GARBHINI-GA2 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Researchers have developed an India-specific artificial intelligence model (Garbhini-GA2) to precisely determine the gestational age of a foetus in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.

Garbhini-GA2

• About: It is a vital component of an interdisciplinary initiative known as the DBT India initiative (GARBH-Ini) programme, focused on advanced research concerning birth outcomes.
• Collaborative Development: The model was crafted collaboratively by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad.
• Addressing Population Specifics: Garbhini-GA2 is the inaugural late-trimester GA estimation model tailored and validated using data from the Indian population, aiming to rectify potential inaccuracies stemming from the use of Western population models during the later stages of pregnancy.
• Enhanced Accuracy: The Garbhini-GA2 model significantly enhances accuracy, reducing estimation error by nearly threefold in determining the foetus' age.
• Improved Maternal and Infant Care: The utilization of Indian population data facilitates the provision of appropriate care for pregnant women and aids in determining precise delivery dates, consequently mitigating maternal and infant mortality rates.
• Flagship Programme Validation: Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, emphasizes the nationwide validation process of GARB-Ini, the department's flagship programme, underscoring its importance.
• Contributors and Investigators: The project involved contributions from various investigators, including Himanshu Sinha, an associate professor at the Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras, and Shinjini Bhatnagar, the principal investigator of the programme and a distinguished professor at THSTI.