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The USA Federal Reserve is all set for a rate cut soon which is likely to have widespread impact on the global markets and particularly on India.

• It will be the first rate cut by the US Federal Reserve since March 2020 
• The Fed may go for a 25 basis point cut in its key rate to the 5.00%-5.25% range, or a 50 basis point reduction to 4.75%-5.00% 
  • Future Speculation: The Rate cuts will continue well in future as the central bank is widely expected to keep lowering rates to around 4.5% or even 4% by the end of the year, with more cuts in 2025.
• Goal: To achieve a soft landing ie. a sustained high levels of inflation being brought down without setting off a recession.
• Factors Behind The US Fed’s Rate Decision:
  • Low Inflation: The inflation in the US has dropped to 2.5% from a mid-2022 peak of over 9%.
  • Cooling Labour Force Rates:  Hiring and wage growth have slowed, the number of job openings per worker has dropped and part-time work has risen as compared to full-time employment.
    • The unemployment rate recently  rose  to 4.2% 
  • Shrinking Manufacturing Sector: The Rate cuts will lower the borrowing rates driving investments in the economy also resulting in more employment opportunities.
    • The U.S. manufacturing sector shrank for the 11th time in the past 12 months, indicating a decline in overall production and demand. 
  • Inverted Yield-Curve: The yield curve reflects the difference between the 10-year yield and the 2-year yield is an indicator of a recession in the US.
    • The yield curve has ‘un-inverted’ sparking recession fears which has lead the Fed to implement more substantial and frequent rate cuts in the coming months

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About US Federal Rate Changes

• The Federal Funds Rate is a primary Monetary Policy Tool in the hands of the US Federal Reserve through which it influences employment and inflation by controlling the availability and cost of credit in the economy. 
• Effects: Changes in the federal funds rate influence other interest rates, which in turn influence borrowing costs for households and businesses, as well as broader financial conditions.
• Authority: The Federal Open Markets Committee sets the federal funds rate to guide overnight lending among U.S. banks

Impacts on India

• Attract Investment: With the Fed Rate cuts,  the difference between the interest rates of the US and the other country widens thus making countries such as India more attractive for the currency carry trade.
  • The lower the rate in the US, the higher the arbitrage opportunity
• A Bulls Run in Stock Market: A rate cut by the Fed typically leads to increased foreign investment in emerging markets, including India. As US treasury yields decrease, investors may seek higher returns in Indian equities, potentially driving up stock prices
  • Certain rate-sensitive sections, such as the banking, realty, and automobile sectors, tend to benefit significantly due to the US Fed rate cut
• Currency Markets: The Indian Rupee is likely to be strengthened making imports cheaper and exports costlier.
• Gold Prices: Gold prices are expected to move upwards as lower interest rates will  make the  fixed-income investments, such as bonds less attractive therefore increasing its demand.
• Drives Global Growth: Interest rate cuts reduce the cost of borrowing in U.S. dollars, thereby creating easier liquidity conditions for companies around the world
• Inflow of Funds into Emerging Markets: Lower U.S. interest rates should also lower the yield available on U.S. assets such as Treasurys, thus investors will be tempted towards the emerging markets for better yields.
• Influence RBI Policy Rate Stance:  RBI too like the other central banks initiates a policy Rate change based on the cues offered by the US Fed.
  • The RBI last cut the repo rate by 40 basis points to 4% in May 2020 during Covid-19 pandemic just like the US Fed.

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Periyar EV Ramasamy’s 146th Birth Anniversary was recently commemorated in Chennai.

• About Periyar EV Ramasamy: He was an Indian social activist and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam (DK). 
  • He is known as the ‘Father of the Dravidian movement’
  • The title “Periyar,” means “Respected Elder.
  • Since 2021, the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has celebrated his birth anniversary as ‘Social Justice Day’.
• Political Beginnings: Periyar began his political career as a Congress worker in Erode in 1919.
• Vaikom Satyagraha (1924)
  • Periyar’s fame grew beyond the Tamil region during the Vaikom Satyagraha, a mass movement demanding equal access to a public path in front of the Vaikom temple for lower-caste individuals.
  • He actively participated in the agitation with his wife and was arrested twice, earning him the title “Vaikom Veerar” (Hero of Vaikom).

