Global News

Introduction City life depends heavily on urban air quality. This is evident in the National Capital Region (NCR) during the peak of the winter season each year. The winter season measures high AQI in NCR. The number of patients visiting hospitals with various diseases increases. People with asthma find their symptoms aggravated in winter due to air pollution. This is a textbook case of urban air quality influencing the health of people in urban areas. Air Quality Index The term "urban air quality" refers to the condition and cleanliness of the air within cities and densely populated areas. It is largely determined by the amount of particulate matter or pollutants present in an area. It is usually measured as the Air Quality Index (AQI). It is a single number and color-coded scale. Governments use it to communicate how polluted the air currently is in a city. The color code represents the severity of health issues due to air pollution. Urban Air Quality Nowadays, pollutants ...

Introduction Taking a cue from freebie experiments such as free bus rides in Karnataka and Telangana, Kerala also adopted this freebie for women. It named the scheme the Priyadarshini scheme, after late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, to get mass appeal. However, the government of the day failed to factor in the extent of Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) coverage and fiscal state. In other states like Karnataka and Telangana, state-owned transport corporations provide the service, whereas Kerala has both state-run and private entities. This Kerala free bus service scheme has pushed the already penniless state-owned KSRTC into loss. Free Transportation for Women The Kerala government’s decision to offer the KSRTC free bus service for women is a commendable gesture. The Priyadarshini scheme is a blessing in disguise for women who go out for work, education, and healthcare. Usually, women in rural areas have to spend a large amount of money to commute daily. The state government se...

Introduction Wherever you look, the incumbent governments are indifferent to and ignorant about what is happening in different departments. Due to administrative inaction, the officials are increasingly promoting red tape and bribery. Therefore, ordinary citizens have to bribe the concerned officials to avoid institutional coldness. Under the official patronage, these officials have been asking for money in the guise of donations to party funds or administrative upgrades. Reasons for Mismanagement There are a number of reasons for me for this bureaucratic indifference. Government Indifference: Since there is no government intervention, babus or officials have become so emboldened that they have become insensitive to the genuine demands from the common man. Job Security: The government employees are aware of their job security. They also know that, in the worst-case scenario, they might be suspended or transferred to another location. This awareness has led to official negligence and c...

Introduction Recent agitation occurred under the guise of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which had become a huge success due to the student appraisal from across the country. Due to institutional apathy, there is a growing nexus between external entities and bureaucrats who control government departments. The recent agitation was due to repeated failures by officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in the NEET exam over the past three years, without any glitches. NTA is a flagship government agency that conducts graduate and undergraduate exams across the country. Systemic Neglect The state's indifference has emboldened officials working according to their whims and fancies. The employment guarantee has led to bureaucratic inertia in dealing with problems faced by the common man. This systemic neglect has led to recent appraisals. Officials of every department are not transferred on a routine basis. This has given the officials enough time to develop a nexus with outside...

  Introduction Already resource-strained Air India finds it difficult to meet the roster requirements due to higher operational costs and ill-formed operational rosters. Adding fuel to the fire, its flights run into glitches quite often due to poor maintenance, frequent changes in service vendors, and employment of an inexperienced workforce, raising flight safety concerns among its loyal customers. Flight Safety Issues Air India has frequently been found caught in some of the worst air accidents in the history of the country's aviation history. Many causes have been attributed to it. Some of them are due to systemic failure, while some others are due to human errors. Despite giving training, the human errors keep on propping up due to the insufficient rest periods for aircraft pilots between changing rosters. Causes of Safety Issues The handing over of loss-making Air India to Tata Sons has not made any significant difference in its service to the aviation market. This i...

  Introduction Air India flight AI2379 was en route from Phuket to New Delhi when it encountered severe convective turbulence. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members . The incident occurred approximately one hour before the flight was scheduled to land at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Atmospheric Mechanics and Flight Impact The flight unexpectedly passed through an air pocket characterized by a severe atmospheric pressure difference. Aircraft Movement : This pressure variance forced the aircraft into violent up-and-down movements, resulting in a sudden downward trajectory. Altitude Drop : The aircraft plunged 300 meters from its high-velocity cruising altitude. Duration : The severe shaking and altitude instability lasted for a continuous duration of five minutes. Regional Meteorological Context Southeast Asia is highly susceptible to convective turbulence, which is predominantly generate...

Introduction There are many reasons why an elder sister takes the responsibility of a mother. The cause may be due to various familial reasons ranging from separation of parents to death of the mother. Other reasons could be love and affection for younger siblings, societal pressure, the urge to assert authority, and guiding the younger sibling in the path of righteousness.  Let us list out the reasons why such transformation takes place.   Fierce Psychological Protection : She shields younger siblings from external harms and parental conflicts, absorbing the mental trauma herself so they can focus on their education.   Absence of Parents : She steps in as the primary caregiver when parents are physically absent, chronically ill, or deceased to prevent the household from collapsing.    Modern Economic Pressures : She manages the household and feeds younger siblings after school because both parents must work long hours away from home. Significant Age Gaps : A b...