AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (10^th Sept 2024)

Assistive Technology shaping the future of Para sports

GS 3: Science and Technology: Application of technology to sports

Why is it in the news?

• Indian para-athletes have achieved a historic milestone at the Paris Games, winning 29 medals, surpassing their previous best of 19 medals in 2021.
• The Indian team, which has grown from 10 athletes in 1968 to 84 this year, has seen its medal tally rise significantly from just one in 2012.
• This success is due to several factors, including athlete classification, a broader range of sports, increased participation, the Centre’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and the use of assistive technology.

Assistive Technology

About:

• Assistive technology refers to products and systems—mechanical or electronic—that help individuals with disabilities enhance their functioning in areas like cognition, hearing, mobility, vision, and communication, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
• This technology is used by the elderly, children, people with long-term health issues, and those recovering from accidents or illnesses. Common examples include hearing aids, wheelchairs, and therapeutic footwear.
• For athletes, assistive technologies include specialized equipment such as modified racing bicycles, release braces in archery, running blades, and customized wheelchairs.

Usage of Assistive Technology for Paralympians:

• In the 2024 Paralympic Games, assistive technology played a crucial role across 22 sports with 4000 athletes competing in 549 events. It is used extensively in sports like Para Archery, Para Athletics, Para Badminton, shooting para sport, Para Swimming, and Para Powerlifting.
• Para Archery: Athletes use release braces attached to their bows to aid in arrow release. For instance, India’s Sheetal Devi, who has no arms, utilizes a release brace on a compound bow equipped with mechanical pulleys and a telescopic sight.
• Para Athletics: This category includes track and field events where athletes use wheelchairs, running blades, and other assistive devices. Racing wheelchairs, made from aluminium or carbon fibre, are customized for stability and speed. Running blades are J-shaped prosthetics designed for sprinting and jumping, as famously used by South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius.
• Para Badminton: Introduced in Tokyo 2020, this sport utilizes specialized wheelchairs with backrests and extra caster wheels to ensure stability and mobility during play.
• Shooting Para Sport: Athletes in this category use shooting stands and adaptive equipment to support their rifles, depending on their level of impairment.
• Para Swimming: Athletes with various impairments use assistive devices such as blackout goggles and tappers to aid in swimming events. For instance, Trischa Zorn-Hudson, a visually-impaired swimmer, has won 46 Paralympic medals.
• Para Powerlifting: While athletes do not use assistive devices, power assist suits introduced in Tokyo 2020 help staff manage weights.

Need and Effect of Assistive Technologies:

• According to WHO’s 2022 Global Report on Assistive Technology, access to these products is limited in low-income countries, with only 3% coverage compared to 90% in high-income countries.
• The introduction of advanced assistive technologies has revolutionized para sports by promoting inclusion and performance. Notably, running blades have allowed lower-limb impaired athletes to compete at high speeds.
• Technological advancements, such as neuro-prosthetics and AI-driven classification systems, are enhancing athlete performance and ensuring more accurate sports classification.
• However, issues of fairness have arisen, such as the 2019 controversy where Blake Leeper’s prosthetics were deemed to give him a competitive advantage.
• To address these issues, WHO and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) launched the ‘Equipped for Equity’ campaign during the Paris Games. This initiative aims to reduce taxes on assistive technology, integrate these tools into primary healthcare, and ensure broader access.

The Role of District Agro-Met Offices in assisting farmers

GS 3: Economy: Agricultural services

Why is it in the news?

• According to reports, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) plans to revive District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs) under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme.
• Established in 2018 in partnership with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the IMD set up 199 DAMUs to generate and distribute sub-district level agricultural advisories using weather data. However, these DAMUs were shut down in March following an order from the IMD.

