Tobacco is a major preventable cause of disease, impacting nearly 26 crores Indians and 60 lakh industry workers, and posing significant health risks.

Status of tobacco use in India

• Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS): It indicates a general decline in tobacco use among adults aged 15 and older, with the exception of an increase among women between 2015-2016 and 2019-2021.
• Decline in Youth Tobacco Use: The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) shows a decrease in tobacco use among students aged 13-15 years.
• NFHS Data: The National Family Health Survey (NFHS), which records tobacco usage data for individuals aged 15 and above, mirrors the findings of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) by indicating a decline in tobacco consumption overall, with the exception being among women.

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WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2003.

• Ratification by India: India ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2004, the first ever international public health treaty focusing on the global public health issue of tobacco control.
• Objective:
• • Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco.
  • Non-price measures to reduce the demand for tobacco
  • Protection from exposure to second hand tobacco smoke.
  • Tobacco content and product regulation

Steps taken by Government to Limit Tobacco Use

• Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA): The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, superseded the Cigarettes Act of 1975, expanding its scope beyond cigarettes to include various tobacco products like cigars, bidis, chewing tobacco, and pan masala.
• National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP): It was launched in 2007 and is designed to improve the implementation of COTPA and FCTC, improve awareness about the harms of tobacco use, and help people quit it.
• mCessation: It is India’s mobile-based tobacco cessation initiative, launched in 2016 as part of Digital India. 
  • It employs text messaging for interactive support between users seeking to quit tobacco and program specialists.

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Recently,  Madras High Court ruled that unless there’s proof of payment, consent from a non-related donor must be accepted by the authorization committee at face value.

Key Highlights of the Judgement

• Burden of Proof Shift: The court  stated that the burden of proof should shift from the donor/recipient to the authorization committee.
• Committee Verification: The  Authorization committee can seek explanations and conduct verifications, but permission shouldn’t be withheld without concrete evidence of financial transactions. 

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• Providing Guidelines: Assertions of donation out of love and affection should be accepted unless credible reasons suggest otherwise. The government should provide clear guidelines on such matters. 
• Priority on Life-Saving Objective: The issue of granting authorisation must be looked into with the avowed object of saving the life of a person and not from a technical point of view. 
• Urgency in Decision Making: Further, since time was the essence in matters of such nature, the authorisation committees should take speedy decisions without sitting over the applications.
• Disapproval of Association Length : The court further disapproved the practice of assessing the duration of the relationship between a donor and recipient as a criterion for authorization. 
• Post Operative Care responsibility: It would be the duty of the organ recipient to bear the expenditure for post-operative care of the donor.
• Insurance for Kidney Donors: The court recommended that beneficiaries should provide general health insurance coverage for kidney donors, following the example set by regulations for surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology.
• Monthly Allowance for Donors: A lump sum deposit shall be directed to be made to the credit of the authorisation committee. 
  • The committee shall issue directions for crediting a fixed sum every month in the bank account of the donor for a period of three years

About Organ Transplantation

• Transplantation: It involves surgically removing an organ, tissue, or group of cells from a donor and transplanting it into the recipient, or relocating it within the same individual.
• Organ Transplantation: It includes kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, and intestine etc.

Eligibility for organ donation in India

• Living Donors: Living donors must be at least 18 years old, have no infectious diseases, active cancer, or severe infection, and are typically restricted to donating to immediate blood relatives. In special cases, donations can also be made out of affection and attachment for the recipient.
  •  Living donors are eligible to donate the following organs:
    • One of their kidneys
    • A portion of the pancreas
    • Part of the liver
• Deceased Donors: They have an opportunity to donate six vital organs: kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and intestine. While uterus transplants are performed, they are not classified as life-saving organs. Consent from the family is required for organ donation from a person declared legally dead.

