India leads the world in gender equality in aviation, with women comprising 15% of its pilots, well above the global average of 5%. A 2021 report by the International Society of Women Airline Pilots further highlighted India’s achievement, ranking it first in gender equality on the flight deck with 12.4% female pilots. Despite this progress, sexual safety on flights remains a significant global concern, with incidents of harassment and assault affecting passengers worldwide.

Sexual Safety Concerns for Passengers

• Global Issue of Sexual Harassment: While exact statistics are unavailable, numerous reports have emerged of women being groped, touched, or fondled during flights, incidents that are often not reported to airline staff.
• Nature of Assaults: These assaults are typically silent and unwelcome, creating a deeply uncomfortable experience for victims. Although women are the primary targets, there have been cases where young men or adolescent boys were also victimised.
• Class of Travel Irrelevant: The threat of sexual harassment is not confined to any particular class of travel. Women can be targeted whether they are seated in economy or first class, making this a pervasive issue across the board.

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Airlines’ Response to Misbehaving Passengers

• Training for Flight Staff: International airlines have protocols in place to deal with unruly passengers, including training flight staff to restrain perpetrators, stop serving alcohol to those who become disruptive, and, if necessary, relocate victims to other seats if available.
• Legal Recourse: In countries like the United States, victims of in-flight harassment can seek legal redress, though this option is less viable in India due to the overburdened judicial system.
  • Case Example: The urination incident on an Air India business class flight in 2023, involving an inebriated passenger, underscores the importance of addressing such behavior promptly and effectively.
• Introduction of “Pink Seats”: Indigo Airlines recently introduced “pink seats,” allowing women to view the sex of other passengers when selecting their seats and choose to sit next to women if they wish to avoid sitting next to men. 
• • Temporary Respite for Some: For some women, this option may offer a sense of temporary relief from the anxiety of potentially encountering inappropriate behavior from male passengers.  
  • Implications for Seat Choices: However, this approach raises concerns. Women who prioritize comfort—such as choosing front or exit row seats, or window or aisle seats—may still find themselves seated next to men. This could lead to assumptions that women who do not choose “pink seats” are more “broadminded” or indifferent to safety concerns.

Addressing Sexual Safety Beyond Isolation

• Cultural Change Needed: The persistence of behaviors like “manspreading” and “man-sitting” highlights the need for a cultural shift. Men should be made aware that shared spaces, like armrests, are not their exclusive domain, and inconsiderate behavior should be addressed rather than accepted.
• Critique of Isolating Women: The core issue of sexual safety should not be addressed by isolating women from men. Instead, the focus should be on isolating and dealing with the perpetrators. Asking women to avoid sitting near men is a form of self-imposed isolation that does not address the root problem.

Way Forward

• Ensuring Top-Class Safety Protocols: As a leader in gender representation, Indigo also needs to lead in ensuring robust safety protocols. This includes having a well-trained and sensitized crew capable of detecting and acting on instances of harassment quickly and efficiently.
• Rejecting Ghettoization: The airline should focus on enhancing safety measures rather than encouraging women to isolate themselves with initiatives like “pink seats.” The notion that “men will be men” should not be accepted as a reason for women to retreat. Instead, the emphasis should be on holding perpetrators accountable and fostering an environment where all passengers can feel safe.

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Conclusion

Pink Seats illustrates the positive impact of inclusive policies and targeted support in addressing gender disparities in agriculture. By promoting women’s participation and leadership, it enhances farm productivity and community well-being. Continued investment in gender-sensitive programs is crucial for sustainable agricultural development and empowerment.

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On August 29, 2024, the Indian Navy welcomed its second Arihant-Class submarine, INS Arighaat, in Visakhapatnam. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the submarine will boost India’s nuclear triad, enhance deterrence, contribute to regional stability, and strengthen national security.

What is the Nuclear Triad?

• It refers to a country’s ability to launch nuclear weapons from three different platforms: land-based missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and air-delivered weapons. 
  • It means India will not use its nuclear weapons first. However, if India is attacked with weapons of mass destruction, it will respond strongly and not hold back.
  • This strategy ensures that even if one method of delivery is compromised, others will still be available, thus strengthening the country’s deterrence and security.
  • Second Strike Capability refers to a nation’s ability to respond with nuclear weapons after absorbing a nuclear attack. It include:
    • Survivability: Ensures that nuclear forces remain operational even after an enemy’s first strike.
    • Retaliation: Allows a country to deliver a counterattack to deter or punish the aggressor.   
    • Deterrence: Strengthens the credibility of a nation’s nuclear deterrence by ensuring it can retaliate despite an initial attack.
• India joined the ranks of countries with a nuclear triad, including the USA, Russia, China, and France, when it commissioned the INS Arihant, which made it capable of operating a nuclear triad.

