Analysis Of Kurukshetra Magazine: AGNIi Mission

Kurukshetra is a Monthly Magazine which is issued by the Publications Division of the GOI.

Kurukshetra Magazine is one of the most important and indispensable source for UPSC Civil Services Exam Preparation. Keeping this in mind, here, we come with ”Analysis Of Kurukshetra Magazine” on daily basis, which covers the monthly Kurukshetra Magazine in easy and smooth pointed form, keeping in mind the demand of UPSC aspirants.

Considering the stern need of awareness regarding water resource management, the theme of this July 2022 special issue of Kurukshetra is Water Resources.

AGNIi Mission: Introduction

• India houses 18 per cent of the world’s population with just 4 per cent of its water resources.
• Access to clean drinking water, particularly in rural India, is a challenge that poses significant public health as well as a socio-economic development burden.
• As per estimates, about 21 per cent of communicable diseases in India are water related translating into a loss of 73 million days of labour imposing an estimated economic cost of USD 600 million annually.
• In this quest, the Government of India’s AGNIi (Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations) Mission based on its past achievements is set to play a pivotal role in facilitating high-impact, affordable, scalable, and sustainable technological solutions along with relevant stakeholders for clean water provisioning across rural and urban areas, inclusive of geographically difficult and remote locations of the country.

AGNIi Mission: NFHSs Data on Availability Of Drinkable Water in the Country

• According to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS – 5), about 99 per cent and 95 per cent of urban and rural households respectively have access to an improved source of drinking water.
• However, the improved source of drinking water is ‘piped into dwelling/yard/plot’ only for 54 per cent of the urban and a meagre 23 per cent of rural households.
• Further, NFHS-5 data suggests that 58 per cent of Indian households do not treat water prior to drinking. With respect to treatment as well rural areas are trailing.
• While 44 per cent of urban households do not treat their water, the corresponding statistic for rural India stands at 66 per cent.
• Additionally, while 44 per cent of urban households use an appropriate treatment method, in rural areas this figure stands at only about 21 per cent.

AGNIi Mission: What is it?

• AGNIi is one of the nine missions under the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council, working under the aegis of the Office of the PSA and executed at Invest India, the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency.
• The AGNIi Mission focuses on helping to capture the value of Indian technology: assisting Indian innovation, engage key national priorities designated by the Office, in domains ranging from human development through ecological sustainability to public safety.

AGNli Mission: Approach

AGNIi’s approach focuses on the following:

Bridging the Gap between Innovators and Adopters

AGNIi helps resolve the mismatch between innovations and adopter needs. AGNIi partners with agencies and organisations – understanding their strategic, policy, and programmatic priorities at the leadership tier, and their operations in the field; surfacing and identifying pain-points.

Empowering the Bottom of the Pyramid

A primary AGNIi aim is to ensure that the Government’s guiding principle of Antyodaya – that the poor, marginalised, and those left behind – are engaged to the maximum possible extent, with the capacity Indian technology can create.

Supporting the Competitiveness and Capturing the Value of Indian Technology

AGNIi has refined its technological focus. This includes engaging Indian innovation in the domains of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, cyber-physical, materials, and energy

Creating a Scalable Impact

AGNIi helps Indian technologists and innovators engage major adopters – and their networks. For example, in rural livelihood domains, AGNIi will partner with women’s Self-Help or Common Service Centre groups.

Agni Mission: Roles and Activities

Mapping Rural Pain Points

Mapping Rural Pain Points Evidence-based technology intervention forms the core of AGNIi’s work. Primary surveys, field-visits, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews are utilised to gauge rural pain points, technology preferences, and barriers to technology adoption.

Building India’s Clean Water Technology Ecosystem

AGNIi’s portfolio, are targeted towards improving availability as well as quality of water to ease challenges faced by Indian citizens.

Collaborating for Clean Water

AGNIi collaborates with various stakeholders to fulfill India’s clean water needs

Conclusion

With respect to clean water, AGNIi is playing a significant role by way of mapping rural pain points, building India’s clean water technology ecosystem, and collaborating with stakeholders to facilitate high technology interventions. In future, AGNIi’s focus would be to utilise indigenous innovations and technologies to – ease the water related challenges accentuated by climate change events.

Sharing is caring!