Legislation Governing Organ Transplantation in India

• Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) It was  enacted in 1994 and amended in 2011, establishes the legal framework for organ transplantation in India. 
  • This law governs multiple facets of organ donation and transplantation, including the recognition of brain death as a form of death and the necessity of family consent for organ donation following brain death.
•  National Organ Transplant Programme: It aims to coordinate the procurement and distribution of organs and tissues for transplantation. 
  • The scheme is currently extended from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
  • It is responsible for establishing and managing a national registry of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

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Recently, North Korea fired a barrage of suspected ballistic missiles toward its Eastern sea.

Sea of Japan

The Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean. 

• Bordered by: It is bounded by Russia and Sakhalin Island in the north, by North Korea in the west, South Korea in the southwest, and by the Japanese archipelago (Hokkaidō, Honshū, and Kyūshū islands) in the east and south.
• Deepest Point: Sea of Japan’s  deepest point is Dohoku Seamount, an underwater volcano.
• Straits connecting Sea of Japan: Sea of Japan is connected with the East China Sea in the south via the Tsushima and Korea straits and with the Okhotsk Sea in the north by the La Perouse and Tatar straits.
  • In the east, it is connected with the Inland Sea of Japan via the Kanmon Strait and the Pacific Ocean by the Tsugaru Strait.
• Meeting Point: The Sea of Japan serves as the meeting point of the cold currents from the north and the warm currents from the south.
• Largest River: Tumen or Dooman river is the largest river draining into the Sea of Japan  and serves as a border between North Korea, Russia and China.
• Major Ports:
  • Russia:  Vladivostok, Sovetskaya Gavan, Nakhodka, Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, and Kholmsk.
  • North Korea: Hamhung, Chongjin, and Wonsan.
  • Japan: Niigata, Tsuruta and Maizuru.

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A new plant species, Stellaria mcclintockiae, was discovered in Kerala’s Nelliyampathy hills and named in honor of Nobel laureate Barbara McClintock.  Barbara McClintock, won the 1983 Nobel Prize for her discovery of the ‘jumping genes.’

About Stellaria mcclintockiae

The new species belongs to the genus Stellaria (family Caryophyllaceae).

• Features:  Stellaria mcclintockiae differs from other species of this genus with respect to the features of its petals, pollen morphology, bracts, sepals, and seed architecture.
  • Stellaria species are small herbs with simple opposite leaves. They bear small flowers typically with five sepals and five white petals, which are often deeply divided or absent, all separate.
• Threat: Its habitat is highly susceptible to heavy grazing and trampling by elephants.

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A case of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has emerged  from a village in Andhra Pradesh. 

• Age: IBD can develop at any age but usually appears before age 35.

About Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic autoimmune condition 

• In this disease, White blood cells mistakenly attack cells in the gut, causing ulcers in the mucosa.
  • As a result a child with  IBD may develop fever, loose stools and bloody diarrhea. 

Effects on Nutrition and Health

• Nutrient Absorption: Impaired absorption of macro and micronutrients.
• Consequences: Weight loss, muscle mass reduction, anaemia, and vitamin deficiencies may occur.

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Types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

• Ulcerative Colitis: It affects only the large bowel.
• Crohn’s Disease: It can affect any part of the gut, from the mouth to the anus.
• Indeterminate Colitis: It is used when it is challenging to distinguish between ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Factors Causing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

• Family History and Genetics: Individuals are more likely to develop IBD if they have a parent, sibling, or child with the IBD condition.
• Smoking 
  • Crohn’s Disease: Smoking is a significant risk factor and worsens symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
  • Ulcerative Colitis (UC): Nonsmokers and former smokers are more commonly affected by UC.
• Food: Adoption of Western food habits and lifestyle is closely associated with alterations in gut microbiota.
  • IBD Predisposition: These changes in the gut microbiota increase the likelihood of developing IBD.
• Immune System
  • Immune Response: The immune system, which normally defends against pathogens, may cause IBD.
    • Inflammation: Bacterial or viral infections in the digestive tract can trigger an immune response, leading to inflammation as the body fights the infection.

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Today, we celebrate the 300th birth anniversary of the Maratha queen Ahilya Bai Holkar — a great administrator and visionary with a spiritual inclination. 

