Prajna
-
- Context: Prajna is an AI-enabled satellite imaging system developed to improve real-time decision-making for security agencies.
- It has been provided to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Developed By
- Created by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Built by its specialised lab, Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR).
Key Features
- Uses Artificial Intelligence to analyse satellite imagery.
- Can process large volumes of data quickly.
- Detects patterns and anomalies that may be missed by traditional systems.
Purpose and Functions
- Enhances surveillance and intelligence gathering.
- Supports real-time operational response.
- Helps in better situational awareness.
Strategic Importance
- Useful for monitoring sensitive and border areas.
- Assists in tracking suspicious activities.
- Strengthens counter-terrorism and border management efforts.
Significance
- Represents a major technological advancement in security infrastructure.
- Improves efficiency, accuracy, and speed of decision-making using AI.
Supreme Court’s Road Safety Guidelines
- Context: The Supreme Court of India issued nationwide (pan-India) guidelines to improve safety on expressways and national highways.
- Emphasised that highways must not become “corridors of peril” due to poor administration or infrastructure gaps.
Concern over Road Fatalities
- National highways make up only 2% of total road length but account for ~30% of road deaths.
- Indicates serious safety deficiencies.
Constitutional Perspective
- Court linked road safety to Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
-
- Declared that ensuring safe roads is a constitutional duty of the State.
- Used powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India to issue directions.
Ban on Highway Parking
- Strict prohibition on parking/stopping heavy or commercial vehicles on highways.
- Allowed only at designated bays or lay-byes.
Use of Technology for Enforcement
Implementation through Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS):
- Real-time alerts to police
- GPS-based photographic evidence
- Integrated e-Challan system
Institutional Responsibilities
Directions issued to:
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
- National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
- State governments & UTs
- District Magistrates to create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
District Highway Safety Task Force
- To be set up in every district within 15 days.
- Includes officials from administration, police, NHAI, PWD, and local bodies.
Key Safety Measures Ordered
- Regular patrolling and surveillance
- Identification and fixing of accident blackspots
- Development of truck lay-bys and lighting systems
- Improved emergency response infrastructure
Muthuvan Tribe
- Context: A recent report by the Kerala Food Commission has exposed serious lapses in the distribution of ration supplies in Edamalakkudy, the state’s only tribal panchayat.
-
- The inquiry found instances of shortages and irregular practices in the system.
- It has recommended swift legal action against those responsible and called for immediate corrective steps to safeguard food security for the Muthuvan Tribe living in the region.
About Muthuvan Tribe
-
- The Muthuvan Tribe, also known as Mudugars, are an indigenous community residing in the forested regions of the Western Ghats, mainly across Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- They speak the Muthuvan language, which is part of the Dravidian language family.
-
- The tribe is divided into two sub-groups with slight linguistic differences, commonly referred to as Malayalam Muthuvan and Pandi Muthuvan.
- The Muthuvans are well known for their harmonious relationship with nature, especially their deep understanding of forest ecosystems and wildlife.
- They possess rich knowledge of traditional healing practices, using herbal medicines that have been carefully preserved and passed down through generations.
- This medicinal knowledge, along with the role of traditional healers, is often kept within the community and treated as confidential.