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• Resignation from Congress: He resigned from the Congress in 1925 when he felt that the party was only serving the interests of Brahmins. 
• Association with Justice Party: He associated himself with the Justice Party and the Self Respect Movement, which opposed the dominance of Brahmins in social life, especially the bureaucracy.
• Social and Political Reform (1920s-1930s)
  • Redefined Tamil Identity: He redefined Tamil identity as egalitarian and untainted by the caste system, contrasting it with the Indian identity promoted by the Congress.
    • He argued that caste was introduced to the Tamil region by Aryan Brahmins from Northern India.
  • Self Respect Movement: The Self-Respect Movement was a significant social reform movement that originated in Tamil Nadu, South India, in 1925. 
    • The movement aimed to promote social equality and eradicate the caste system, which was deeply entrenched in Indian society.
• Opposition to Hindi Imposition (1930s)
  • Periyar opposed the imposition of Hindi by the Congress Ministry, paralleling it with the Aryanisation process and viewing it as an attack on Tamil identity and self-respect.
  • Under his leadership, the Dravidian Movement evolved into a struggle against caste and an assertion of Tamil national identity.
• Dravidar Kazhagam: In 1939, Ramasamy became the head of the Justice Party, and in 1944, he changed its name to Dravidar Kazhagam. 
• Formation of Dravidar Kazhagam (1940s)
  • In the 1940s, Periyar established Dravidar Kazhagam, advocating for an independent Dravida Nadu for Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada speakers.
  • He based his idea of Dravida national identity on the Dravidian linguistic family.
    • The party later split with one group led by C. N. Annadurai formed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949.

Legacy of Periyar

• Influenced the Political Identity of Tamil Nadu: Periyar’s ideas significantly influenced the political identity and culture of Tamil-speaking areas within the Madras Presidency and continue to resonate in present-day Tamil Nadu.
• Linguistic Pride: For many Tamils, Periyar represents an ideology centred on social equality, self-respect, and pride in the Tamil language.
• Focus on Reform: As a social reformer, Periyar addressed social, cultural, and gender inequalities. His reform agenda critically examined faith, gender roles, and traditions.
• Promotion of Rationalism: Periyar advocated for rational decision-making in life. He championed women’s independence, arguing they should not be confined to childbearing but should have equal employment opportunities.
• Self Respect Movement: Under his leadership, the Self Respect Movement promoted ritual-free weddings and supported women’s property and divorce rights. 
• Challenge to Caste System: Periyar urged people to drop caste suffixes from their names and avoid mentioning caste. He also introduced inter-dining practices with food prepared by Dalits at public conferences in the 1930s.
• He passed away in 1973 at the age of 94.

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Conclusion

Over the years, Periyar has transcended the political divide as well as the faultlines of religion and caste, and come to be revered as Thanthai Periyar, the father figure of modern Tamil Nadu.

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Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, never experienced a ruinous population collapse, according to an analysis of ancient DNA from 15 former inhabitants of the remote island in the Pacific Ocean.

Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

• About: It is a remote island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, part of Chile. 
• European Contact: Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen first encountered the island on Easter Sunday in 1722, giving it the name Easter Island. 
• Moai Statues: It is famous for its moai statues, giant monolithic human figures carved by the indigenous Rapa Nui people.
  • They are shaped like large human heads and erected on stone pedestals. 
  • They were carved in volcanic stone at quarries and then moved to their current locations across the island. 
• UNESCO World Heritage site: It is designated as UNESCO WHS.
• Geography of Rapa Nui: The island’s geography is harsh and challenging for humans. 
  • Its lava-covered terrain is rocky with limited freshwater sources, poor soil quality, and a low diversity of flora and fauna.
• Current Administration: Today, Rapa Nui is part of Polynesia and is officially a territory of Chile.