Ahilya Bai Holkar 300th Birth Anniversary

Today is the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilya Bai Holkar, a great Maratha queen. She was born on May 31, 1725 to a shepherd family in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Strived to be recognized as a leader in her own right, beyond being the wife of Khande Rao Holkar.

• Leadership and Governance: Took over as monarch after her husband’s death, breaking patriarchal norms.
  • Led her kingdom to 30 years of peace and financial stability.
  • Appointed Tukoji Holkar as the commander of her army to ensure effective military leadership.
  • Guided by innate generosity and principles in her dealings with subjects.
• Cultural and Religious Contributions: Regularly attended Purana recitals and yagnas to uphold her Hindu faith.
• Resurrected jyotirlingas across the country as a tribute to Lord Shiva.
  • Renovated temples in Somnath, Varanasi, Trambak, Gaya, Pushkar, Vrindavan, Nathdwara, Haridwar, Badrinath, Kedarnath, and others.
  • Installed idols in secret shrines for protection against attacks and iconoclasm.

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• Economic and Social Initiatives: Promoted the production of Maheshwari saris, empowering women and providing steady income for weavers.
  • Enhanced revenue collection and supported traditional crafts in Maharashtra.
  • Developed Indore, conserved forests and animals, and boosted trade and commerce.
• Inclusivity and Social Harmony: Celebrated inclusivity and promoted social harmony among her subjects. Worked towards mainstreaming Bhil and Gond castes. Legacy and Recognition
• Recognition: Commanded respect from contemporaries and later historians like Jadunath Sarkar, Annie Besant, and John Keay.
  • Her contributions to governance, social harmony, and temple renovation are significant.

Conclusion

Ahilya Bai Holkar’s rule exemplifies inclusive policymaking and effective governance. Her legacy is a blueprint for Ram Rajya in today’s era, transcending gender norms and biases.

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This article sheds light on exit polls and the process of conducting it.

What are Exit polls? 

• Purpose: It estimates how people voted in an election.

• Method: Based on interviews with voters immediately after they leave polling stations and additional voter data calculations.
• Significance: Many Indians regard exit polls as important as the actual election results.

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Rules and Regulations

• Prohibition During Voting: The Election Commission of India (ECI) bans conducting exit polls during the voting process.
• Publication Timing: Exit polls can be published on the last day of voting to avoid influencing remaining voters, as required by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
• Legal Basis
• • Governing Law: Section 126A of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951.
  • Section 126A: Prohibits conducting and publishing exit poll results during the voting period as notified by the ECI.
    • Violation of Section 126A: A person can be punished by up to two years imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Challenges with Exit Polls

• Accuracy
  • Inconsistencies: Exit polls have been erratic due to which it sometimes predicts incorrect winners.
  • No Clear Pattern: Agencies may be accurate in one state but wrong in another.
• Factors Affecting Accuracy
  • Representativeness: It is more  important than sample size is how well the sample reflects various voter profiles.
  • Methodological Issues: Structured questionnaires are essential for collecting and analyzing data systematically.

How do countries deal with pre-election and exit polls?

Various countries have restricted Opinion Poll Reporting in Various Countries

• European Union (EU)

  • Ban on Reporting: 16  EU countries prohibit reporting of opinion polls before elections.
  • Ban Duration:
    • Timeframes range from a full month to just 24 hours before polling day.
      • Only Italy, Slovakia, and Luxembourg have bans longer than 7 days.

• France

  • 7-day blackout: In 1977, france has a 7-day blackout imposed
    • It was overturned by a court as it violated freedom of expression.
  • The French ban is now reduced to 24 hours before voting day.

• United Kingdom (UK)

  • Opinion Polls: No restrictions on publishing opinion poll results.
  • Exit Polls: Results cannot be published until voting is completed.

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• United States

  • Media coverage : Reporting of opinion polls is considered an integral part of the speech . 
  • Publication time: Allowed at any time.
  • Exit polls: There is restriction on not reporting likely outcomes from exit polls until voting ends at election day. 
    • It is a voluntary action of news organizations that they impose on themselves. 

