Scientists from Italy, France, and Norway have set up camp in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago to extract samples of ancient ice for analysis before the frozen layers melt away due to climate change.
‘Ice Memory’ Project
Scientists will drill a series of tubes as far as 125 meters (137 yards) below the surface, which contains frozen geochemical traces dating back three centuries.
The scientists will work for three weeks in temperatures as low as -25 degrees Celsius (-13 Fahrenheit) to extract ice.
The Ice Memory foundation is running the operation.
The ice cores will provide scientists with valuable data about past environmental conditions.
Analysis and storage
One set of ice tubes will be used for immediate analysis, while a second set will be sent to Antarctica for storage in an “ice memory sanctuary” under the snow.
The samples will be preserved for future generations of scientists.
Reason for drilling
The Arctic is warming between two and four times faster than the global average, and water from melting ice is altering the geochemical records preserved in ancient ice beneath.
Hence, scientists are in a race against time to preserve crucial ice records before it disappears forever from the surface of the planet.
Central idea: The newscard is about the US government-sponsored System for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) program, also known as SNAPSHOT for Space Nuclear Auxiliary Power Shot, and its SNAP-10A space nuclear reactor.
What is SNAP-10A?
SNAP-10A
A nuclear reactor sent to space by the US in 1965
SNAP program
A government-sponsored program for developing compact, lightweight, and reliable atomic devices for use in space, sea, and land
Objective
To produce at least 500 watts of electricity for a year or longer in Earth orbit
Components
Enriched uranium fuel with zirconium hydride as a moderator, and liquid sodium-potassium alloy as the coolant
Conversion
A thermoelectric converter was used to directly convert heat from the reactor into electricity
Payload
Weighed less than 431 kg, including the instruments and shielding, and was designed to be remotely started and operated in space
Launch
April 3, 1965, on an Atlas-Agena D rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base and placed in a polar orbit
Operations
Achieved on-orbit criticality within six hours of startup and set to autonomous operation at full power after 200 hours of reactor operations
Contact loss
Contact was lost with SNAP-10A for about 40 hours on May 16, 1965, and the reactor’s reflectors ejected from the core, causing the core to shut down and bringing an end to the reactor’s operations
Test objectives
All test flight objectives were met, except the length of operation, which was just 43 days as opposed to the expected year or more
Significance
Only known nuclear reactor sent to space by the US, while Russia has sent several, including one that crashed and scattered radioactive debris over Canada in 1978
Current status
Continues to be in Earth orbit, and NASA expects it to do so for 2,000 years or more
Eravikulam National Park, located in Munnar, India, is known for its natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr, and has recently introduced a new attraction – a Fernarium.
What are Ferns?
Ferns are a type of vascular plant that reproduces via spores, rather than seeds.
They have distinctive leaves, called fronds, which are often intricately divided into smaller leaflets.
Ferns can grow in a wide variety of environments, from rainforests to deserts, and they play an important role in many ecosystems as a habitat for animals, as well as by providing food and shelter for a variety of other plants.
Importance of Ferns
Ferns are ecological indicators of healthy forests, and the climatic conditions inside the park are suitable for growing ferns.
Ferns are part of the Epiphytic family and grow naturally in soilless conditions.
They obtain water and nutrients through leaching from trees, and a large number of ferns are found on trees inside the park.
Fernarium @ Eravikulam
The Fernarium is a collection of ferns and it is the first of its kind in Munnar.
Currently, 52 varieties of ferns have been planted, and the plan is to cover all 104 varieties that are found in the park.
This initiative aims to provide visitors with awareness about the biodiversity of the park.
Back2Basics:Eravikulam National Park
Location
Perched 7000 ft. above sea level, the Park was a former hunting preserve of British planters
Designation
Declared a Sanctuary in 1975, and a National Park in 1978
Significance
Protects the highly endangered mountain goat, Nilgiri Tahr, and is the land of the Neelakurinji flower that blooms once in twelve years
Extent
Covers an area of 97 sq. km of rolling grasslands and high-level sholas
Climate
Receives heavy showers during the southwest (June/July) and retreating (October/November) Monsoons; one of the wettest areas in the world
Topography
Undulating terrain with grass, hillocks, and sholas; highest peak south of the Himalayas, the Anamudi, is located here
Vegetation
Majorly covered with rolling grasslands, with several patches of shola forests; important flora includes Actinodaphne bourdilloni, Microtropis ramiflora, Strobilanthus Kunthianus (Neela Kurinji), etc.