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Widely Contentious Notion of population Collapse of Rapa Nui

• Theory of Easter Island’s population collapse due to “ecocide” or environmental mismanagement: It was widely accepted that the population of Rapa Nui collapsed after overexploiting resources.
• • Notion of Ecological Suicide, or “Ecocide: In the context of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), the term is used to describe the potential scenario where overpopulation and the extensive use of resources led to environmental degradation. 
  • According to the “ecocide” hypothesis, the environmental changes were triggered by a growing population of over 15,000 people in Rapa Nui, leading to resource depletion, warfare, famine, and even cannibalism, which ultimately caused a catastrophic population collapse in the Island.

Findings of the New Research published in the journal ‘Nature’

• Population Stability Before European Contact: 
  • Genetic analysis indicates that the Rapa Nui population steadily grew from the 13th century until European contact in the 18th century.
  • This stability challenges the belief that there was a major population collapse before Europeans arrived.
• Catastrophic Events Post-European Contact
  • The study reveals that the population faced two significant catastrophes following European arrival:
    • Chilean Slave Traders: Abducted more than a third of the population.
    • Smallpox Outbreak: Led to a drastic decline, reducing the population to about a hundred individuals.
• Refuting the Ecocide Theory
  • The study provides new insights into Rapa Nui’s history and counters the ecocide theory.
  • Contrary to the ecocide theory, evidence suggests that the pre-modern Rapa Nui did not overexploit their island’s resources.
  • The population may have been living sustainably, only to suffer due to external factors, not internal mismanagement.
• Evidence of Pre-European Contact
  • High-quality ancient genomes reveal that around 10% of the Rapanui gene pool has Indigenous American origins.
  • This contact likely occurred before the arrival of Europeans, suggesting interactions with Indigenous Americans.
• Broader Implications
  • It highlights the need to consider repatriation of Rapanui ancestors’ remains and emphasises the preservation of their cultural legacy.
  • Control of Genetic Data: The Rapanui community, through the “Comisión Asesora de Monumentos Nacionales” (CAMN), will have control over the use and access to genetic data of their ancestors.
  • Exposing of Derogatory Myths: In many ways, the Rapa Nui genomes also show how genomic evidence can expose the derogatory myths that often surround Indigenous people and give them their real histories back

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China is seeking public feedback on a plan to include cement, steel, and aluminium production in its carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS) by the end of the year, in an attempt to boost market liquidity.

Carbon Market 

• About: Carbon markets are systems designed to help control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by assigning a price to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. 
  • They function by allowing the trade of carbon credits or allowances between entities that emit CO2 and those that reduce or sequester it.
    • Carbon Credits: Carbon credits are tradable permits that represent the removal, reduction, or sequestration of one tonne of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The value of a carbon credit is measured according to United Nations standards.
    • Carbon Allowances (Caps): Carbon allowances, or caps, are limits set by governments or countries based on their emission reduction targets. These caps regulate the total emissions allowed, creating a framework for trading.

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History of Carbon Trading

• Kyoto Protocol: Carbon trading was formally introduced in 1997 under the United Nations’ Kyoto Protocol, establishing a global framework for emissions trading. The Kyoto Protocol introduced the following mechanisms: 
  • Introduction of ‘Cap and Trade’: The Kyoto Protocol introduced the concept of “cap-and-trade,” where countries were allocated emission limits, and carbon credits could be traded among them.
  • Introduction of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): It enables developed countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing nations and earn carbon credits, which they could use to meet their own targets.