More about the news

• Agro-meteorological advisories are critical tools that provide farmers with weather-related information to guide their agricultural practices.
• These advisories include data on rainfall, temperature, and wind speeds, and offer recommendations for sowing, harvesting, irrigation, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
• They also provide early warnings for extreme weather events such as droughts and heavy rainfall, helping farmers plan and protect their crops.
• In March, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shut down the 199 District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs) established in 2018 under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme.
• These units, set up in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, were integral in delivering localized agricultural advisories based on weather data.
• The shutdown followed a controversial report by the NITI Aayog, which inaccurately claimed that agro-meteorological data was automated, undermining the role of DAMU staff. NITI Aayog also proposed privatizing and monetizing these services, which were previously offered free of charge to farmers.
• DAMUs, located within Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), were staffed by experts trained in meteorology and agriculture. They used weather data to prepare and disseminate advisories in local languages, sent via text messages, WhatsApp, newspapers, and direct communication from DAMU staff and KVK officers.
• These advisories played a crucial role in helping farmers manage their crops amidst changing climate conditions, providing timely information for better decision-making and enhancing climate resilience.
• The shutdown of DAMUs has raised concerns about the affordability and accessibility of weather advisory services. Private companies offering similar services often charge exorbitant fees, making them unaffordable for the majority of small and marginal farmers.
• For example, some companies charge ₹10,000 per crop annually, with others demanding up to ₹80,000 for comprehensive farm-level advisories. Additionally, there are worries that private advisories may be biased towards certain brands of fertilizers and pesticides.
• Moreover, experts argue that instead of shutting down DAMUs, the GKMS scheme should be strengthened to better serve farmers’ needs across the country.

‘Effective consultation’: SC ruling on HC Judge appointments

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Collegium System

Why is it in the news?

• The Supreme Court recently instructed the Himachal Pradesh High Court (HC) collegium to reconsider the nominations of two judicial officers for elevation to the Bench.
• This directive followed challenges from the affected individuals after the HC collegium recommended different candidates earlier this year.
• Historically, the Supreme Court has been cautious about intervening in High Court appointments, but this case found to be an exception.

More about the news

• The collegium system for appointing High Court judges, established by the Supreme Court in the Second Judges Case (1993), allows the Supreme Court collegium’s recommendations to be binding on the Centre, giving the judiciary control over its own appointments and transfers.
• While the government can delay appointments, it cannot reject them outright. The Third Judges Case (1998) clarified that the collegium for High Court appointments includes the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the two senior-most Supreme Court judges.
• The court ruled that the collegium for High Court appointments would consist of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the two senior-most Supreme Court judges.
• This collegium must consult the Chief Justice and senior judges of the respective High Court, the seniormost Supreme Court judge from that High Court, and any Supreme Court judges with relevant knowledge of that High Court.
• However, recommendations can be challenged on two grounds: lack of “effective consultation” or candidate ineligibility according to Articles 217 (High Court) and 124 (Supreme Court) of the Constitution.
• The 1998 Memorandum of Procedure (MOP) outlines that the HC Chief Justice, after consulting two senior judges, submits recommendations to the Chief Minister, Governor, and CJI. The Governor forwards the proposal to the Law Minister, who sends it to the CJI for consideration by the Supreme Court collegium.
• In the Himachal Pradesh case, the HC collegium recommended district judges Chirag Bhanu Singh and Arvind Malhotra for elevation in December 2022. Later, the Supreme Court collegium requested reconsideration on January 4, 2024.
• However, the HC collegium recommended two other candidates on April 23, 2024, leading Singh and Malhotra to challenge the decision. They argued their seniority was ignored and the collegium did not properly reconsider their cases.
• The Supreme Court’s review focused on whether there had been “effective consultation” as per its January 4 resolution, not on the candidates’ merits. The Court found that the HC Chief Justice’s individual letter on March 6 did not meet the “effective consultation” requirement.
• The ruling emphasized that decisions should involve collective consultation among the Chief Justice and the two senior-most High Court judges.

India and UAE sign civil nuclear cooperation agreement

GS 2: International Relations: India-UAE strategic ties

About the news

• India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding (MoU) for civil nuclear cooperation. This agreement, finalized during the visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to New Delhi, marks a significant step in bilateral relations.
• The MoU between India’s Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) and the UAE’s Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Maintenance is a milestone in the UAE’s push to invest in nuclear energy.
• The deal follows a commitment made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit to the UAE to collaborate on the “peaceful use of nuclear energy” across various sectors such as safety, health, and technology. This latest agreement is unprecedented and highlights the deepening of nuclear energy ties between the two nations.
• The MoU reflects the ongoing discussions between India and the UAE on nuclear cooperation, which gained momentum with the launch of a trilateral cooperation format involving France, India, and the UAE at the UN General Assembly in September 2022. The three countries later agreed to focus on collaborative projects in energy, particularly in solar and nuclear sectors.
• In addition to the nuclear cooperation agreement, other significant deals were signed during the Crown Prince’s visit.
• These include a long-term LNG supply agreement between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., a production concession agreement for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 between Urja Bharat and ADNOC, and an MoU on food parks development in India between the Government of Gujarat and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC (ADQ).
• The visit also coincided with the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between India and the UAE.