Wildlife Population
29 species of mammals, including the endemic Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Leopard, Giant Squirrel, and wild dog; 140 species of birds, including 10 unique to the Western Ghats; more than 100 varieties of butterflies and 20 species of amphibians are also recorded here.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal recently launched the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. The policy had been under discussion for a long time and has been formulated after multiple stakeholder consultations.
In this context, this edition of the Burning Issue will elaborate on this new policy. The topic is relevant for the upcoming Prelims examination (export-import related data, facts and schemes) as well as for the Mains examination 2023 under GS-3 topic.
About Indian exports
India’s overall exports, including services and merchandise exports, have already crossed US$ 750 Billion and are expected to cross US$ 760 Billion this year.
Also, the value of India’s exports in the financial year 2021-22 hit 400 billion dollars which translated into a growth of about 41% from the pandemic-hit year of 2020-21.
Background of the policy
Foreign Trade Policy (2023) is a policy document that is based on the continuity of time-tested schemes facilitating exports as well as a document that is nimble and responsive to the requirements of the trade.
It is based on principles of ‘trust’ and ‘partnership’ with exporters. In the FTP 2015-20, changes were done after the initial release even without the announcement of a new FTP responding dynamically to emerging situations.
Hereafter, the revisions of the FTP shall be done as and when required. Incorporating feedback from Trade and Industry would also be continuous to streamline processes and update FTP, from time to time and also make export scheme WTO rules compliant.
Aims and objectives of the new policy
The FTP 2023 AIMS AT process re-engineering and automation to facilitate ease of doing business for exporters. It also focuses on emerging areas like dual-use high-end technology items under SCOMET, facilitating e-commerce export, and collaborating with States and Districts for export promotion.
To increase exports and GET MORE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE GLOBAL VALUE CHAIN. Given the size of the Indian economy and manufacturing & service sector base, the potential for the country to grow is manifold.
The Key Approach to the policy is based on these 4 PILLARS:
Incentive to Remission,
Export promotion through collaboration – Exporters, States, Districts, Indian Missions,
Ease of doing business, reduction in transaction cost and e-initiatives and
Emerging Areas – E-Commerce Developing Districts as Export Hubs and streamlining SCOMET policy.
Key highlights of the policy
Process Re-Engineering and Automation: Greater faith is being reposed on exporters through automated IT systems with risk management systems for various approvals in the new FTP. The policy emphasizes export promotion and development, moving away from an incentive regime to a regime which is facilitating, based on technology interface and principles of collaboration.
Towns of Export Excellence: Four new towns, namely Faridabad, Mirzapur, Moradabad, and Varanasi, have been designated as Towns of Export Excellence (TEE) in addition to the existing 39 towns. The TEEs will have priority access to export promotion funds under the MAI scheme and will be able to avail Common Service Provider (CSP) benefits for export fulfillment under the EPCG Scheme.
Recognition of Exporters: Exporter firms recognized with ‘status’ based on export performance will now be partners in capacity-building initiatives on a best-endeavor basis. Similar to the ‘each one teaches one’ initiative, 2-star and above status holders would be encouraged to provide trade-related training based on a model curriculum to interested individuals.
Promoting export from the districts: The FTP aims at building partnerships with State governments and taking forward the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative to promote exports at the district level and accelerate the development of a grassroots trade ecosystem. Efforts to identify export-worthy products & services and resolve concerns at the district level will be made through an institutional mechanism – State Export Promotion Committee and District Export Promotion Committee at the State and District level, respectively.
Streamlining SCOMET Policy: India is placing more emphasis on the “export control” regime as its integration with export control regime countries strengthens. There is a wider outreach and understanding of SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) among stakeholders, and the policy regime is being made more robust to implement international treaties and agreements entered into by India.
Facilitating E-Commerce Exports: FTP 2023 outlines the intent and roadmap for establishing e-commerce hubs and related elements such as payment reconciliation, bookkeeping, returns policy, and export entitlements. As a starting point, the consignment-wise cap on E-Commerce exports through courier has been raised from ₹5Lakh to ₹10 Lakh in the FTP 2023.