Predictive Models of seat prediction

Swing Model: The swing model is a technique which is used to predict election outcomes

• Under this method, it estimates vote shares for parties and alliances through respondent interviews.
  • Previous Data: Seat predictions are made using results from the previous election.

Comprehensive Polling

• Count Method: The count method is a technique used to predict the number of seats a political party or coalition might win in an election.
  • Under this method, data is collected from various constituencies, including past election results and current voting patterns.
  • It conducts surveys and polls to understand voter preferences.
    • This method can be time-consuming but can maximize accuracy by focusing on swing constituencies.
• Elimination Method: Excludes certain constituencies to streamline the process.

Factors Affecting Vote Share Estimates

• Diverse Influences: Location, caste, religion, language, education levels, and economic class all impact voting behavior.
• Representation Issues: Over- or under-representation of these voter sections can skew accuracy.
• Additional Difficulties
  • Changes in Alliances: Alterations such as party mergers, splits, or new alliances (e.g., BJP and JD(U) in Bihar) complicate predictions.
  • Number of Parties: Swing measurement is simpler with two-party contests, but complexity increases with more political players.

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A Himalayan serow was recently seen in the central region of Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve.

About Himalayan Serow

• Different Types: There are different types of serows found in Asia. The Himalayan serow, also called Capricornis sumatraensis thar, lives only in the Himalayas. It’s a type of the mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).

• Dietary Pattern: Herbivores 
• Habitat: They are found in the eastern, central, and western Himalayas, but not in the Trans-Himalayan region.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: ‘Vulnerable’ 
  • The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I 

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Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve

• Location: The Nameri Tiger Reserve (NTR) is situated in the northern part of the Sonitpur district of Assam, along the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The Nameri National Park constitutes the core of Nameri Tiger Reserve.
  • The Pakke Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh is in the North and the habitat is contiguous.
• Rivers Flowing through the Reserve: The Jia-Bharali River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, along with its tributaries Nameri, Upper Dikorai, and Bor Dikorai, flows through the Reserve.
• Flora: Tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests
• Fauna: The Royal Bengal tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and wild dog, Asian Elephant, gaur, sambar, hog deer and barking deer.

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Rocket with a 3D- printed engine has been launched by  space start-up Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited 

• Agnikul Cosmos became the first company in the country to sign an agreement with ISRO under the IN-SPACe initiative to have access to the space agency’s expertise and its facilities to build Agnibaan in 2020.

About Agnibaan SubOrbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD)

• The Rocket: The Rocket named, Agnibaan SubOrbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) comprises a single piece 3D-printed engine designed and built indigenously, is launched from Sriharikota.
  • Sub- Orbital Launch: The mission was designed to reach a height of about 8 kilometres before splashing into the sea.
• Agnibaan SOrTeD will be Agnikul’s first flight and the second launch by a private startup in India.
  • 1st private rocket launch:  Private launch provider Skyroot, achieved its first sub-orbital launch in 2022
• Private Launchpad: Agnibaan SOrTeD is India’s first launch from a private mobile launchpad, called ‘Dhanush’, established by Agnikul.
• India’s first semi- cryogenic engine: Agnibaan SOrTeD is  also India’s first semi-cryogenic engine powered rocket launch making it the  first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realised through additive manufacturing.
  • The engine called,  Agnilet, uses sub-cooled oxygen as fuel. 
• Purpose: To serve as a test flight and demonstrate in-house and home-grown technologies, gather crucial flight data and ensure optimal functioning of systems for Agnikul’s orbital launch vehicle, the ‘Agnibaan’.
• Payload capacity: While this was a suborbital launch, the vehicle can fly payloads ranging from 30 kg to 300 kg.
• Competitive edge: The use of the 3D-printed manufacturing process is likely to lower the launch cost and cut down the vehicle assembly time. 
  • Usually engine parts are manufactured separately and assembled later. Agnibaan is the world’s most integrated single shot 3D printed piece, signalling the unparalleled  ability to rapidly assemble rockets.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the final guidelines for self-regulatory organizations (SROs) in the fintech sector.