Carbon Market in India

• Indian Carbon Market (ICM) Initiative: The Government of India is planning to establish the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) with a national framework aimed at decarbonizing the domestic economy.
• Carbon Credits Trading Scheme (CCTS): The CCTS is a unified Indian Carbon Market (ICM) established to reduce GHG emissions through the trading of carbon credit certificates.​ Obligated entities will have GHG emission intensity targets and will receive or purchase carbon credit certificates based on their performance. 
• Market Based Emission Reduction Scheme: India currently operates two market-based emission reduction schemes: the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme and the Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) system.
  • Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme aims at reducing Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) i.e. energy use per unit of production for Designated Consumers (DCs) in energy intensive sectors, with an associated market mechanism to enhance the cost effectiveness through certification of excess energy saving which can be traded.
  • Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism is a market based instrument to promote renewable energy and facilitate compliance of renewable purchase obligations (RPO). 
    • It is aimed at addressing the mismatch between availability of RE resources in state and the requirement of the obligated entities to meet the renewable purchase obligation (RPO).
• Panchamrit Pledge: Recognising a moral responsibility towards a greener planet, India took the Panchamrit Pledge with targets till 2030 and India being carbon-neutral by 2070.
• CBDR-RC principles: As highlighted during the COP 27, India balances its developmental needs with lower carbon emissions through Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) principles. 
• Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022: It came into effect in 2023. This act allows the ministry of power and central government authority to create and manage  carbon trading schemes and issue Carbon Credit Certificates.
• Carbon Credit Certificates: Under section 14AA Act, the government can issue carbon credit certificates to entities that follow carbon credit trading schemes. These certificates can be sold to 
  • The organisations that emit more levels of Carbon than authorised; 
  • The Government of India to fulfil its commitments;
  • Other nations that need help to fulfil their commitments

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A rainwater harvesting project by the Koduvayur grama panchayat led to the discovery of many megalithic urn burials.

About Megalith

• It is a large stone used to build an ancient structure or monument, either by itself or with other stones.
• Types of Megaliths
  • Underground components: 
    • Pit burials: These are unlined pits where bodies of one or more dead persons are buried.
    • Cist burials: stone-lined underground grave, usually rectangular in plan.
    • Urn burials:  Mortal remains in terracotta urns.
    • Sarcophagus burials: These are terracotta receptacles with lids,  sometimes shaped like animals. 
  • Surface Components: 
    • Menhirs: single stone, unshaped or minimally altered natural boulders.
      • often used as markers or memorials. 
    • Boulder circles: These are the circular arrangements of rocks or boulders. 
      • It marks burial sites. 
    • Cairns: Earth mounds,  often cover burials or other structures.
    • Dolmenoid cists: It is a partially underground stone structure with a capstone. 
    • Dolmens: It is a large freestanding stone structure that has capstone. 

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Key findings of the megalithic burial site

• These urns were found on Kundlikkad hill, in the Kollengode range of Nenmara forest, Palakkad district, Kerala.

• Archaeological Importance:
  • These urns could provide valuable information about the connection between the Mesolithic and Iron Age periods in Kerala.
    • Finding such urns on a hilltop is rare since most burial sites are usually found in lower areas.
• Estimated Age of the Burials: The burials are believed to be over 2,500 years old.
• Unique Findings on the Hill: Most hill sites in Kerala feature cairn heaps, cists, and stone circles with dolmens, but this site contained an unusually large number of classic urn burials.
• Damage During Digging:
  • Several urns were broken when labourers dug pits for rainwater harvesting. 
  • One urn burial remained intact with its capstone, and many pottery fragments (black ware, red ware, and black-and-red ware) were found in the area.

Features of the Urns and Pottery

• Size and Thickness: The ancient builders used large urns that were 8 mm to 2 cm thick.
• Fingerprint Marks and Designs: Some urns had fingerprint impressions, and smaller pots had cord-impressed designs.
• Use of Chisels: Marks on the rocks show that chisels were used to create the capstones and stones that circled the urns.

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Recently, the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE), led an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme.

• Focus Areas: There was discussion on the framework for effective implementation of the ELI scheme.

Key Points from the Meeting

• Three ELI Schemes: These three schemes will be based on enrolment in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). 
  • It will focus on first-time employees and supporting both employees and employers.

