India’s at Olympics, Women outnumbered Men in Living Organ Donations, Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds

(General Studies II – Governance Section – Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.)

• India has a long history at the Olympics, debuting in 1900, with its first athlete Norman Pritchard winning two silver medals in athletics. Since then, India has won a total of 38 medals, with its best-ever haul of seven medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, including one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.
• Despite a population of over 1.4 billion, India’s medal count remains relatively low. Countries with smaller populations, such as Hungary (176 medals), Cuba (226 medals), and South Korea (287 medals), have consistently outperformed India. This discrepancy highlights the need for a closer examination of the factors contributing to India’s performance.

Reasons for Fewer Medals –

1. Lack of Infrastructure and Training Facilities: India’s sports infrastructure is inadequate compared to global standards. For instance, the total number of synthetic athletic tracks in the country is fewer than 50, compared to over 1,200 in the USA.
2. Limited Access to Quality Coaching: There is a significant shortage of qualified coaches in India. According to a report by the National Sports University, India has only one coach per 100 athletes, whereas countries like China and Russia have a much lower coach-to-athlete ratio.
3. Socio-economic Barriers: Many athletes come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. For instance, wrestler Sakshi Malik, who won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics, came from a modest background and faced financial struggles during her training.
4. Overemphasis on Cricket: Cricket dominates India’s sports culture, receiving the lion’s share of media attention and financial resources. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had a revenue of over ₹4,000 crores in 2023, dwarfing the budget allocated to other sports by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
5. Cultural Factors: Sports, other than cricket, are often not seen as viable career options in India. For example, despite their success, athletes like Hima Das and Dipa Karmakar had to face societal pressure to prioritize academics over sports. This mindset limits the pool of talent that might otherwise emerge.
6. Administrative Inefficiencies: Indian sports administration has faced criticism for its inefficiency and corruption. For example, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was suspended by the International Olympic Committee in 2012 due to political interference and corruption issues, which hampered athlete preparation for the 2012 London Olympics.

Reforms Needed –

1. Investment in Infrastructure: There is an urgent need for investment in sports infrastructure. The success of Haryana’s sports policy, which led to the state contributing 50% of India’s medals in recent Olympics, shows the importance of infrastructure. The state has developed over 500 rural stadia and provided financial incentives to athletes, serving as a model for the rest of the country.
2. Talent Identification and Development: The “National Talent Search and Nurture” initiative needs to be expanded. Programs like the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad, which produced badminton stars like PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, show that focused talent development can yield international successes
3. Coaching and Support Staff: Hiring foreign coaches has proven effective, as seen with the success of foreign coaches like Uwe Hohn (javelin) and Mathias Boe (badminton). India needs to continue this trend while simultaneously investing in the development of domestic coaching talent. Additionally, integrating sports science, including nutrition and psychology, into athlete training can bridge the gap between Indian and global athletes.
4. Policy and Administrative Reforms: The Sports Code of India, which aims to bring transparency and accountability to sports federations, must be strictly enforced. A model similar to the USA’s centralized sports governance through the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee could help in creating a more focused approach to athlete preparation.
5. Cultural Change: Initiatives like “Fit India Movement” and “Khelo India” have begun to shift the cultural perspective towards sports. Integrating sports into the school curriculum, as done in countries like Australia, can ensure a steady stream of young talent..
6. Increased Funding and Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorships in sports other than cricket are slowly increasing, but more needs to be done. The government’s initiative to provide tax breaks to companies sponsoring Olympic sports has shown some positive results, with companies like JSW and Reliance investing in sports academies. Expanding these incentives can attract more private investment.

