15 Dec 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)
2. Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator
3. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Tanzania
4. Memorandum of Cooperation signed between India and Saudi Arabia
5. Prelims Facts

1. Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

Syllabus: GS-3, Govt Schemes

Prelims: Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram

Context:

Update on Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram.

About Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram:

• The scheme was launched under the National Health Mission by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GOI.
• It envisages Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services, and a systemic approach of early identification and link to care, support and treatment.
• The programme aims at improving the overall quality of life of children enabling all children to achieve their full potential, and also providing comprehensive care to all the children in the community. 
• This program involves screening of children from birth to 18 years of age for 4 Ds- Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies and Development Delays, spanning 32 common health conditions for early detection and free treatment and management, including surgeries at the tertiary level. 
• Children diagnosed with identified selected health conditions are provided early intervention services and follow-up care at the district level. 
• These services are provided free of cost, thus helping their families reduce out-of-pocket expenditures incurred on the treatment.

2. Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator

Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, DRDO

Mains: Indigenization of defence

Context:

DRDO carries out the successful flight trial of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, an indigenous high-speed flying-wing UAV.

Details:

• This unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is designed and developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment. 
• The aircraft prototype, with a complex arrowhead wing platform, is designed and manufactured with lightweight carbon prepreg composite material developed indigenously. 
• The autonomous landing of this high-speed UAV, without the need for ground radars/infrastructure/pilot, showcased a unique capability demonstration, allowing take-off and landing from any runway with surveyed coordinates. 
• This was possible using onboard sensor data fusion with indigenous satellite-based augmentation using GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) receivers to improve the accuracy and integrity of GPS navigation.
• With this successful trial, India joins an elite club of countries to have mastered the controls for flying wing technology in tailless configuration.

3. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Tanzania

Syllabus: GS-2, IR

Prelims: MoU between India and Tanzania

Context:

Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Tanzania.

Details:

• The MoU was signed between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India and the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology of Tanzania.
• The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation and exchange of experiences, and digital technologies-based solutions in the implementation of the digital transformational initiatives of both countries.

Background:

• MeitY is collaborating with several countries and multilateral agencies to foster bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the ICT domain.
• Over the last few years, India has demonstrated its leadership in the implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and has successfully provided delivery of services to the public even during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• As a result, many countries have evinced interest in learning from India’s experiences and entering into MoUs with India for learning from India’s experiences.

4. Memorandum of Cooperation signed between India and Saudi Arabia

Syllabus: GS-2, IR

Prelims: MoC between India and Saudi Arabia

Mains: India – Saudi Arabia relations

Context:

Cabinet approves Memorandum of Cooperation signed between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Details:

• The MoC was signed between both countries in August 2023 aimed at strengthening the collaboration in the fields of Digitization, Electronic Manufacturing, e-Governance, smart infrastructure, e-Health and e-Education, promote partnership in research in digital innovation and the use of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Robots, Cloud Computing and Blockchain, etc.
• This MoC would establish a framework for cooperation in the area of digitization and electronic manufacturing and establish partnerships between India and Saudi Arabia.

5. Prelims Facts

Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB)

• Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) is a joint initiative of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supporting countries in building tax audit capacity.  
• TIWB Programmes complement the broader efforts of the international community to strengthen cooperation on tax matters and contribute to the domestic resource mobilisation efforts of developing countries.
• The objective of the TIWB Initiative is to enable the sharing of tax audit knowledge and skills with tax administrations in developing countries through a targeted, real-time “learning by doing” approach.
• Selected experts will work with local tax officials directly on current audits and audit-related issues concerning international tax matters and general audit practices relevant to specific cases.
• TIWB launched a programme in Saint Lucia in December 2023 with India as the partner.

Read previous PIB articles here.