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About Employment Linked Incentive Scheme

• This initiative was launched in the Union Budget 2024-25.
• Aim: To generate employment and formalisation of the labour force in the country.

• Schemes Under Employment Linked Incentive

  • Scheme A:
    • Target: First-time employees in the formal sector registered with EPFO.
    • Benefit: One-month wage (up to Rs. 15,000) in three instalments.
  • Scheme B:
    • Focus: Job creation in manufacturing.
    • Incentive: Benefits for additional employment of first-time employees based on EPFO contributions for the first four years.
    • Eligibility: Employees with salaries up to Rs. 1 lakh.
  • Scheme C:
    • Support: Reimbursement to employers.
    • Benefit: Up to Rs. 3,000 per month for two years towards EPFO contribution for each additional employee with a salary of up to Rs. 1 lakh.

Importance of the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme

• Diversified opportunity: Offers a great opportunity for different sectors to formalize their workforce.
• Ensures social security for employees.

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Researchers have discovered a well-preserved Devonian coelacanth fish (Ngamugawi Wirngarri’)  in Western Australia, shedding light on the connection between plate tectonics and evolutionary changes. 

About Coelacanths Fish

• Location: It live off the coasts of southern Africa and Indonesia and can reach up to two metres in length 
• Deep-sea fish: It  can live in depths up to 2,300 feet below the surface.
• “Lobe-finned” fish: It means they have robust bones in their fins a bit like the bones in our arms. 
• Old Fossil: It is oldest known fossils are more than 410 million years old 
  • It is thought to have gone extinct with the dinosaurs 65 million years ago (End of the Cretaceous period), but found first off South Africa in 1938 and then off the Comoro Island group northwest of Madagascar in 1952
• Coelacanths: These are described as “living fossils”.
  • Living Fossil → Organism that has remained unchanged from earlier geologic times and whose close relatives are usually extinct. 
  • Other Examples → Horseshoe crab and Ginkgo trees 
• Two living species: Latimeria chalumnae and Latimeria menadoensis.
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN Status → Critically Endangered
    • Sulawesi Coelacanth is listed as ‘Vulnerable’
  • CITES Status → Appendix I

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Recent Findings

• Ngamugawi Wirngarri → First fish found in Gooniyandi Country in Western Australia
• Area Name → It’s in Gooniyandi language → Gooniyandi( also Konejandi) are an Aboriginal Australian people
• Fish Name Means →  “Ancient fish in honour of Wirngarri”, a respected elder of the community.
• Devonian Period → Best three-dimensionally preserved coelacanth from the Devonian Period (359 million to 419 million years ago). 
• Coelacanths → Generally evolved slowly
• Series of environmental factors influencing coelacanth evolutionary rates → Tectonic plate activity, Ocean temperatures, Water oxygen levels, and Atmospheric carbon dioxide 

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To secure the rights of future generations to live in a safe and secure world will be an important agenda for the upcoming ‘Summit Of The Future’ convened by the United Nations to drive demands for climate justice.

About Summit of the Future 2024

• The Summit is a high-level event which brings world leaders together to build a new international consensus on how to deliver a better present and safeguard the future.
• Origin: The idea of the Summit first emerged in 2020 with the UN’s 75th anniversary starting a global conversation about hopes and fears for the future.
  • UN Secretary-General António Guterres came up with a report ie. “Our Common Agenda”, which recommends a renewed global cooperation to address a host of risks and threats, and a proposal to hold a forward-looking summit in 2024.
• Place of Summit: It will be held at the United Nation headquarters in New York.
• Aim of The Summit: 
  • Accelerate efforts to meet our existing international commitments
  • Take concrete steps to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Goal: To realize a world or an international system that is better prepared to manage the challenges of the present and the future, for the sake of all humanity and for future generations.
• Themes: 
  • Sustainable development and financing
  • Peace and security
  • A digital future for all
  • Youth and future generations
  • Global governance
• Pact for the Future: It is an action-oriented outcome document which will be negotiated, and endorsed by countries at the United Nations Summit 2024.
  • The document will include a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations as annexes.