About  Self-regulatory organizations (SROs)

An Self-regulatory organizations (SROs) is a non- governmental organization that has regulatory power over an industry or profession.

• It sets  rules and standards for entities in the industry by collaborating with all stakeholders.  
• Objective: The main aim of this body is to protect customers, promote ethics, equality and participants in the ecosystem. 

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• Function

  • Regulatory Authority: It can regulate in place of or alongside government regulation.
    • Self regulatory process uses impartial mechanisms for its administration. 
      • All members operate in disciplined way due to impartial mechanism and accept the penal actions. 
  • Source of Authority: Its regulatory power is independent of the government grants.

• How can an entity become an Self-regulatory organization? 

  • Apply to RBI: All interested entities have to apply to RBI for getting recognition as SROs. 
  • Letter of Recognition: Regulator issues a letter of recognition upon finding suitability of the entities. 

Key highlights of the framework for Self-regulatory organizations in the Fintech sector

• Objective and Responsible Functioning: SRO-FTs are expected to function objectively and responsibly under the supervision of the RBI. 
  • Their primary goal is to ensure the healthy and sustainable development of the Fintech industry.
• Diverse Membership: The framework emphasizes the importance of SRO-FTs having a membership that broadly reflects the Fintech sector. 
  • This includes entities currently regulated by the RBI, like NBFC-account aggregators (NBFC-AAs) and P2P lending platforms, and non-bank members.
• Focus on User Protection: SRO-FTs are obligated to address instances of user harm, such as fraud, mis-selling of financial products, and unauthorized transactions.
• Multiple SROs Allowed: The RBI may permit multiple SROs within the fintech sector.
• Membership Flexibility: Fintech companies may join more than one SRO and are encouraged to participate in at least one.
• Establishment of Surveillance mechanisms: The framework emphasizes deployment of Surveillance mechanisms for detecting exceptions, while maintaining confidentiality and collecting important data. 
  • There is a provision of cautioning, reprimanding, counselling,  or even expulsion from the SRO in case of violation of rules and regulation.
    • A reasonable penalty can also be imposed. 
• Structured frameworks for monitoring:  This framework encourages SROs to establish a framework for monitoring fintech activities and ensuring its compliance with regulatory standards. 
• Dispute resolution framework: SROs are required to  establish a dispute resolution framework for its members within the Fintech industry.
  • In addition to it, this body is responsible for Proactively addressing industry-wide concerns beyond individual member interests.
• Representation of the interest: SROs are responsible for representing the interests of its members when interacting with the RBI.
  • Along with it, it has to Keep the RBI updated on fintech developments.
  • It is responsible for Collecting and sharing data with the RBI to aid in policy making.
  • SROs are to report regulatory violations and systemic issues within the sector to the RBI.

Criteria for SROs in Fintech 

• Membership and Governance:
  • Representative membership: Ensure a representative membership that reflects the entire sector, including regulated entities like account aggregators and P2P lenders, NBFCs, and non-regulated entities.
  • Function independently and impartially, free from any single member’s influence.
  • knowledge repository: Act as a knowledge repository and avoid conflicts of interest.
  • Allow fintech firms to participate in multiple SROs if needed.
• Structure:
  • Non-profit Structure: SRO-FTs must be established as not-for-profit companies.
  • Minimum Net Worth Requirement: SRO-FTs need to maintain a minimum net worth of Rs 2 crore within one year of being recognized by the RBI.
  • Shareholding: Have diversified shareholding, with no single entity holding more than 10% of the shares.

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The aftermath of cyclone Remal causing extensive damage in the form of landslides and flash floods in the North- East and West Bengal Region, upgradation and overhauling the disaster management system is the need of the hour.

