GD Topic - India’s Historic Performance at the Paris Paralympics 2024

Entrance exams for admission to the MBA programme are going on. Candidates planning to pursue MBA, who have given or are yet to take the MBA entrance exam must prepare for the GD Round. Check out the article below for a discussion on India’s Paralympic 2024 Performance.

India at Paris Paralympics 2024

Group Discussion (GD) is a part of the MBA admission process, where aspiring business leaders present their ability to secure admission in the desired B-school. After clearing the MBA entrance exams like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, and MAH MBA CET, candidates have to participate in the GD round of the B-school for which they have filled out the application form for MBA admission. The participants are given a topic, and they have to engage in a meaningful 20-25 minutes discussion. A judges' panel evaluates the participants on their ability to listen, analyze, and present their viewpoints with confidence. To perform well in the Group Discussion Rounds, students must practice some of the major and most common topics. Read the article to learn about India's performance at the Paris Paralympics 2024 and prepare for GD.

Paris Paralympics 2024

Paralympics is the largest international Olympic-style games event for disabled athletes, supervised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). It is conducted after every four years, following the Olympic Games in the same host city. The first Paralympic event was organized in Rome in 1960 and featured 400 athletes from 23 countries. India made its first appearance in the 1968 Summer Paralympics held in Israel. 10 athletes took part in the event, and although India did not win any medals at that time, it gave Indian para-athletes their first significant international exposure. However, India’s performance in the Paralympic Games improved every year, showing tremendous success this year.

The Paralympic Games 2024 took place in Paris from 28 August 2024 to 8 September 2024. The mascot for the Paris Paralympic Games 2024 is Paralympic Phrygian, which is inspired by the Phrygian cap, the symbol of liberty in France. Around 4,400 athletes took part from around the world and competed in 22 sports. China topped the event by winning 94 gold medals, Great Britain finished second by winning 49 golds, and the United States at third with 36 gold medals.

India at Paris Paralympic Games 2024

India’s performance at the Paris Paralympics 2024 was historic and recorded new high achievements with 29 medals – seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze. 84 para-athletes represented India at the Paris Paralympic Games 2024, competing in 12 sports. This year India participated in three new sports; namely, para cycling, para rowing, and blind judo.

Indian Winners at Paris Paralympic 2024

• Avani Lekhara won gold for women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 and became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals at the Paralympic Games.
• Dharambir and Pranav Soorma got gold and silver respectively, in the men’s club throw F51 event.
• Dharambir logged a new Asian record of 34.92m and Praveen Kumar set an Asian record at the high jump T64 title by winning India’s sixth gold medal (India’s highest-ever gold at Paralympics).
• Mariyappan Thangavelu won bronze and high jump T42 class and became the first Indian to win medals at three consecutive Paralympic games.
• Sumit Antil made history and became the first Indian male para-athlete to defend his title at the Paralympic Games. He defended his Tokyo 2020 Paralympic record and set a new Paralympic record at men’s javelin throw F64 with an excellent throw of 70.59m.
• Preethi Pal gave her personal best time till now at the women’s 100m T35 race and won the bronze medal. This was also India’s first medal in a track event at the Paralympic Games.
• India won a total of four medals at track events in Paris Paralympics 2024. Deepthi Jeevanji, another bronze medal achiever at track events, became the first intellectually impaired Indian athlete to win a bronze in women’s 400m T20 class at Paralympic Games.
• Harvinder Singh became India’s first-ever Paralympic Archery Champion by winning a gold medal.
• Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar set a world record in archery compound mixed team qualification event.
• Sheetal Devi, herself was so close to setting a world record in the ranking round but came second. However, she made history as India’s youngest Paralympic medalist.

Indian Winner’s List: Paris Paralympics 2024

This remarkable achievement underscores the growing potential of India’s para-athletes and the country’s increasing support for para-sports.

Role of Government Policies in Supporting Para-Athletes

Check out the space below to know the role of government policies in supporting para-athletes:

• Paralympic Committee of India (PCI): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports supports the Paralympic Committee of India. It plays a crucial role in organizing national events, conducting trials, and arranging for international participation. The committee ensures that the athletes have the required resources to compete.
• Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) is a core initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. TOPS supports para-athletes by providing them with financial support, international exposure, and specialized coaching.
• Financial Incentives and Awards: The Government of India provides significant cash rewards to the medalists at international events to encourage their participation. Besides, provisions under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) support the athletes financially.
• Inclusion of Disability in Sports Policy: According to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, “The sports authorities shall accord due recognition to the right of persons with disabilities to participate in sports and shall make due provisions for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in their schemes and programmes for the promotion and development of sporting talents.”
• Reservation Policies: The Indian Government gives special reservations to para-athletes. These policies provide them access to government jobs and educational opportunities to recognize their achievements.
• Awareness Campaigns: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) started campaigns like Cheer for India during the Paralympic events. These initiatives encourage public support by highlighting the achievements of the para-athletes.

Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics for MBA GD/PI Round

Below listed are some of the important GD Topics for reference.

• Importance of Statue of Unity 
• Citizenship Amendment Act - What and Why 
• Making Aadhaar mandatory is not a good idea- for or against 
• Implications of CAA-NCR 
• Cashless Economy – Is India ready for it? 
• All you need to know about Right To Information
• How can we control banking frauds to reduce NPAs? 
• Statue of Unity - Symbol of Pride or Wastage of Public Money? 
• Rural vs Urban India 
• Environment and us 
• Self Motivation 
• First impression is the last impression 
• Quick Commerce: A Step Toward Progress or a Wasteful Luxury?
• Funding Democracy: Are Electoral Bonds a Boon or Bane?
• Crime Against Women in India: Who Bears the Responsibility?
• Innovation Vs Invention: What does the world need?
• PM Internship Scheme: How Effective is it in Enhancing Youth Employability?
• Job Reservation in Private Sector: A Boon or a Barrier?
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Reforming Criminal Law for Better or Worse?
• Electric Vehicles (EVs) in India: Dream or Reality?
• Global Innovation Index 2024: India Jumps from 81st to 39th Rank in 9 Years
• UCPMP 2024: Strengthening Ethical Standards in Pharmaceutical Marketing
• Global Food and Hunger Crisis: India Ranks 105 at Global Hunger Index 2024
• Making India a Semiconductor Powerhouse: The SEMICON India Programme
• Monkeypox Outbreak: A Wake-Up Call for Better Disease Surveillance
• GST Rate Changes After the 55th GST Council Meeting: Simplification or Complexity?
• Union Budget 2024: Are the New Income Tax Slabs a Win for the Middle Class?
• PM Internship Scheme: How Effective is it in Enhancing Youth Employability?