INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 17TH JULY 2025

Summary of Important News Items and Editorials-39

INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 17TH JULY 2025.

1.   Under scanner: Tech snag hours before crash

The fatal crash of an Air India Express Boeing 737 in Kochi has come under deeper scrutiny after it emerged that the aircraft experienced a major technical fault just hours before the incident. A central focus is on a vital switch that can disengage the autopilot without pilot command. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing whether this disengagement contributed to the pilots losing control. Experts suggest such a malfunction, if uncommanded and undetected, could mislead pilots into believing the aircraft was still on autopilot. The airline had previously flagged a snag in the control column, but the aircraft was cleared for takeoff. The event raises concerns over safety protocols, the quality of inspections post-repairs, and the transparency of reporting minor faults, especially in a high-risk domain such as aviation. This probe could have significant ramifications for Boeing’s safety credibility and India’s aviation regulatory framework.

2.   Scheme to develop 100 agri districts across country gets Cabinet go-ahead

The Union Cabinet has approved a flagship scheme to develop 100 agricultural districts under a cluster-based approach aimed at promoting value addition, infrastructure, and market access. The scheme, named PM-SAMPADA (Sustainable Agri-Marketing and Processing for Advancement and Development of Agriculture), will focus on selected districts with high production potential. Each district will be supported with a strategic roadmap for investments in processing units, storage, and logistics. The aim is to double farmers’ income and link smallholders to robust agribusiness chains. States will be given the flexibility to select the districts, with the Centre bearing 60% of the cost. This initiative seeks to bridge the rural-urban agri-infrastructure gap, foster private investment, and align India’s food systems with sustainability and resilience goals. However, success will hinge on coordination with states, private sector interest, and effective ground implementation, especially in backward regions.