Merchanting trade: To develop India into a merchanting trade hub, the FTP 2023 has introduced provisions for merchanting trade. Merchanting trade of restricted and prohibited items under the export policy would now be possible. Merchanting trade involves the shipment of goods from one foreign country to another foreign country without touching Indian ports, involving an Indian intermediary. This will be subject to compliance with RBI guidelines, and won’t be applicable for goods/items classified in the CITES and SCOMET list.
Amnesty Scheme: Finally, the government is strongly committed to reducing litigation and fostering trust-based relationships to help alleviate the issues faced by exporters. In line with “Vivaad se Vishwaas” initiative, which sought to settle tax disputes amicably, the government is introducing a special one-time Amnesty Scheme under the FTP 2023 to address default on Export Obligations. This scheme is intended to provide relief to exporters
Current Export Schemes And Changes In Them w.r.t NFT Policy 2023
(A)Facilitation under the Export Promotion of Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme
The EPCG Scheme, which allows the import of capital goods at zero Customs duty for export production, is being further rationalized. Some key changes being added are:
Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks (PM MITRA) scheme has been added as an additional scheme eligible to claim benefits under the CSP(Common Service Provider) Scheme of Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme(EPCG).
Dairy sector to be exempted from maintaining Average Export Obligation – to support the dairy sector to upgrade the technology.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) of all types, Vertical Farming equipment, Wastewater Treatment and Recycling, Rainwater harvesting system and Rainwater Filters, and Green Hydrogen are added to Green Technology products – will now be eligible for reduced Export Obligation requirements under EPCG Scheme
(B)Facilitation under the Advance authorization Scheme
The advance authorization Scheme accessed by DTA units provides duty-free import of raw materials for manufacturing export items and is placed at a similar footing to EOU and SEZ schemes.
However, the DTA unit has the flexibility to work both for domestic as well as export production. Based on interactions with industry and Export Promotion councils, certain facilitation provisions have been added to the present FTP such as
Special Advance Authorisation Scheme extended to export of Apparel and Clothing sector under para 4.07 of HBP on the self-declaration basis to facilitate prompt execution of export orders – Norms would be fixed within a fixed timeframe.
Benefits of Self-Ratification Scheme for fixation of Input-Output Norms extended to 2 star and above status holders in addition to Authorised Economic Operators at present.
Possible positive outcomes of the scheme
Supporting MSME’s to grow: TP 2023 codifies implementation mechanisms in a paperless, online environment, building on earlier ‘ease of doing business’ initiatives. Reduction in fee structures and IT-based schemes will make it easier for MSMEs and others to access export benefits.
Creating new export centres: Addition of new towns for export excellence is expected to boost the exports of handlooms, handicrafts, and carpets.
Educating exporters: This will help India build a skilled manpower pool capable of servicing a $5 Trillion economy before 2030. Status recognition norms have been re-calibrated to enable more exporting firms to achieve 4 and 5-star ratings, leading to better branding opportunities in export markets.
Provide access to dual-use High-end goods and technologies: A robust export control system in India would provide access of dual-use High-end goods and technologies to Indian exporters while facilitating exports of controlled items/technologies under SCOMET from India.
Growth of GIFT city: In course of time, this will allow Indian entrepreneurs to convert certain places like GIFT city etc. into major merchanting hubs as seen in places like Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Reduce litigation burden: The amnesty scheme is likely to provide relief to exporters as the interest burden will come down substantially. It is hoped that this amnesty will give these exporters a fresh start and an opportunity to come into compliance.
Limitation of NFT Policy
Still, with global trade largely becalmed and the services sector facing headwinds of uncertainty in the key western markets, the FTP falls short in offering more substantive and sectorally targeted measures as well as a well-defined road map to meet the 2030 export target.
Conclusion
The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 comes at a time of global uncertainty, but with India’s small share in global trade (around 1.8% in merchandise exports and roughly 4% in services), there is significant room for improvement.
The new policy, along with additional measures, can enhance the country’s trade performance and achieve the ambitious $2 trillion export target by 2030. However, it is crucial to monitor the policy’s implementation and address potential challenges for businesses to fully reap the benefits.
India recently hosted a meeting of the National Security Advisors of member countries.
India is the current Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and is holding a series of events which will culminate in the SCO Summit, which will be held in July.
In this article, we will discuss the significance of the SCO for India.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): A quick recap
Background: After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.
