Why in NEWS

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), under the Longevity India Programme, has launched the BHARAT Study (Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions) to establish India-specific biomarkers of ageing.
This will help build a baseline for healthy ageing that reflects the Indian population’s genetic, lifestyle, and environmental context—an urgent step amid India’s rising life expectancy and looming age-related disease burden.

Key Facts from the News

Parameter	Detail
Name of Study	BHARAT (Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions)
Institution	Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Programme	Longevity India Programme
Objective	Map biomarkers of ageing specific to the Indian population
Technology Used	Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
Urgency	168% rise in Parkinson’s and 200% rise in dementia expected by 2050
Life Expectancy (India)	67.3 years
Current Limitation	India lacks its own diagnostic cut-offs; uses Western standards

What is the BHARAT Study Aiming to Do?

Focus Area	Explanation
Biological vs Chronological Age	Ageing is complex—biological age varies across individuals and is influenced by molecular, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors. Chronological age alone is not a reliable health indicator.
India-Specific Biomarkers	Western diagnostic norms (like CRP, cholesterol, or vitamin D levels) may misdiagnose Indian patients due to physiological and lifestyle differences. BHARAT aims to set accurate India-specific benchmarks.
“Bharat Baseline”	A population-scale dataset to define what “normal” ageing looks like in Indians using multiple health indicators.
Biomarker Categories	Genomic (mutations, hereditary risks), Proteomic & Metabolic (cellular functions, nutrient metabolism), and Environmental/Lifestyle markers.
Tech-Powered Analysis	AI/ML tools will analyze these multidimensional biomarkers to forecast health outcomes and guide policy, preventive care, and precision medicine.

Why is This Important for India?

Concern	Impact
Rising Geriatric Population	As India’s population ages, chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular issues, and metabolic disorders will rise.
Early Detection & Intervention	With accurate biomarker mapping, age-related disorders can be predicted and addressed early, improving quality of life.
Tailored Healthcare	India needs a customized biological profile for better diagnosis, treatment, and drug efficacy testing.
Policy Relevance	Data from the study can guide public health strategies for elderly care, nutrition, and preventive medicine.

Conclusion

The BHARAT study is a transformative step towards personalized ageing healthcare in India. By developing a data-driven, India-specific ageing blueprint, it will help doctors and policymakers shift from Western diagnostics to culturally and biologically relevant standards, ensuring better health outcomes for India’s ageing population.

In a Nutshell – Use Code “BHARAT”

B – Biomarkers decoded for Indians
H – Healthy ageing baseline built
A – AI-led diagnostics & predictions
R – Rise in age-related diseases addressed
A – Accurate, India-specific health norms
T – Tailored treatments for future elders

Prelims Practice Questions

1. The BHARAT Study launched by IISc is focused on:
   A) Crop yield improvement in India
   B) Mapping India’s demographic shift
   C) Identifying ageing biomarkers in Indians
   D) Enhancing India’s vaccine manufacturing
2. Which of the following is not a type of biomarker studied in BHARAT?
   A) Genomic
   B) Proteomic
   C) Astrological
   D) Environmental
3. The BHARAT Study uses AI and ML for:
   A) Space technology applications
   B) Data encryption
   C) Analyzing multidimensional health data
   D) Monitoring cybercrimes

Answer Key – Prelims

Qn	Answer	Explanation
1	C	BHARAT aims to identify ageing biomarkers in the Indian population.
2	C	Astrological biomarkers are not a scientific category.
3	C	AI/ML are used to analyze complex health datasets in the study.