- Context: Health experts (including those from AIIMS) have highlighted that India has one of the world's highest burdens of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs), specifically Spina Bifida, with 4.5 to 9.46 cases per 1,000 births.
- The Disease: Spina Bifida is a birth defect where the spine and spinal cord don't form properly. It occurs in the first few weeks of pregnancy—often before a woman knows she is pregnant.
- The Prevention Gap: * Folic Acid (Vitamin B9): Daily intake of 400mcg before conception can prevent 70% of cases.
- The Issue: While many countries have mandatory folic acid fortification of staple foods (like flour), India currently relies on voluntary supplementation, which often starts too late (after pregnancy is confirmed).
- Proposed Solution: Experts are pushing for a national policy for the fortification of salt, rice, or wheat flour to address the "hidden epidemic."
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
