THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. THE SEAT BELTS, HEAD RESTRAINTS AND SAFETY REGULATIONS

THE CONTEXT: The recent death of Cyrus P. Mistry, former Chairman of Tata Sons, in a car crash in Maharashtra’s Palghar district on September 4 has turned the focus on whether compulsory use of seat belts in cars — including by passengers in the rear seat — can save lives during such accidents.
THE EXPLANATION:
HOW IS A SEAT BELT A LIFE SAVER?
• In a car crash, particularly at moderate to high speeds, the driver or passenger who has no seat belt continues to move forward at the speed of the vehicle, until some object stops the occupant. This could be the steering wheel, dashboard or windscreen for those in front, and the front seat, dashboard or windscreen for those in the rear.
• Without an airbag, and no seat belt restraint, a severe crash leads to the occupant of the rear seat striking the seat in front with such force that “it is sufficient for the seat mountings and seat structures to fail”.
• The seat belt performs many functions, notably slowing the occupant at the same rate as the vehicle, distributing the physical force in a crash across the stronger parts of the body such as the pelvis and chest, preventing collisions with objects within the vehicle and sudden ejection. Newer technologies to “pretension” the belt, sense sudden pull forces and apply only as much force as is necessary to safely hit the airbags. Absence of seat belts could lead to rear seat occupants colliding with internal objects in the car, or even being ejected through the front windscreen during the collision.

What role do head restraints play?
• Head restraints, which are found either as adjustable models or molded into the seats, prevent a whiplash injury. This type of injury occurs mostly when the vehicle is struck from behind, leading to sudden extreme movement of the neck backwards and then forwards. It could also happen vice versa in other circumstances. The injury involves the muscles, vertebral discs, nerves and tendons of the neck, says Johns Hopkins Medicine, and is manifested as neck stiffness, pain, numbness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision and sleeplessness among others.
• The head restraint built into the seat must be properly placed and aligned with the neck, to prevent the injury in a vehicle accident. A study done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the U.S. estimated that claims for neck injuries were lower by 11% when the seats and restraints were rated good by it, compared to those rated poor. The ratings system has resulted in newer models, since 2015, almost fully getting a good rating.

Mechanisms to prevent death in a car accident?
• The three-point seat belt is a low-cost restraint system that prevents occupants of a vehicle from being thrown forward in a crash.
• Seat belt: slows the occupant at the same rate as the vehicle, distributing the physical force in a crash across the stronger parts of the body such as the pelvis and chest.
• The Road Transport Ministry said that during 2017, a shocking 26,896 people lost their lives due to the non-use of seat belts with 16,876 of them being passengers.
• Seat Belt+ Airbag: Even if the vehicle is fitted with an airbag, the force at which an unrestrained occupant strikes the airbag can cause serious injuries. So, the seatbelt works in tandem with the airbag.
• The air-bag deployment reduced mortality by 63% (IIT Delhi Study)
• Head restraints, which are found either as adjustable models or moulded into the seats, prevent a whiplash injury (sudden backwards and forward movement of head-on collision).

Status (as per the latest NCRB data)
• Deaths in road accidents up by 17%
• In 2021, 1.55 lakh people died in accidents on Indian roads, up from 21.33 lakh in 2020
• A maximum number of cases were reported in Tamil Nadu.
• Reasons: Speeding accounted for over half of all deaths, while dangerous and careless driving caused over 42000 deaths.

India’s regulation:
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a draft notification providing for three-point seat belts to be provided in all vehicles (up to 8-seater vehicles)
• The Amended Motor Vehicles Act of 2019 requires the occupants of a passenger vehicle to wear a seat belt for driver and passenger or else there’s a fine.
• Evidently, although cars are equipped with seat belts, the enforcement for rear seat occupants is virtually absent in India.

POINTS TO REMEMBER: BRASILIA DECLARATION is related to Road Safety.