Original shanghai five: The original Shanghai Five were China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
SCO formation: The SCO was formed in 2001, with Uzbekistan included. It expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan.
Security is the priority: Since its formation, the SCO has focused on regional non-traditional security, with counter-terrorism as a priority.
Three evils: The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism has become its mantra.
Expanded areas of cooperation: Today, areas of cooperation include themes such as economics and culture.
Partner countries
Member States: 8 member states- China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan.
Observers: 4 observer states- Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia.
Dialogue Partners: 6 dialogue partners- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.
Functionaries of SCO
Executive Branch: The SCO has an executive branch, which is headed by the Secretary-General and is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the organization.
Council of Heads of State: The highest decision-making body of the SCO is the Council of Heads of State, which meets annually to discuss and decide on important issues.
Council of Heads of Government: The Council of Heads of Government is the second most important decision-making body of the SCO, which meets annually to discuss and decide on economic and trade-related issues.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): The SCO has RATS, which is responsible for coordinating the efforts of member states in the fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
Significance of SCO for India
Central Asia connection: SCO membership provides India with an opportunity to engage with Central Asian nations, Russia, and China, and work towards promoting regional stability, security, and economic cooperation.
Security cooperation: SCO focuses on combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the region, which is of particular concern to India.
Consensus over CBT: India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism for decades. India has been working closely with the RATS to share intelligence and coordinate counter-terrorism operations in the region.
Economic push: SCO has set up mechanisms for trade and economic cooperation, including the SCO Business Council, the SCO Interbank Consortium, and the SCO Development Bank.
Cultural cooperation: The organization aims to promote cultural exchanges among member states and has set up mechanisms for cooperation in fields such as education, science, and technology.
Major push for India’s diplomacy
Engagement with China: SCO membership provides India with an opportunity to engage with China and Russia, two major powers in the region.
Reinstating Afghanistan: India has been working with China and Russia to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Dais sharing with Pakistan: Pakistan’s membership in the SCO is also significant in the context of its ongoing conflict with India, as it provides it with a platform to engage in dialogue with India.
Issues with SCO (Indian context)
There have been several issues with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Some of these include:
Pakistan’s presence: India has accused Pakistan of using SCO forums to spread propaganda and misinformation against India.
China’s dominance: India has also expressed concerns over China’s dominance in the organization and its attempts to use the platform to push its strategic interests in the region.
Limited economic benefits: Despite being a member of the organization for over a decade, India’s trade with other SCO members remains limited and has not been able to tap the full potential of the organization.
Limited counter-terrorism cooperation: While the primary objective of the organization is to combat terrorism, India has expressed concerns over the limited counter-terrorism cooperation among member states.
Limited influence: Despite being a major power in the region, India’s voice and concerns have not been adequately represented in the organization
Way forward
Engaging in more active participation: India can increase its participation in SCO activities, meetings, and initiatives to ensure its voice is heard and its concerns are addressed.
Emphasizing economic cooperation: India can focus on expanding economic cooperation with other SCO members to increase trade and investment and promote joint economic projects in the region.
Strengthening bilateral ties: India can work to strengthen bilateral ties with key SCO members, such as Russia and China, to ensure its interests are taken into account in SCO decisions and initiatives.
Addressing security concerns: India can work with other SCO members to address security concerns in the region, including terrorism, extremism, and separatism. This could involve sharing intelligence, coordinating security measures, and conducting joint military exercises.
Cultural exchanges: India can focus on promoting cultural exchanges with other SCO members to foster greater understanding and cooperation between nations. This could include promoting tourism, student exchanges, and cultural events.
Focusing on regional stability: India can work with other SCO members to promote stability and security in the region, including addressing conflicts and tensions between nations. This could involve promoting dialogue, mediating disputes, and supporting peacekeeping efforts.
Preparing for UPSC Current Affairs? Do without Reading Newspapers | Register FREE for Recorded Session | Get Samachar Manthan’s current week’s module for FREE
Aspirants, UPSC is changing. So why should your preparation not change or evolve?
No more it’s about covering the syllabus, doing current affairs, and attempting tests. Instead, the sole focus is on bringing efficiency, and productivity to your preparation.
UPSC Current Affairs Preparation (Newspaperless)
Toppers have been going against conventional UPSC prep wisdom and have been rendering it obsolete. One such maxim has been – READING NEWSPAPERS DAILY.
