A new BHARAT — establishing healthy ageing parameters for the Indian population

(GS Paper III – Science and Technology | Health | Biotechnology)

Context The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, launched the BHARAT study under the Longevity India Program in 2023.

It aims to establish India-specific biological baselines for healthy ageing by collecting physiological, molecular, and lifestyle data.
It addresses the mismatch between global diagnostic benchmarks and Indian health profiles.

What is BHARAT?

🔹 Full Form:

BHARAT = Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions

🔹 Objective:

To define and map the biological, molecular, and environmental indicators that constitute healthy ageing in the Indian population.

🔹 Components of the Study:

Genomic Markers – mutations, disease susceptibility, genetic age.
Proteomic/Metabolic Markers – inflammation, glucose metabolism, cardiovascular health.
Environmental & Lifestyle Factors – diet, stress, pollution exposure, physical activity.

Why Chronological Age ≠ Biological Age?

Biological age reflects functional health and cellular wear better than simple years lived.
Influenced by diet, pollution, genes, physical activity, and socioeconomic status.
Early biological deterioration is often missed if only chronological age is considered.

Need for India-Specific Data

🔸 Global Benchmarking Flaws:

Most health standards (cholesterol, Vitamin D/B12, BMI) are based on Western populations.
These may misdiagnose or over-diagnose Indian patients.

📌 Example:

Vitamin D deficiency per Western benchmarks may be common in India despite no functional harm.
Cholesterol cut-offs may misrepresent cardiovascular risks in South Asians.

🔸 Studies Supporting Regional Differences:

Scientific Reports (China) showed biomarkers vary in interpretation between Europeans and Asians.
Implication: A “universal” standard is not suitable for clinical or policy-level decisions in the Global South.

Role of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

AI/ML Integration will help:
- Process high-dimensional health data
- Predict outcomes of lifestyle/dietary interventions
- Detect early warning signals of disease progression
- Personalize health recommendations

Outcomes of the BHARAT Study

Outcome	Relevance
Bharat Baseline Database	India-specific biological norms for ageing
Better Public Health Interventions	Preventive care based on real-world Indian data
Personalized Geriatric Care	Tailored to Indian genetics and environment
Reduces Misdiagnosis	Avoids applying Western cut-offs to Indian bodies
Strengthens Atmanirbhar Health Research	Enhances data sovereignty and global South representation in science

Conclusion

The BHARAT study represents a paradigm shift in Indian public health and biomedical research. By moving beyond imported health metrics, India is asserting the need for context-sensitive, data-driven approaches to ageing and wellness. This will not only improve healthcare outcomes but also help India lead the Global South in shaping inclusive global health standards.

Mains Relevance

Q1. Indian health benchmarks must reflect local diversity, not Western universality. Discuss with reference to the BHARAT study on ageing.

Q2. Explain how AI/ML integration into biological research like the BHARAT study can revolutionize preventive healthcare in India.

Q3. Biological ageing is influenced more by socioeconomic and lifestyle factors than chronological time. Critically examine the role of indigenous studies in improving India’s health outcomes.