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Technical Specifications of INS Arighaat

• Displacement: 6,000 tonnes
  • The displacement of INS Arighaat is 6,000 tonnes, which refers to the weight of the water the submarine displaces when fully submerged. This indicates the submarine’s size and carrying capacity.
• Propulsion: 83 MW pressurised light-water nuclear reactor
• Armament: Indigenously built K-15 missiles with a range of over 700 km.
  • K-15 missiles are indigenously developed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) by India.
• Design and Technology: Features advanced design and manufacturing technology
• Indigenous Systems: Equipped with systems and equipment developed in India.

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Conclusion

The commissioning of INS Arighaat marks a significant enhancement of India’s strategic defense capabilities, reinforcing its nuclear triad and second-strike potential. This development not only strengthens India’s deterrence posture but also contributes to regional stability by ensuring a robust and survivable nuclear force. As India continues to modernize and expand its submarine fleet, including both nuclear and conventional vessels, it underscores its commitment to national security and self-reliance in defense technology, positioning itself among the world’s leading military powers with advanced naval capabilities.

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Farmers in Bhagthala Khurd (Faridkot), Kapurthala, and Amritsar are using drones for pesticide and fertiliser application. Under the NAMO Drone Didi scheme, 93 out of 100 drones provided by the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO)  are operational, each costing Rs 16 lakh with a 12-litre tank.  

NAMO Drone Didi Scheme

The NAMO Drone Didi Scheme, launched by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is designed to empower rural women by training them to become drone pilots for agricultural tasks.

• Objective: The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance the economic empowerment and financial autonomy of women, particularly those involved in Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The scheme aims to equip 15,000 women-led SHGs with drones that can be used for crop monitoring, spraying fertilizers, and sowing seeds, thereby providing additional income opportunities.
• Government Support and Financial Benefits: To support these women, the Indian government offers substantial benefits under the NAMO Drone Didi Scheme. An 80% subsidy on the cost of drones, up to a maximum of Rs. 8 lakh, is provided to the SHGs. Additionally, the remaining cost can be financed through loans available under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), with a nominal interest rate of 3%.
• Training and Income Opportunities: The scheme also includes comprehensive training for women to operate drones effectively. These drones can be rented out to farmers, offering SHGs an opportunity to earn an additional income of Rs. 1 lakh per year.

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Why Does the Need of Drones Arise?

• Labour Intensity: Traditional manual application of pesticides and fertilisers is labour-intensive and time-consuming.
• Inconsistent Coverage: Manual methods often lead to uneven application, impacting crop yields. Drones ensure more consistent coverage.

Benefits of Drone Usage

• Protecting farmers from pesticide: Manual pesticide application is labour-intensive and exposes workers to harmful chemicals. Prolonged contact with pesticides and chemical fertilisers harms farmers’ health. Drones complete pesticide application in 5-7 minutes per acre compared to hours manually. 
  • Issues in Punjab: Higher rates of cancer, kidney ailments, immunological disorders, Parkinson’s disease, and infertility linked to pesticide use.
    • Drone Advantage: Reduces direct contact with harmful chemicals, protecting farmers’ health.
• More Efficient Application:  Manual spraying often misses parts of the crop, affecting yields. Drones provide more uniform application, improving crop health and yields. They are effective in addressing pest infestations and can cover large areas quickly in emergencies.
  • Drones also address the challenges associated with the application of nano fertilizers, such as nano urea and nano DAP, which are cost-efficient and environmentally friendly but require uniform application in very small quantities. Traditional methods often fail to achieve this uniformity, limiting the widespread use of these fertilizers. However, drones ensure a more consistent application, enhancing the effectiveness of nano fertilizers.
• Crop Monitoring and Emergency Applications: Beyond pesticide application, drones are instrumental in crop monitoring and emergency responses. They can capture real-time images of fields, allowing farmers to monitor crop health and intervene promptly if issues arise. This capability is crucial in combating pest infestations such as the pink bollworm, which has severely impacted cotton crops in Punjab. 
• Environmental Benefits: Up to 90% of nutrients from nano fertilisers are absorbed by plants, reducing runoff and pollution. Drones reduce soil pollution and water usage by up to 90% compared to traditional methods.

Challenges

• Impact on Employment and Labor Costs: While drones offer significant advantages in terms of efficiency and cost savings, their adoption in agriculture raises concerns about the potential loss of jobs traditionally held by laborers. Drones can cover an acre of land for pesticide application at approximately Rs 200, compared to Rs 300 per acre when done manually by laborers.
• Need for Training and Support for Drone Pilots: The effective use of drones in agriculture also hinges on the availability of skilled drone pilots. Proper training is essential to ensure that pilots can cover entire fields efficiently while spraying fertilizers and pesticides. This requires significant investment in training programs, which must equip farmers or designated operators with the necessary skills to operate drones safely and effectively.

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Conclusion

The use of drones in agriculture highlights their transformative potential, providing precise monitoring, pesticide application, and data collection. Drones enhance efficiency and reduce costs, benefiting small and marginal farmers. However, challenges like regulation, high costs, and training need to be addressed for widespread adoption.

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