. - Rural Mental Health
The pilot in Channapatna shows that mental health services can be taken beyond urban hospitals into rural and semi-urban communities. - Family and Community Support
The next phase includes home visits, psychological first aid and grief counselling. This recognises the role of family and community in healing. - Stigma Reduction
Community awareness reduces the shame associated with mental illness and encourages people to seek help.
Main Examination
Paper-I: Essays
Essay – 1: Topic of International/National Importance
Essay-2: Topic of State importance/Local Importance
Paper-II: General Studies 1
Paper-III: General Studies 2
India–Italy Defence Pact; Ties Elevated to “Special Strategic Partnership”
Why is it in news?
India and Italy have upgraded their bilateral relationship to the level of “Special Strategic Partnership.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome.
During the visit, both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in areas such as defence, trade, technology, clean energy, innovation, critical minerals, agriculture, law enforcement and mobility of workers.
What is a Special Strategic Partnership?
A Special Strategic Partnership refers to a deeper and long-term relationship between two countries. It goes beyond normal diplomatic ties and includes cooperation in:
Defence and security
Trade and investment
Technology and innovation
Clean energy
Critical minerals
Mobility of workers
Maritime security
Global and regional issues
The elevation of India–Italy ties to this level shows that both countries want a broader and stronger partnership.
Defence Industrial Road Map
India and Italy have agreed on a Defence Industrial Road Map. This aims to strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries.
Importance:
Joint development of defence equipment
Defence technology cooperation
Participation of private defence industries
Support to Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat
Strengthening naval, aerospace and advanced defence manufacturing cooperation
This is significant because Italy has a strong defence and industrial technology base, while India is focusing on defence modernisation and domestic production.
Cooperation in Critical Minerals
India and Italy also agreed to cooperate in the field of critical minerals.
Why are critical minerals important?
Critical minerals are essential for:
Electric vehicle batteries
Solar and wind energy technologies
Semiconductors
Defence equipment
Mobile phones and electronic devices
Clean energy transition
For India, cooperation in critical minerals is important for supply chain security and reducing dependence on limited sources.
Agriculture and Agricultural Research
The two countries also discussed cooperation in agriculture and agricultural research.
Importance:
Exchange of agricultural technology
Cooperation in food processing
Sustainable farming methods
Water and soil management
Value addition of farm products
Linking agricultural research institutions of both countries
Italy is known for food processing and agricultural technology. India can benefit from such cooperation, especially in improving productivity and value addition.
Law Enforcement Cooperation
An agreement was also signed between Italy’s Guardia di Finanza and India’s Enforcement Directorate.
Purpose:
Cooperation against financial crimes
Exchange of information on economic offences
Combating money laundering
Tackling cross-border financial fraud
Strengthening economic security
This reflects the growing importance of cooperation against financial crimes in global governance.
India’s Position on Ukraine and West Asia
Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s position that conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
India’s stand:
War is not a solution
Peaceful negotiations are necessary
Civilian safety must be protected
Humanitarian concerns should be addressed
Global supply chains and energy security must be safeguarded
This shows India’s balanced approach in international relations.
Indo-Pacific and UNCLOS
India and Italy expressed support for a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. They also stressed the importance of respecting UNCLOS — United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Importance:
Freedom of navigation
Maritime trade security
Rule-based maritime order
Peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific
Countering unilateral actions in maritime zones
This is important for India because the Indo-Pacific is central to its maritime security and trade interests.
Strait of Hormuz
The joint statement also called for freedom of navigation and resumption of global flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?
It connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea
It is one of the world’s most important oil transit routes
It is crucial for global energy security
Any disruption can increase oil prices and inflation
It is important for India’s energy imports from West Asia
Question. Discuss the significance of elevating India–Italy relations to the level of Special Strategic Partnership?
Paper-IV: General Studies 3
Paper-V: General Studies 4