11 July 2024 PIB
Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Exercise Pitch Black 2024 2. Technology Development Fund Scheme 3. eSwasthya Dham portal 4. World Population Day 2024 5. 7th India-Japan Medical Product Regulatory Symposium
1. Exercise Pitch Black 2024
Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations; GS-3, Defence & Security
Prelims: Ex Pitch Black
Mains: India – Australia relationship
Context:
An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent landed at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Darwin, Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2024.
Ex Pitch Black 2024:
- The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 12 July to 02 August 2024 and is a biennial, multi-national exercise hosted by the RAAF.Â
- The name ‘Pitch Black’ was derived from the emphasis on nighttime flying over large unpopulated areas.Â
- The IAF contingent comprises over 150 highly skilled Air Warriors including pilots, engineers, technicians, controllers and other subject matter experts, who will be operating the Su-30 MKI multirole fighters, with the C -17 Globemaster and the IL-78 Air-to-Air Refuelling aircraft in combat enabling roles.Â
- The exercise would provide IAF with an opportunity towards force integration with participating nations and mutual exchange of best practices.
- The exercise provides an excellent opportunity for strengthening the ability of the participating nations to deploy over large distances, support integrated operations in the Indo-Pacific region and build strong aviation associations in a highly challenging environment.Â
- The IAF has previously participated in the 2018 and 2022 editions of this exercise
Read more on India – Australia relations in the linked article.
2. Technology Development Fund Scheme
Syllabus: GS-3, Defence & Security
Prelims: Technology Development Fund Scheme, DRDO
Context:
DRDO sanctioned seven new projects to the private sector under the Technology Development Fund Scheme.
Details:
- The DRDO has awarded seven new projects to industries under the Technology Development Fund scheme for various requirements of the Armed Forces and aerospace & defence sectors.
- The list of projects is as below:
- Indigenous Scenario and Sensor Simulation Toolkit: involves the development of an indigenous toolkit for simulator training of pilots in realistic scenarios.Â
- Underwater Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle: relates to versatile marine battlefield accessories which can be deployed in multiple combat roles.Â
- Long-range Remotely Operated Vehicles for Detection & Neutralisation: dual-use systems that will enable detection, classification, localisation & neutralisation of underwater objects while keeping the key assets away from the suspected operational area.Â
- Development of Ice Detection Sensor for Aircraft: aims to develop detecting icing condition inflight, caused by supercooled water droplets that freeze after their impact against the aircraft’s external surfaces and are utilised by the aircraft for turning on the aircraft Anti-icing mechanism.
- Development of Radar Signal Processor with Active Antenna Array Simulator: will enable deployment of multiple target systems for test and evaluation of multiple short-range aerial weapon systems.Â
- Development of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-based Timing Acquisition & Dissemination System: aims to enable indigenisation of timing acquisition and dissemination system, use of Indian Constellation for acquiring time & development of customised and flexible timing system as per range requirements.
- Development of Graphene-Based Smart & E-textiles for Multifunctional Wearable Applications: develop conductive yarn and fabric-making processes using graphene nanomaterials and conductive inks. The outcome will be advanced nanocomposite materials-based E-textiles utilising the inherent advantages for practical clothing applications.
Technology Development Fund Scheme:
- The Technology Development Fund (TDF) has been established to promote self-reliance in Defence Technology as a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.Â
- It is under the Defence Ministry and is executed by the DRDO to fulfil the requirements of the armed forces.
- The scheme aims to provide a major fillip to the defence manufacturing sector by encouraging the industry to innovate on defence technologies, to place India on the self-reliance trajectory.
- Eligibility for the scheme: Public limited company, a private limited company, a partnership firm, a limited liability partnership, a one-person company, sole proprietorship registered as per applicable Indian laws registered in India especially MSMEs and Startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as per GOI guidelines.
- Funding support: The project cost of up to INR 50,00,00,000/- will be considered for funding.
3. eSwasthya Dham portal
Syllabus: GS-2, Govt schemes
Prelims: eSwasthya Dham portal, Char Dham Scheme, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
Context:
eSwasthya Dham portal is now integrated with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).Â
eSwasthya Dham:
- The Uttarakhand Government’s Department of Health and Family Welfare has launched a portal called eSwasthya Dham.
- eSwasthya Dham portal is a portal which helps in monitoring the Char Dham Yatra pilgrim’s health parameters.Â
- As a result, it ensures the smooth journey of pilgrims visiting Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, together called the Char Dham Yatra.
- The eSwasthya Dham portal provides a range of benefits to the pilgrims and one of them is the generation of ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account). Pilgrims can create their ABHA 14-digit number at the eSwasthya Dham portal in just 1-2 minutes.
Significance:
- Char Dham shrines are located at higher altitudes, hence it is important to track the health ailments related to higher altitudes like heart diseases, hypertension and respiratory diseases, diabetes, etc. due to cold weather and low oxygen levels.Â
- ABHA creation as a part of ABDM will establish a strong and trustable identity for devotees which will help in managing their health records digitally.Â
- This will also ensure an immediate intervention for citizens at the time of emergency.
4. World Population Day 2024
Syllabus: GS-1, Social Issues
Prelims: World Population Day 2024, Mission Parivar Vikas
Mains: Govt schemes in this sector, Mission Parivar Vikas
Context:
World Population Day is observed on 11 July.
Details:
- In an event marking World Population Day 2024, the Union Health Minister J P Nadda talked about Mission Parivar Vikas (MPV).
Read more about World Population Day in the linked article.
Mission Parivar Vikas:
- It is a scheme under the National Family Planning Programme, which was initially launched for 146 High Priority Districts (HPDs) in seven high-focus states, and later expanded to cover all districts in these states and six northeastern states.
- Mission Parivar Vikas was launched in 2016 to substantially increase access to contraceptives and family planning services in 146 high-fertility districts with a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of above three.
- One of its chief objectives is to bring down the TFR to 2.1 by 2025.
- Beneficiaries of the scheme include families with low levels of income with high family members, the poor and destitute with huge families, and lower-middle-class people who are hesitant to use contraceptive devices or pills.
Know more about Mission Parivar Vikas in the linked article.
5. 7th India-Japan Medical Product Regulatory Symposium
Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations
Mains: India – Japan relations
Context:
7th India-Japan Medical Product Regulatory Symposium held in New Delhi.
Details:
- The symposium was organised by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- The event was conducted under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan, aimed at fostering collaboration in medical product regulations.
- The MoC, originally signed in 2015 between CDSCO and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) of Japan, underscores mutual cooperation in medical products regulations until December 2025.Â
- These Regulatory Symposiums are held alternatively in India and Japan, serving as crucial platforms for exchanging insights and enhancing regulatory practices.
Read previous PIB articles here.
| Related Links | |||
| Finance Commission of India | PM Gati Shakti | ||
| Food Corporation of India | Tele-MANAS | ||
| Index of Industrial Production | Agnipath Scheme | ||
Comments