Analyzing editorials from The Hindu is a crucial component of Civil Services Examination preparation. These editorials offer insightful perspectives on current national and international issues, fostering critical thinking and enhancing one’s understanding of diverse topics relevant to the UPSC syllabus. Through this analysis, aspirants can refine their skills in comprehension, articulation, and issue-based evaluation, which are essential for the Preliminary, Mains, and Interview stages of the examination.
1. Dangerous Skies and the Azerbaijan Airliner Crash
- Incident Details:
- Azerbaijani airliner crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killed 38 people.
- The Embraer 190 was en route from Baku to Grozny and attempted an emergency landing after being diverted.
- Possible Cause:
- Initial speculation: bird hit.
- Emerging reports: suspected misguided Russian anti-drone attack.
- Evidence:
- Holes in the aircraft suggest external attack.
- Depressurisation indicated by oxygen mask deployment.
- Damaged control systems leading to loopy flight paths.
- Technical Investigation:
- Recovery of Cockpit Voice Recorder and Digital Flight Data Recorder.
- Azerbaijan and Brazilian manufacturer Embraer are key stakeholders.
- Focus areas:
- Cause of accident.
- Role of control system damage and jamming systems.
Broader Implications:
- Geopolitical Angle:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a partial apology, attributing the incident to Russian airspace activity.
- No admission of direct involvement, despite Azerbaijani and U.S. claims blaming Russian air defense systems.
- Modern Warfare Challenges:
- Drones and microdrones dominate as low-cost, high-impact weapons.
- Capable of strikes and surveillance deep into enemy territories.
- The crash occurred 500 miles from the Ukrainian border, showcasing the extended impact of drone warfare.
- Urgent Need for Action:
- Calls for de-escalation of military action in the Russia-Ukraine region.
- Requires Moscow to end its invasion and negotiate on NATO’s expansion.
- Risk of collateral damage and regional actors being drawn into the conflict if tensions persist.
2. Incidents on loop, but it’s escape for regulator, airlines
Context: Aviation Safety in India
- Recent Incident (December 5, 2024):
- Air India Airbus A320 at Goa’s Mopa airport mistakenly entered a taxiway instead of the main runway, leading to a rejected takeoff.
- Categorized as “runway confusion.”
- Recurring Incidents in Indian Aviation:
- Long history of runway confusion and safety lapses, including:
- 1993: Jet Airways landed at Sulur Air Base instead of Peelamedu Airport.
- 2002: Jet Airways landed on a taxiway at Dabolim airport, Goa.
- 2007: SpiceJet landed on the wrong runway in Delhi.
- 2020: SpiceJet hard touchdown in Guwahati.
- Overruns and accidents due to high and fast approaches since 2005.
- Long history of runway confusion and safety lapses, including:
- Key Accidents with Fatalities:
- Mangaluru crash (2010): Air India Express, 158 deaths.
- Kozhikode crash (2020): Air India Express, 21 deaths.
Regulatory Failures:
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):
- Lack of proactive corrective measures and accountability.
- Consistent attribution of blame to pilots without addressing systemic issues.
- Failure to comply with ICAO standards on aerodrome infrastructure and safety audits.
- Flight Standards Directorate:
- Ineffective oversight of training and safety standards.
- Repeated incidents indicate poor regulation and training standards.
- Crew Fatigue and Pressure:
- Poor regulations on flight and duty time limitations (FDTL).
- Pressure from airlines for on-time performance (OTP) affects decision-making.
- Kozhikode and Mangaluru crashes attributed to “press-on-itis” due to time pressures.
International Comparison:
- Singapore’s Response:
- After a 2000 crash in Taiwan, Singapore Airlines implemented corrective measures, ensuring no major incidents since.
- Contrasts sharply with India’s repeated failures to act on similar incidents.
Recommendations for Improvement:
- Adherence to ICAO Standards:
- Investigate incidents as per ICAO Annex 13 and implement corrective actions.
- Training Enhancements:
- Improve pilot training to address runway markings, stabilized approaches, and resource management.
- Fatigue Management:
- Strict enforcement of flight and duty time limitations (FDTL) to reduce fatigue-related errors.
- Accountability:
- Greater accountability for airlines and the DGCA in safety lapses.
- Judicial Awareness:
- Aviation safety and crew fatigue should not be subject to negotiation or judicial misinterpretation.
3. Restoring Constitutional Order in Manipur
- Supreme Court’s Role:
- The Supreme Court has intermittently intervened in the ethnic violence in Manipur over the past 18 months.
- Notable directives include monitoring relief and rehabilitation and overseeing Special Investigation Teams (SITs).
- Key Events in Manipur:
- Ethnic violence persists with significant casualties in 2024, despite judicial and administrative interventions.
- Establishment of a militarized buffer zone enforcing demographic and geographical separation.
- Alleged surrender of state authority to armed militant groups.
- Hateful ethno-cultural oath administered by extremist groups like the Arambai Tenggol.
- Judicial Interventions:
- Formation of a committee led by Justice Gita Mittal for relief and rehabilitation.
- Constitution of 42 SITs in Six Groups based on Crimes under the leadership of a retired Director-General of Police to investigate crimes.
- Suo moto cognizance of incidents, such as the viral video of tribal women being assaulted.
- Challenges in Implementation:
- Only 6% of cases (192 out of 3,023) registered by the SITs have led to chargesheets.
- Delay in initiating trials, even for high-profile cases like the sexual assault of tribal women.
- Staffing issues within SITs due to repatriation of deputed IPS officers.
- Recommendations for Improvement:
- Transfer of Trials: SIT-investigated cases should be tried outside Manipur to ensure fairness.
- Enhanced SIT Accountability: SITs must provide regular updates to petitioners and victims’ families.
- High-Powered Commission: Establish a bipartisan commission involving eminent persons from conflicting communities to address multifaceted issues.
- Special Bench: A dedicated Supreme Court bench should exclusively oversee cases related to Manipur’s ethnic violence.
- Significance of the Judiciary:
- The lack of consistent judicial attention and the executive’s failure to restore law and order underscore the importance of judicial accountability in upholding the rule of law.
- Governance Deficit:
- The ongoing violence highlights significant gaps in governance, both at the state and central levels, necessitating bipartisan and institutional collaboration.
Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis- Dec 31, 2024
Disclaimer:
This analysis is based on the editorial content published in The Hindu and is intended solely for informational and educational purposes. The views, opinions, and interpretations expressed herein are those of the author of original article. Readers are encouraged to refer to the original article for complete context and to exercise their own judgment while interpreting the analysis. The analysis does not constitute professional advice or endorsement of any political, economic, or social perspective.
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