2. THE PREVENTIVE DETENTIONS ROSE IN 2021

THE CONTEXT: According to statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Preventive detentions in 2021 saw a rise by over 23.7% compared with the year before, with over 1.1 lakh people being placed under preventive detention.
THE EXPLANATION:
• Of these, 483 were detentions under the National Security Act, of which almost half (241) were either in custody or still detained as of 2021-end. Over 24,500 people placed under preventive detention were either in custody or still detained as of 2021-end — the highest since 2017 when the NCRB started recording this data.
• In 2017, the NCRB’s Crime in India report found that 67,084 persons had been detained as a preventive measure that year. Of these, 48,815 were released between one and six months of their detention and 18,269 were either in custody or still in preventive detention as of the end of the year.

• The number of persons placed under detention has been increasing since 2017 — to over 98,700 in 2018 and over 1.06 lakh in 2019 — before dipping to 89,405 in 2020. Data pertaining to 2021 showed that 1,10,683 persons were placed under preventive detention last year, of which 24,525 were either in custody or still detained as of the end of the year and the rest were let go within one to six months.
• While the number of persons placed under preventive detention has seen an increase in 2021, the NCRB data showed that the number of people arrested in such a manner under the National Security Act had dipped significantly compared with the year before.
• Preventive detentions under the NSA increased to 741 in 2020. This number dropped to 483 in 2021.

Use of provision
• Among other laws under which the NCRB has recorded data on preventive detentions are the Goonda Act (State and Central) (29,306), Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (1,331), and a category classified as “Other Detention Acts”, under which most of the detentions were registered (79,514). Since 2017, the highest number of persons to be placed under preventive detention has consistently been under the “Other Detention Acts” category.
• According to Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the police are empowered to make preventive arrests if they believe they must do so to prevent the commission of “any cognizable offence”. This detention can be extended beyond 24 hours if required “under any other provisions of this Code or of any other law”.

VALUE ADDITION:
About NCRB:
• In 1986 (based on recommendations of the Tandon Committee, MHA Taskforce and National Police Commission (1977))
• It acts under the Ministry of Home Affairs and functions as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
• NCRB looks after CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems) and Central Finger Print Bureau
• It released reports: Crimes in India, Prison Statistics in India and Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India.

THE HEALTH ISSUES

3. WHO-UNICEF REPORT ON PROGRESS ON WASH IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

THE CONTEXT: Recently WHO and UNICEF released a report titled “Progress on Wash in Health Care Facilities 2000-2021”.
THE EXPLANATION:
• According to this report, while the world is battling the threat of diseases like the Covid-19 epidemic and monkeypox, on the other hand 51 percent of the world’s health centres are providing basic facilities. There is no facility like water, soap, sanitizer.
• According to this report, 385 crore people are dependent on health centres due to lack of basic facilities, where there are no facilities like water, soap, sanitizer, while 688 crore people are dependent on such health centres where there is no cleanliness and hygiene. There is no connected infrastructure available.
• Talking about the availability of water, about 170 million people in the world are still dependent on water scarce health facilities. At the same time, out of these, 857 crore people are such, who are not used at all in health centres.
• The situation is worst in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 52 percent have access to health facilities, compared to 90 percent in East and Southeast Asia. On the other hand, if we talk about the most backward countries, then this figure is only 47 percent.
VALUE ADDITION:
About UNICEF
• UNICEF is also known as “United Nations Children’s Fund”. It is a United Nations agency, which is responsible to provide humanitarian and developmental aid to children across the world. It is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations of the world. It is present in 192 countries and territories.
Activities of UNICEF
Main activities of UNICEF include:
1. To provide immunizations and disease prevention
2. To administer treatment for children and mothers with HIV
3. To enhance childhood and maternal nutrition
4. To improve sanitation, promote education, and provide emergency relief in response to disasters.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4. LADAKH NIGHT SKY SANCTUARY