Government Measures –

1. Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): The scheme provides financial assistance for training, equipment, and participation in international competitions. As of 2023, the government allocated ₹300 crores to the TOPS scheme, reflecting its importance in India’s Olympic strategy.
2. Khelo India Program: Launched in 2018, Khelo India aims to build a strong sports culture at the grassroots level. The annual Khelo India Youth Games and University Games have become significant platforms for young athletes. For example, shooter Manu Bhaker, went on to represent India at the Olympics.
3. National Sports Development Fund (NSDF): The NSDF, which was created to mobilize funds for sports, has been instrumental in providing financial support for athletes’ training and preparation. In 2023, the fund received a boost with contributions from private corporations and individual donors, helping bridge the funding gap in non-cricket sports.
4. Sports Federations Reforms: The government has initiated reforms to bring more accountability to sports federations. The restructuring of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) after years of mismanagement has led to improved performances, with India winning multiple medals in boxing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
5. Scholarships and Financial Aid: Various scholarship programs, such as the “Lakshya” scholarship, provide financial support to athletes from economically weaker sections. The scheme has supported athletes like Hima Das, who went on to win multiple medals in athletics at the Asian Games.

India’s journey at the Olympics is one of potential yet to be fully realized. While initiatives like TOPS and Khelo India have provided a strong foundation, there is a pressing need for continued investment in infrastructure, talent development, and administrative reforms.

With a focused approach, drawing on successful models both within India and abroad, the country can aspire to significantly improve its standing in future Olympics. The recent successes are a testament to what can be achieved with the right support, and with sustained efforts, India can aim to become a global sporting powerhouse.

• Women led the way in living organ donation.
• Data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare show that the number of women living donors was 9,784 last year, compared to 5,651 men.
• A lone transgender individual also contributed an organ.
• The total number of organ transplants, including both living and deceased donors, reached the highest ever.
• Among deceased donors, men accounted for more donations than women.
• The total number of kidney transplants from January to December was 13,426, followed by 4,491 liver transplants and 221 heart transplants.
• The organ donation rate remains less than one per million population.
• The Health Ministry emphasized the need to promote organ donation from deceased persons to address the huge organ requirement.
• A living donor, aged 18 years or above, can donate either one kidney or part of the liver.
• A brain-dead donor of any age can donate the heart, two lungs, liver, two kidneys, pancreas, small intestine, cornea, bone, skin, heart valves, etc.
• After natural cardiac death, only tissues can be donated.

Dig Deeper: Go through reports of advisory on organ transplantation for foreigners, norms for organ transport etc.

• With its tiger population plunging in recent years, Chhattisgarh has approved the proposal to notify a new tiger reserve, the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.
• This will be the third-largest tiger reserve in the country, spanning 2,829 square kilometres across four northern districts: Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Koriya, Surajpur, and Balrampur.
• The Chhattisgarh High Court gave the state government four weeks to declare the area a tiger reserve.
• Chhattisgarh’s tiger population fell from 46 in 2014 to 17 in 2022, according to a National Tiger Conservation Authority report released in July 2023.
• The state cabinet merged Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Sanctuary to create the new reserve.
• While Guru Ghasidas National Park was made a tiger reserve in 2021, it couldn’t be notified earlier due to opposition and the presence of many mines in the area.

Dig Deeper: List all Tiger Reserves in Chhattisgarh.

• The intense wildfires in the United States and Canada have generated pyrocumulonimbus clouds, which can produce thunder and spark more fires, with their frequency increasing from an average of 102 globally per year to 140 in Canada alone last year.
• Not all wildfire creates pyrocumulonimbus clouds. These clouds form only during extremely hot wildfires or volcanic eruptions. E.g. Australian bushfires of 2019-2020 when temperatures exceeded 800 degrees Celsius.
• The intense heat from the fire warms the surrounding air, causing it to rise into the atmosphere.
• As this hot air, carrying water vapour, smoke, and ash, rises, it expands and cools down.
• When cool enough, water vapour condenses on ash, forming a grey or brown pyrocumulus cloud, also known as a ‘fire cloud.’
• If sufficient water vapour is available and the upward movement of hot air intensifies, pyrocumulus clouds can evolve into pyrocumulonimbus clouds.

• These can reach heights of 50,000 feet and generate thunderstorms.
• Although pyrocumulonimbus clouds can produce lightning, they do not generate much rain, potentially sparking new wildfires many kilometres away from the main blaze.
• These clouds can also trigger strong winds, making wildfire spread faster and more unpredictable.

Dig Deeper: Read about the relationship between Climate Change and the increased frequency of generation of Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds.