PIB Analysis 24-09-22

India achieves significant landmarks in reduction of Child Mortality

INDICATOR	SRS 2014	SRS 2019	SRS 2020
Crude Birth Rate (CBR)	21.0	19.7	19.5
Total Fertility Rate	2.3	2.1	2.0
Early Neonatal Mortality Rate (ENMR) – 0- 7 days	20	16	15
Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR)	26	22	20
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)	39	30	28
Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR)	45	35	32

MEHAR BABA COMPETITION-II has been launched to provide a boost to the growing indigenous drone industry.
The competition is aimed at developing technology for a “Swarm Drone Based System to Detect Foreign Objects on Aircraft Operating Surfaces”.
The first edition of the competition was launched in October 2018 and had culminated in October 2021.
All aircraft operators face a challenge in keeping the aircraft operating surfaces clean and clear of Foreign Object Debris (FOD).
Very often, this is a labour-intensive task that needs to be repeated over a day.
This manpower could be more gainfully employed if personnel could focus solely on their core tasks.
Furthermore, visual spotting of FOD in low light conditions becomes rather challenging.
Hence, the IAF is seeking innovative solutions towards detection of FOD without physical employment of manpower on the aircraft operating surfaces.