4th India – Mozambique joint defence working group meeting held in New Delhi.

• Context: India and Mozambique held their 4th Joint Defence Working Group meeting.
• News: The meeting discussed military training, exercises, medicine, and capacity building.
• India highlighted its growing defence production capabilities
• Mozambique expressed gratitude for India’s support in countering security threats, including terrorism.
• Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral defence ties.

India to host SCO defence ministers meeting:

• Context: India will host the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on April 28, 2023, in New Delhi as the organisation’s chair.
• The SCO includes seven member states: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and two observer countries, Belarus and Iran, will also participate in the meeting.
• The Defence Ministers will discuss regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts, and effective multilateralism.
• The theme of India’s chairmanship is ‘SECURE-SCO’, and India attaches particular importance to the SCO for promoting interactions in the region.
• The SCO pursues its policy based on principles such as sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual respect.

Finance Minister chairs review meeting with Central Board of Direct taxes

• Context: A periodic review by the finance minster of India, Nirmala Sitaraman.

The Finance Minister studied the following subjects:

• Efforts to increase taxpayer base
• Pending disciplinary proceeding cases
• Disposal of applications for condonation of delay and grant of exemptions under certain sections of the Income Tax Act, 1961
• The Finance Minister emphasized the need for prompt and appropriate actions on taxpayer applications.
• The Minister requested a reasonable timeframe for the processing of such applications.
• The Finance Minister urged the CBDT to increase awareness of direct tax laws and compliance among taxpayers.

National health accounts estimate for India released:

• Essential facts and data:
  1. The share of out-of-pocket expenditure in total health expenditure declined from 62.6% in 2015 to 47.1% in 2020.
  2. Formant health expenditures share in the country’s total GDP increased from 1.13% in 2015 to 1.35% in 2020.
  3. The share of government health expenditure and total current expenditure increased from 29% in 2015 to 41.4% in 2020.
  4. For per capita, government spending on healthcare doubles.

 A newly fabricated bio-electronic uric acid detecting device can be used for wearable sensors and point-of-care diagnostics.

• Researchers at IASST have created a new bio-electronic device for detecting uric acid levels that can be used for wearable sensors and diagnostics.
• The device is made of phosphorene quantum dots and has unique electrical performance for biomedical applications.
• It can outperform current devices as it is reversible, enabling repeated use and not requiring enzymes.