The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 Guidelines recently. The updated framework broadens the established 4Ds approach – Defects at Birth, Diseases, Deficiencies and Developmental Delays. It also incorporated new-age health challenges, including non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions, and behavioural concerns. RBSK 2.0 now takes a more comprehensive, lifecycle-based approach, focusing on the health of children from birth up to 18 years. It emphasizes continuous care at every stage of a child’s growth, rather than isolated interventions. Some of the key improvements include a wider screening programme, stronger referral systems to ensure children receive proper follow-up care, and the introduction of digital health cards. The programme also focuses on real-time data tracking, better use of integrated platforms, and multi-sectoral convergence. The Ministry said, the release of the guidelines reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible, equitable and quality healthcare services for every child, with a focus on early intervention, continuity of care and long-term health outcomes.