Cyclone Remal

Remal means “sand” in Arabic and was named by Oman

• Landfall: The storm made landfall near Mongla port, Bangladesh  and the adjoining Sagar Islands in India’s West Bengal state with a wind speed of up to 135kmph (84mph)
• Remal was the first cyclone to hit the Bay of Bengal this year in advance of the June-September monsoon season.
• Cyclone Remal advanced to a severe cyclonic storm from low pressure in bay of bengal in just three days.
• Impact: 
  • Death toll: Official Death Toll across the four northeastern States rose to 38

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• • Landslides: 29 bodies are retrieved from several landslide-hit locations like a stone quarry site at Methum in and around Mizoram’s capital AizawlFlash floods: Brahmaputra and other major rivers in the region flowed close to the danger mark causing flash floods and breach of embankment walls in the entire region.

Impact of Disasters on Infrastructure

• Economic loss: Disasters are causing average losses of $732 billion-$845 billion each year to infrastructure and buildings, equal to 14% of GDP growth  in 2022, as per estimates by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• Prediction: With a temperature rise of 3-4 degrees Celsius, average annual losses could rise by 12-33% in low and middle-income countries, including by nearly a quarter across South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Disruption: Disasters disrupted the provision of over 363,184 basic services in 44 reporting countries, including health and educational services in  In 2020 and 2021 alone as per the  Sendai Framework Monitor, 2022
• Critical Infrastructure: Roads and railways, telecommunications, and power and energy together account for about 80% of the total annual losses.
• On low and middle income economy: About 30% of the annual infrastructure losses  ie. around $280 billion, due to extreme climate events and disasters are borne by low and middle-income nations.
  • The highest share of losses is seen in South Asia at 0.42% of GDP per year and Latin America and the Caribbean with 0.22%

Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 

Resilient infrastructure are the systems and structures that are built to endure, adapt, and quickly recover from shocks and stresses. These stressors could include natural disasters, climate impacts, technological failures, or other human-induced emergencies. 

Goal of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 

• It is to ensure minimal disruptions to essential services such as critical Infrastructure facilities, public communal facilities, transit systems, telecommunications, and power systems to ensure the safety and well-being of human users and occupants. 

Principles for Resilient Infrastructure

• General Awareness: Assist in raising awareness and setting common basic understanding of what “resilient infrastructure” constitutes.
• Incorporate as a core value: Form the basis for planning and implementation of infrastructure projects that take resilience as a core value.
• Set Standards: Raise engineering designs based on available and reliable data so parameters of safety and disaster risk mitigation are in place on new and retrofitting projects.
• Set out the desired outcomes of national infrastructure systems to establish resilience o f critical services.
• Assist the public and private sectors in making risk-informed policy and investment decisions.

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Need of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 

• Disaster Resilient infrastructures importance is increasingly recognised as the effects of industrial technology, unpredictable weather patterns, global warming, and dense urbanisation pose new and complex challenges.
  • Intensified Multi-Hazard Disasters: Multi hazard disasters are the events whereby one disaster triggers another, or a series of other disasters, the cascading impacts of which result in a destruction that is much higher in magnitude.
    • Example: Heavy rainfall leads to breach of glacial lakes and landslides in hilly areas which results in flash floods downstream. Or, extreme heatwave triggering largescale forest fires.
  • Urban densities: As more and more population shifts towards the urban centres, the increased population and built environment densities calls for safe Infrastructure.
  • Reduce Human Misery: An emphasis on disaster resilience is vital because it reduces the potential loss of life, injury, and damage caused by multiple hazards.
  • Build Recovery: Disaster Resilient Infrastructure strengthens the capacity of  communities and societies to manage and recover from disasters, contributing to long-term sustainability, durability, and economic stability.
  • Adaptation: Disaster Resilient Infrastructure is an adaptation strategy to reduce the impacts of disasters which are Increasing in  frequency and severity  by saving life and property
  • Global interconnectedness: Disasters in one region can have cascading effects worldwide, Therefore, there is a need for collective efforts as a collective effort towards resilient infrastructure globally strengthens everyone’s preparedness.
  • Protecting the most vulnerable:  Investing in resilient infrastructure safeguards the vulnerable communities the most as they are the most at risk during times of a disaster.