UPSC 2023-24 calls for a NEWSPAPERLESS Current Affairs Preparation
Aspirants follow this blindly and as a result spend hours reading The Hindu, Indian Express, etc. on a daily basis, feeling miserably lost, frustrated, unfulfilled, and guilty of wasting time.
It also compromises with their GS static and optional preparation.
Moreover, many aspirants don’t even know how to actually cover current affairs. They just live for the high they get after finishing the newspaper, which is a short-lived joy.
Diksha ma’am, senior IAS Faculty will take up a LIVE session to help you tackle this changing paradigm of UPSC Current Affairs Prep
Say goodbye to feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with Newspaper Reading for current affairs and join us for this exciting session. Diksha Sharma’s expert guidance will help you save time, reduce stress, and prepare more efficiently for the exam.
The more you think, the more it daunts. let your best foot forward.
Register now for free and take the first step towards success in UPSC!
Points that were discussed in the Recorded Session
What is the basic funda to cover Current Affairs for UPSC without reading Newspapers?
How to maintain practical steps such as “What”, “Why”, “How”, “Who”, “When”, and “Where”?
If not Newspapers, What are the best sources to prepare Current Affairs?
How to take out case studies, anecdotes, examples, and facts for mains answers and essays?
Passive Techniques to cover current affairs holistically for Prelims, Mains, and Interviews?
What the are best alternative supplement sources like Yojana, Kurukshetra, etc, and make notes from them.
How to focus on these:
Socio-economic issues like Women’s issues, Education or Health related issues, Issues or policies affecting vulnerable sections, etc.
Issues of national and international importance.
Political issues related to Indian Constitution, Legislative and Administrative processes.
Supreme Court or High Court verdicts.
Good analysis of current issues.
Parliamentary Debates.
Government policies and orders.
How to pick important news topics for UPSC. How to Update all notes, etc after reading repeating News.
Those who understand the exam syllabus and pattern well, have less anxiety but a beginner (due to less understanding of the syllabus and pattern) wastes enough time (Minimum 4 Hrs/Day reading Newspapers.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to transform your NEWSPAPERLESS current affairs preparation.
What The Hindu mentioned about Civilsdaily Mentorship
Citizen-centric governance is an evolving concept, and to put it into action requires clarity in the actions that civil servants perform and how citizens engage with the state. Citizen engagement is about collaborative partnerships and dialogue and must involve all stakeholders to ensure the overall development of a community or a nation.
Citizen-Centric Governance
Paradigm shift in traditional governance: Citizen-centric governance refers to a paradigm shift in the traditional governance structures where the focus is shifted from the power holders to the citizens.
Access to information and services to citizens: Traditionally, governance structures hold the power to make decisions that affect the lives of citizens. But citizen-centric governance focuses on providing citizens with access to information, services, and resources and on engaging them in the policy-making process.
Increased citizen participation: The objective of citizen-centric governance is to increase citizen participation in decision-making processes
Mission Karmayogi
Capacity building of civil servants: Mission Karmayogi, the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building has been strategically working to build the capacities of civil servants through various innovative interventions to sensitise and reframe the fabric of citizen participation.
karmachari to karmayogi: Today, thousands of railway employees, Gramin Dak Sevaks, police personnel in the UTs and employees of BSNL are all going through an outcome-based capacity-building programme that is shifting them from thinking like a karmachari to acting like a karmayogi.
Citizen Engagement
Citizen engagement refers to how citizens participate in the political, social and economic aspects of their community or society.
Citizen engagement is highly embedded in the nature of the political and governance context and existing power relations.
It needs to be understood as a core component of any governance system, and in democracies, citizen engagement is a basic principle because it is understood that governments derive their authority and power from the people.
What the multi-stakeholder engagement requires?
Constructive dialogue: Development by the people and for the people is indeed possible. Citizen engagement towards democratising the process of development necessarily involves a constructive dialogue between and amongst all stakeholders.
Mutual trust and respect: Meaningful dialogue among the stakeholders the state, citizenry, private sector, media, civil society and academia can sustain only when there is mutual trust. The relationship between these multiple stakeholders needs to be driven by mutual respect and an appreciation of interdependence and reciprocity.
Redrawing boundaries of engagement: However, this may involve redrawing boundaries of engagement and roles that stakeholders have traditionally assumed for themselves.