THE CONTEXT: In a unique and first of its kind initiative, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has decided to set up India’s first Night Sky Sanctuary in Ladakh.
THE EXPLANATION:
Located at: Hanle in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
To be Developed by: Ladakh administration will work with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council(LAHDC) and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) for developing this reserve.
Significance: The reserve will boost Astro tourism in India and will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infrared, and gamma-ray telescopes.
What is Dark Sky Reserve?
• A Dark Sky Reserve is a designation given to a place that has policies in place to ensure that a tract of land or region has minimal artificial light interference.
• The International Dark Sky Association is a U.S.-based non-profit that designates places as International Dark Sky Places, Parks, Sanctuaries and Reserves depending on the criteria they meet. Several such reserves exist around the world but none so far in India.
Why was Hanle chosen for setting up Dark Sky Reserve?
Hanle is best suited for the project as it is located in Ladakh’s cold desert region with clear sky and dry weather conditions throughout the year and away from human disturbance.
Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
• Located in the Changthang Plateau in the Leh district of Ladakh, Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular sanctuaries in the Ladakh region. With its picturesque landscape, this sanctuary has a huge variety of flora and fauna.
• Spread over an area of about 4000 sq km, this sanctuary also houses the highest lake on earth, Lake Tso Moriri. It is considered to be the second largest nature reserve after Northeast Greenland National Park. The sanctuary is situated at an altitude of 14,000–19000 feet.
• Korzok village is located near Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, which is considered to be the highest village in the world. The main attraction of this village is the Korzok Monastery. Other places around Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary are Pangong Tso Lake, Tso Kar Lake, Khardung La Pass and Shanti Stupa.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

5. NGT FINES WEST BENGAL FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT FAILURE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed environmental compensation of Rs 3,500 crore on West Bengal for failing to manage solid and liquid waste.
THE EXPLANATION:
• In the budget of the financial year 2022-23, the West Bengal government had made a provision to spend about Rs 12818 crore on matters related to urban development and municipalities. But the state government did not do any special work in this direction.
• According to the NGT, urban areas of West Bengal generate 2758 million sewage per day while the treatment capacity through 44 sewage treatment plants is only 1505.85 MLD. Therefore, only 1268 MLD of sewage is treated and 1490 MLD of sewage remains untreated.
• The West Bengal government will have to deposit this 3500 crore fine within two months. At the same time, the National Green Tribunal said that if such violations of environmental matters continue, then more fines will be imposed.
VALUE ADDITION:
National Green Tribunal (NGT)
• NGT was established on October 18, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010. It was established for effective and expeditious disposal of cases related to conservation of forests, environmental protection and conservation of other natural resources besides enforcement of any legal right related to environment. This Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under “Code of Civil Procedure, 1908”. It is guided by principles of natural justice.
National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
• It is an Act of the Parliament that lead to the creation of a special tribunal for handling the expeditious disposal of cases related to environmental issues. It was inspired from constitutional provision of Article 21.
Function of the Tribunal
• The Tribunal is having a dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters. Thus, it provides speedy environmental justice and help in reducing the burden of higher courts. It is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals within 6 months.

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

6. THE BSF DRONE TEAR SMOKE LAUNCHER

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Tear Smoke Unit of the Border Security Force (BSF) has developed an indigenous drone Tear Smoke Launcher. This launcher will be used to control the crowd and to release tear gas shells during riots and unrest.
THE EXPLANATION:
• It can be used to launch shells from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones and will be a potential force multiplier for security forces operating in the law and order management sector.”
• In this, tear gas shells can be fired within a radius of 250-300 meters through drones. A drone can be loaded with 2 to 6 tear gas shells and dropped on the target area.
• Most security certifications have also been obtained for the use of this technology. This drone technology will soon be handed over to all police departments and armed police forces.
Tear Smoke Unit (TSU)
The tear gas unit at the Border Security Force (BSF) Academy was set up in 1976. Earlier, tear gas shells were imported into the country from abroad. In 46 years, this unit has made India self-reliant in this sector by increasing the capacity of manufacturing tear gas material in the country by 12 times.
About Border Security Force (BSF)
It is one of 7 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of India. It was raised in wake of 1965 War on 1 December 1965.
It is country’s largest border guarding force with a present strength of about 2.5 lakh personnel. Being a primary border defence organisation of India, it is tasked to secure two of India’s most important and sensitive fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.