A Disaster Resilient Design

• A Resilient design encompassess careful planning of the following:
  • Careful placement of infrastructure and emergency services: To distribute  critical services evenly across a city to avoid the risk of total system failure if one area become damaged or inaccessible. 
    • Hospitals, fire stations, water pumps  and police stations should be positioned where they are least likely to be cut off in a disaster.
  • Land-use planning: Disaster zoning of Infrastucture is required to be inculcated in city planning to  restrict certain development activities in locations where risks are deemed to be higher.
  • Public assembly points: Accessible, recognisable, and properly spaced assembly point need to be built  for communities to gather and coordinate the recovery effort.
  • Alarms and public announcement and Early Warning  systems

• • Emergency lighting, directional signage and symbols: Placed in key locations to guide occupants towards exits and to ensure safety during power outages.
  • Fire exits and stairwells: It should be clearly marked, unobstructed, and positioned in easily accessible areas to facilitate quick evacuation in case of emergencies.
    • Example: The heat waves in North India has resulted in many cases of fire emergencies due to malfunctioning cooling systems like ACs.
  • Utility interfaces or control panels: Conveniently located for managing communication systems, water, gas, internet, and electricity.

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Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Initiatives

• Disaster Resilient Infrastructure calls for a collaboration between all governance tiers, academia, private enterprises, infrastructure experts and local communities.
  • Establishment of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): India hosted the 6th conference of CDRI recently.
  • India Cooling Action Plan: To promote passive cooling in buildings, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has brought out the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) for all large commercial buildings and Eco-Niwas Samhita (ECBC-R) for the residential buildings.
  • Support to Monitoring and Implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR (SFDRR): The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) identifies investing in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for resilience and to “build back better” in reconstruction as priorities.
    • India is one of the first to create a National Disaster Management Plan based on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
  • The Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (ITEWS): It  was established in 2007 and is based at & operated by INCOIS, Hyderabad.
    • ITEWS comprises a real-time network of seismic stations, tide gauges and a 24X7 operational tsunami warning centre to detect tsunami created  earthquakes, to monitor tsunamis and to provide timely advisories to vulnerable communities.

Existing Nature of Cities

Cities have often evolved organically without disaster-proofing in mind therefore, Implementing resilience measures, particularly within existing infrastructure, can be costly and time-consuming, requiring extensive planning and investment. 

Coordination and Alignment

Coordinating resiliency efforts across different sectors, regions, and stakeholders requires effective communication, collaboration, and alignment of goals and strategies.

Financing problems

There is an estimated $106 trillion of untapped private capital worldwide but only 1.6% of that amount is invested in infrastructure today with low and middle-income nations  attracting  just a quarter of private infrastructure investment globally – mainly for non-renewable energy and transport.

Way Forward

• Risk Assessment: Regular infrastructure risk assessments are important to find vulnerabilities in critical sectors like transport, power, and telecommunications. These assessment should be followed by  risk mitigation strategies, to protect against potential damages.
• Holistic Planning: An integrated approach to embed climate and disaster resilience into critical infrastructure planning  amalgamating  data analytics, focused investment, proactive policies, and stakeholder capacity building is needed.
• Enhance Disaster risk comprehension: Effective DRI necessitates the integration of data-driven infrastructure planning,  risk-informed investments, and propagation of early warning system across diverse landscapes, powered by GIS mapping and innovative technologies.
• Capacity building: Through stakeholder engagement, capacity of communities across the diverse landscape needs to be  amplified through regular consultation and workshops
• Improved Building bye-laws:  The safety codes needs to incorporate the features of disaster-resistant buildings with simplified guidelines present in public domain. 
• Demonstration centres: Rural areas should set up Building Technology Demonstration Centres and undertake demonstrative disaster constructions in severe hazard-prone areas.

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Conclusion

Natural Disasters leading to displacement and devastation  cannot be prevented, therefore the focus should be on ensuring the safety and security of communities and societies in future  by adopting certain Adaptation measures.  And one way to do that is to invest in Disaster Resilient Infrastructure to Build Back Better.

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