Partnership approach: The multi-stakeholder engagement would require the adoption of the partnership approach by all parties involved.
Conclusion
Citizen-centric governance and citizen engagement are important aspects of development in any democracy. By adopting a partnership approach and mutual respect for each other’s roles, stakeholders can work together to ensure the overall development of a community and nation at large. The Indian government’s program, Mission Karmayogi, is a right step towards building the capacities of civil servants and sensitizing them to citizen participation.
Are you an IAS Worthy Aspirant? Get a reality check with the All India Smash UPSC Scholarship Test
Get upto 100% Scholarship | 900 Registration till now | Only 100 Slots Left
In India, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a widely debated issue due to a lack of systematic estimates. Most estimates have been derived from studies based on school children, revealing that over one crore Indians may be on the autism spectrum. However, there are notable cultural differences in diagnosing autism between countries, which highlights the need to assess the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders specifically in the Indian context.
What is Autism?
Spectrum disorder: Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behaviour. It is called a spectrum disorder because the symptoms and severity can vary widely between individuals.
Common symptoms: Some common symptoms of autism include difficulty with social interactions, such as maintaining eye contact or understanding nonverbal cues, delayed speech and language development, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities.
Cause: Autism is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, but the exact cause is not yet fully understood.
Cure: There is currently no cure for autism, but early interventions and therapies can help individuals with autism lead fulfilling and independent lives.
Prevalence of Autism in India
Lack of systematic estimates: Autism is a global issue and affects individuals of all cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, there is a lack of systematic estimates of autism prevalence in India.
Methos failed: Researchers have attempted to estimate prevalence through government hospitals, but this method failed due to the absence of central medical registries.
Conservative estimates: As a result, prevalence was estimated through school-based assessments. According to conservative estimates, well over one crore Indians are on the autism spectrum. This highlights the need for further research and attention to address the prevalence of ASD in India.
Cultural Differences and Diagnosis of Autism:
Notable cultural differences exist in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. In the US and UK, the majority of children with autism spectrum diagnosis are verbal, with average or higher IQ, and attending mainstream schools.
However, in India, a significant majority of children with a clinical diagnosis of autism also have intellectual disability and limited verbal ability. This difference is driven by sociological factors, such as access to appropriate clinical expertise, provisions for inclusion in mainstream schools, and availability of medical insurance coverage.
Challenges in Assessing Autism
Assessment tools: Assessment of autism spectrum disorder is primarily behavioral, and most widely used autism assessment tools are not available in Indian languages.
Indigenous autism assessment tools challenges: There has been a rise in the development of indigenous autism assessment tools. Despite the development of these tools, it can be challenging to compare across different assessment measures.
Demand and Supply in India
Shortage of mental health professionals: Most autism assessment tools need to be administered by specialist mental health professionals. However, there is a significant shortage of mental health professionals in India, with less than 10,000 psychiatrists, a majority of whom are concentrated in big cities.
Delay is costly: Delay in interventions can be costly for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.
Demand and supply gap need to be met: This gap between demand and supply cannot be met directly by specialists alone, and parallel efforts to widen the reach of diagnostic and intervention services through involving non-specialists is required. Emerging evidence suggests the feasibility of involving non-specialists in autism identification and intervention through digital technology and training programs.
Way ahead: Need for an All-India Program
National program on autism: The need of the hour is to develop a national program on autism in India that links researchers, clinicians, service providers to the end-users in the autism community.
Essential components: This program needs to have three essential components that are joined up: assessment, intervention, and awareness.
Assessment: Research is needed to develop appropriate assessments and design efficient implementation pathways.
Intervention: Clinical and support service workforce needs to be expanded by training non-specialists such that a stepped-care model can be rolled out effectively across the nation.
Awareness: Large-scale initiatives need to be launched to build public awareness that can reduce the stigma associated with autism and related conditions.
Conclusion
There are challenges in diagnosing and assessing autism in India which highlights the need for a comprehensive and coordinated effort to address them. By expanding the clinical and support service workforce, training non-specialists, and developing appropriate assessments and interventions, India can improve outcomes for those on the autism spectrum and reduce the stigma associated with the condition. This national program needs to be informed by consultation with different stakeholders, with a primary focus on end-users within the Indian autism community.
![[Sansad TV] Perspective: SCO-NSA Meeting](https://d18x2uyjeekruj.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/sansad.jpg)