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What is Climate Justice?

• Climate justice connects the climate crisis to the social, racial and environmental issues in which it is deeply entangled.
• The concept insists on looking at the climate crisis from a broader perspective ie. of the unequal impacts of the changing climate on already vulnerable communities and calls for a civil right movement for a better chance at survival.
• Facets to Climate Justice:  
• • Structural inequalities: Structural inequalities based on race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status exacerbates the impact climate change have for certain communities over the other even within the same country
  • Socioeconomic Inequalities: Low-income countries and vulnerable populations everywhere are more susceptible to climate-induced loss and damage as the impacts of climate change and the resources needed to address it are distributed unequally around the world. 
  • Intergenerational Inequity: Children and young people, although not having contributed to the climate crisis in a significant way invariably will bear the full force of climate change impacts, thus their rights must be centered in all climate decision-making and action.

Intergenerational Climate Justice- The Rights of the Future Generation

• Intergenerational Climate Justice is grounded in the idea of Sustainable Development and the related concept of intergenerational equity.
• Pillars: The two concepts forms the three main pillars of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ie.

• • Humanity’s collective duties to the future
  • Creating new global public goods to be enjoyed by present and future generations alike
  • Inclusive governance and decision-making.

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• Dimensions: It is a multidimensional concept which encompasses the concept of, 
  • Common but Historical Responsibility: Accepting the responsibility for past and current greenhouse gas emissions
  • Distributive Justice: The distribution of endowment and natural resources equally
  • Restorative Justice: The restoration of earth systems and relationships between humans and nature
  • Procedural Justice: Fairness in governance structures in decision-making
• Guidelines and principles on intergenerational justice and equity:
  • The Maastricht Principles on The Human Rights of Future Generations: The Principles were adopted in Maastricht on 3 February 2023 clearly linking  sustainable development and climate justice discourses to the rights of future generations with its 36 principle.
    • Human rights extend to all members of the human family, including both present and future generations. 
  • Common Principles on Future Generations: The UN endorsed the Common Principles on Future Generations in 2023, to ensure that UN agencies pursue actions, establish meaningful representations and foster partnerships and capabilities in the interests of future generations.
  • The Call to Action- Rights of Future Generations of the UN : It recognizes that the objectives of  environmental actions and sustainable development will be achieved only when they are informed by human rights. 
  • Article 73 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution:  It states that every person has the right to a protected environment for the benefit of present and future generations
• Climate Justice through Litigation: 
  • In Future Generations v. Ministry of the Environment and Others Case: This landmark judgment ordered the Columbian government to formulate and implement an inter-generational pact for the life of the Colombian Amazon advancing the principles of intergenerational solidarity
  • In Goa Foundation v. Union of India & Ors: The Supreme Court in India created a de facto trust fund for future generations.
  • M.K. Ranjitsinh & Ors. v. Union of India March 21, 2024: The Supreme Court of India  expanded the interpretation of the Right to Life (Article 21) and the Right to Equality (Article 14) to include protection against the adverse effects of climate change.

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India’s contingent achieved its best-ever performance at the Paris Paralympics with 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals.

• Indian women para-athletes significantly contributed by increasing their medal tally from 1 to 11 over three Paralympic Games in eight years.

More About Paris Paralympics

• Indian Participation: A record 84 para-athletes represented India, competing across 12 disciplines, compared to just nine in Tokyo 2020. 
  • India also made its debut in three sports in Paris: para cycling, para rowing, and blind judo.
• India’s Performance: India won 29 medals, crossing the cumulative total of 50-medal mark in Paralympic Games history. 
  • India finished in 18th position.
• Top Medallists: China topped the Paralympics medals table with 220 medals, including 94 golds, after all events were completed on the final day of competition on Sunday. 