Challenges to Road Safety in India

GS 3: Miscellaneous

Why is it in the news?

• The “India Status Report on Road Safety 2024,” by the TRIP Centre at IIT Delhi, underscores India’s slow progress in reducing road accident fatalities and highlights the connection between road construction, mobility, and the need for targeted road safety strategies.
• The report uses data from First Information Reports (FIRs) across six States and audits of State compliance with Supreme Court directives. It exposes disparities in road traffic death rates, noting the high vulnerability of motorcyclists and frequent fatal crashes involving trucks.
• Despite sectoral advancements, road traffic injuries remain a major public health issue in India, with most States unlikely to meet the UN goal of halving traffic deaths by 2030.

More about the news

• In 2021, road traffic injuries were the 13th leading cause of death and the 12th leading cause of health loss in India. In six States—Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh—road traffic injuries were among the top 10 causes of health loss.
• The lack of a national crash-level database hampers effective road safety management. Current data is compiled from police station records and aggregated at higher levels, leading to basic analyses and potential inaccuracies. The report relied on FIRs and State audits due to the absence of a comprehensive crash surveillance system.
• Road safety varies widely across India, with death rates differing more than threefold between States. Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh had the highest death rates, while West Bengal and Bihar had the lowest.
• Six states—Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu—account for nearly half of all traffic fatalities.
• Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorized two-wheeler riders are the most common accident victims, with trucks causing the majority of fatal crashes.
• Helmet use among motorized two-wheeler riders is low, and basic safety measures like traffic calming and signage are insufficient in most States.
• Only eight States have audited more than half of their National Highway lengths, and trauma care facilities are inadequate.
• Compared to developed countries like Sweden, India fares poorly in road safety. The likelihood of an Indian dying in a road accident compared to someone in these countries increased from 40% more in 1990 to 600% more by 2021.
• Hence, to improve road safety, Central and State governments need to prioritize interventions and establish a national crash database. Public access to this data will enhance understanding of specific risks and the effectiveness of road safety measures.

Two anti-submarine warfare vessels for the Indian Navy launched

GS 3: Defence: Anti-submarine vessels

About the news

• Two anti-submarine warfare (ASW) shallow watercraft vessels for the Indian Navy were launched at Cochin Shipyard. These vessels, named INS Malpe and INS Mulki, are the fourth and fifth in a series of eight planned ASW ships.
• Each vessel measures 78 meters in length, 11.36 meters in width, and has a draught of about 2.7 meters. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 25 knots and have an endurance of 1,800 nautical miles.
• Designed to accommodate indigenously developed sonar systems for underwater surveillance, these vessels will each displace approximately 900 tonnes.
• The contract for designing, constructing, and delivering the eight Mahe-class ships was signed in April 2019 between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
• These new vessels are intended to replace the older Abhay-class ASW corvettes and will be equipped for anti-submarine operations, low-intensity maritime missions, mine-laying, and search and rescue.
• Each ship features an installed propulsion power of about 12 MW and is armed with light-weight torpedoes, ASW rockets, mines, a close-in weapon system, and stabilized remote-control guns.

Doctrine for Amphibious operations released

GS 3: Defence: Guidelines for defence operations

About the news

• The Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan released a new joint doctrine for amphibious operations during the Chiefs of Staff Committee meeting.
• This doctrine aims to guide commanders in executing amphibious operations within the complex modern military landscape.
• According to the Defence Ministry, the doctrine enhances the armed forces’ ability to perform diverse operations across the Indian Ocean Region, both in wartime and peacetime. It highlights the importance of amphibious capabilities as a crucial aspect of multi-domain operations, showcasing the integration and cohesion among the armed forces.
• This is the second joint doctrine issued this year, emphasizing the need for jointness and operational integration, particularly in amphibious contexts.