Aarogya Setu App; Objectives and features for UPSC 2023

Aditi Sinha July 25, 2023 12:19 3773 0

Aarogya Setu App; Objectives and features for UPSC 2023

Aarogya Setu App

 

Aarogya Setu App: To help fight the Coronavirus COVID-19 in India, the Government created a mobile app called Aarogya Setu. This app connects people in India with essential health services they might need. In this article, we will learn about the Aarogya Setu App, various features of it, and steps on how to use the Aarogya Setu App.

 

Latest Updates about the Aarogya Setu App

 

  • On September 6, 2022, it was announced that registrations for the ‘Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav’ have started on the Aarogya Setu portal. This event is a big voluntary blood donation drive planned across the country.
  • The goal of this mega blood drive is to collect 1 lakh units of blood by September 17, 2022.
  • The Government of India launched the ‘Aarogya Setu app’ to track COVID-19 cases and alert citizens to stay safe.
  • To find more information, candidates can visit the official website of Aarogya Setu at mygov.in.

 

Aarogya Setu App: Overview

 

To help fight COVID-19 in India, the Government created a mobile app called Aarogya Setu. This smartphone app uses GPS and Bluetooth to track the virus and check if someone has been near an infected person. To protect citizens better, the government launched the app in 11 languages (now 12). With Aarogya Setu, people can accurately and effectively know if the infection is spreading nearby.

 

Aarogya Setu App: Key Objectives

 

The Aarogya Setu app was created with these main goals:

 

  1. To inform people in India about the new Coronavirus and raise awareness about it.
  1. To support the efforts of the Indian Government, especially the Department of Health, by reaching out to users and providing them with important information about the risks, best practices, and advisories related to controlling COVID-19.
  1. To connect the government with the citizens of India, providing them with health services, facilities, and updates from both the national and state health ministries.

 

Aarogya Setu App: Information Available

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Aarogya Setu App. The mobile app was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which is under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

 

  1. COVID-19 Cases and Updates: Aarogya Setu provides real-time information on the total number of COVID-19 cases reported in India, along with updates on new cases, recoveries, and fatalities. This feature helps users stay up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 trends and the overall impact of the virus in the country.
  1. Self-Assessment Tool: One of the app’s essential features is the self-assessment tool. Users can perform a quick self-assessment by answering a series of questions related to their symptoms, travel history, and potential exposure to COVID-19. The app provides a risk score based on the responses, guiding users on whether they should seek medical advice or take precautionary measures.
  1. COVID-19 Testing Centers: Aarogya Setu allows users to locate nearby COVID-19 testing centers. This information helps individuals find testing facilities easily if they suspect they might have been exposed to the virus or are experiencing symptoms.
  1. COVID-19 Helpline and Resources: The app provides contact details of relevant COVID-19 helplines and support services the government offers. Users can access emergency helplines, state-wise helplines, and other resources to seek assistance or report any COVID-19-related issues.
  1. Safety Guidelines and Best Practices: Aarogya Setu offers comprehensive safety guidelines and best practices recommended by health authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These guidelines cover hand hygiene, social distancing, wearing masks, and other preventive measures.
  1. Quarantine Information: Users can access guidelines and information related to quarantine protocols, helping them understand the necessary steps to take if they need to self-isolate due to exposure or travel history.
  1. Vaccination Information: The app provides details about the COVID-19 vaccination drive in India, including information about eligibility criteria, vaccination centers, and the process of registering for vaccination.
  1. COVID-19 Alerts: Aarogya Setu sends timely notifications and alerts to users about the latest COVID-19 developments, government initiatives, and updates related to the pandemic.

 

Aarogya Setu App: Primary Features

 

The Aarogya Setu app has these simple and helpful features:

 

  1. User Status: It shows how likely someone is to get COVID-19 based on their risk level.
  1. Self Assess: Helps users check if they have COVID-19 symptoms and know their risk.
  1. COVID-19 Updates: Gives the latest information on local and national COVID-19 cases.
  1. E-pass integration: You can find it in the app if you applied for an E-pass.
  1. See Recent Contacts: Lets you know the risk level of people you recently came in contact with through Bluetooth.
  1. Nearby COVID-19 Cases: Shows the number of likely positive cases within 500m, 1 km, 2 km, 5 km, and 10 km from your location.

 

Aarogya Setu App: Reception

 

  • The Aarogya Setu app became very popular, with five million downloads within three days of its launch. It even surpassed Pokémon Go as the fastest-growing mobile app worldwide.
  • By May 13, 2020, the app had reached 100 million installations, just 40 days after its initial launch.
  • The app successfully identified more than 3,000 hotspots in advance, thanks to its data analysis capabilities.
  • However, some users and experts were concerned about the app’s data security. It collects personal information like name, phone number, gender, and travel history through Bluetooth to inform users if someone with COVID-19 is nearby.
  • The data is analyzed by checking a database of known infection cases and shared with the government.
  • The main issue users raise is the lack of privacy in the data collected. Bluetooth can be vulnerable to hacking and other cybersecurity threats.
  • Ethical hackers like Robert Baptiste found security lapses in the app and even revealed the infection status of people in the Prime Minister’s office.
  • Many software developers called for the app’s source code to be made public for scrutiny.
  • The app uses contact tracing to keep track of people you meet during the pandemic. The app alerts you immediately if any of these individuals develop COVID-19 symptoms later.

 

Here is a complete explanation of how the app can track the people you meet in real life:

 

1. Aarogya Setu requires access to Bluetooth and GPS to function correctly.

2. With Bluetooth, the app identifies nearby users of Aarogya Setu.

3. The GPS records your location every 15 minutes to track your movements accurately.

4. This data is stored on your phone, but if your self-assessment indicates a high risk of COVID-19 infection, it will be uploaded to a server for government inspection and use.

 

Aarogya Setu App: Steps to use the App

 

Follow these steps to use the Aarogya Setu app:

 

Step 1. Download the Aarogya Setu application from Play Store or related platforms.

Step 2. Open the app and allow it to access your location and Bluetooth.

Step 3. Enter the OTP received on your registered phone number.

Step 4. Choose your gender.

Step 5. Provide your personal details like name, age, and profession.

Step 6. If you travelled internationally in the last month, enter those details.

Step 7. Take a 20-second assessment test to check for any Covid-19 symptoms.

 

Aarogya Setu UPSC

 

The Aarogya Setu holds significant importance in the Current Affairs section for the UPSC Exam 2024. It is crucial for UPSC Prelims, UPSC Mains, and Interviews. Candidates should refer to UPSC Study Material and Notes as a vital General Knowledge subject for thorough preparation. Reviewing UPSC Previous Year Question Papers will help candidates understand the paper patterns and prepare effectively for the examination.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Aarogya Setu App is under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

The Government of India launched the Aarogya Setu app on April 2, 2020, to help in their efforts against COVID-19.

The Aarogya Setu platform is created and hosted by the National Informatics Centre, a part of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India.

Ajay Devgn is the brand ambassador for the Aarogya Setu app.

The main goal of the Aarogya Setu App is to support the efforts of the Government of India, especially the Department of Health, by actively reaching out to app users and providing them with important information about COVID-19 risks, best practices, and relevant advisories for containment.
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