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Significance of Paralympic Games

• Equality and Inclusion: The Paralympics promote the inclusion of athletes with disabilities, challenging societal barriers and fostering equality by showcasing their abilities on a global platform.
• Inspiring Others: The stories of Paralympic athletes are stories of overcoming adversity, perseverance, and unwavering determination. These athletes serve as role models, not just for people with disabilities, but for anyone who faces challenges in their lives.
• Respect for Human Dignity: Athletes strive for recognition of their achievements, not pity, urging spectators to respond with admiration for their determination and skill rather than condescension.
• Advancing Accessibility: The Paralympics have played a significant role in advancing accessibility, both in sports and in society at large. The Games have pushed for better access to sporting facilities, transportation, and technology for people with disabilities.
• Social Transformation: Paralympics also brings large scale social transformation. 
  • For Example: The 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing significantly transformed China’s approach to disability, fostering a more inclusive society for its 83 million people with impairments.

Reasons for Improved Performance of India in Paralympics

• Increased Participation: A larger number of para-athletes, both men and women, are entering the field, contributing to improved performance. This increase is due to greater awareness and acceptance of para-sports as a professional pursuit.
• Empowerment through Sports: Sports are now seen as a source of empowerment and a viable career path for women with disabilities, helping them break free from traditional societal expectations.
• Shift in Family Support: Families and caregivers have become more supportive, recognizing the potential and abilities of para-athletes, encouraging them to pursue sports professionally.
• Mainstreaming Para-Sports: The integration of para-sports under the same policies as able-bodied sports has professionalized the structure, allowing para-athletes to benefit from government policies and resources aimed at supporting competitive sports.
• Athlete-Centric Federation: The Paralympic Committee of India’s shift to an athlete-centric model has improved athlete training, development, and support, helping para-athletes achieve better results on the international stage.
• Government Funding Programs: Programs like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) provide full funding for elite athletes, enabling them to customise their training and focus on excellence without financial constraints.
  • The newly elected Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) supported all sports and the total spend was about Rs 74 crore under the Target Olympic Podium, Khelo India and national centres of excellence schemes.
• Access to Scientific Training: Indian para-athletes now have access to advanced training methodologies, including conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, mental strength trainers etc.

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Ethical Challenges involved in Paralympics

• Classification and Fair Competition: The classification system, designed to ensure fair competition by grouping athletes with similar levels of impairment, is vulnerable to manipulation. Athletes have been known to exaggerate their disabilities to gain a competitive edge, raising ethical concerns about fairness and integrity within the Paralympics.
• Media Underrepresentation: Paralympians receive less media coverage than Olympians, often portrayed through the lens of overcoming disability rather than their athletic prowess, reinforcing stereotypes.
• Resource Inequity: Paralympians typically receive less funding, sponsorship, and logistical support, including restrictions on personal aides at events.
• Technology Disparities: Access to advanced prosthetics and assistive technologies can create uneven playing fields, giving some athletes an advantage.
• Psychosocial Pressure: Paralympians face added stress, balancing their disabilities with the demands of elite competition and managing mental health.
• Social Stigma: Societal stigma surrounding disabilities impacts athletes’ self-esteem and sense of belonging.

Way Forward for Enhancing India’s Paralympic Performance

• Strengthening Grassroots Development: Establish robust District Paralympic Committees to identify and nurture talent from the grassroots level, similar to initiatives like the Khelo India program. This will create a larger talent pool and improve representation in national and international competitions.
• Expanding National Competitions: Regularly organize national-level events, such as the National Youth Para Games, to provide exposure and competitive platforms for young para-athletes. 
• Increasing Participation of Women: To boost the performance of women in Paralympics, more efforts should be made to encourage and support female participation in sports, ensuring that they receive equal opportunities and resources.
• Building a Sports Culture: Promote a broader culture of fitness and sports across all levels of society, including schools, communities, and workplaces, to increase the participation of people with disabilities in sports.
• Enhanced Support Systems: Continue providing financial, infrastructural, and scientific training support through government schemes like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to ensure that para-athletes can focus on their training and excel in international events.

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