Context: Recently, the Union Home Minister presided over the 26th Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) meeting held at Patna, Bihar.

26th Eastern Zonal Council Meeting 2023: Key Highlights

• Participants of EZC: States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Sikkim, and West Bengal

More on the news:

• Bihar Chief Minister urged to give Bihar the status of Special Category State during the meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council (EZC). 
• He also requested to include the new State law on a higher reservation in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THE MEET

• Malnutrition: Eliminating malnutrition among children through Poshan Abhiyan.
• Dropout: Reducing the dropout rate of school children.
• Speedy Trials: Operationalisation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for speedy investigation. 
• Disposal Of Rape Case: Speedy disposal of rape cases against women and children.
• Banking: To have the facility of Banks/India Post Payment Bank branches within 5 km of each village.
• PACSs: Formation of two lakh new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACSs).

About Zonal Councils

• Zonal councils are statutory bodies formed under States Reorganisation Act 1956.
• Classification of zonal councils:
  • The Northern Zonal Council: It comprises the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
  • The Central Zonal Council: It comprises the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • The Eastern Zonal Council:   It comprises the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Sikkim, and West Bengal.
  • The Western Zonal Council:   It comprises the States of Goa, Gujarat, and Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
  • The Southern Zonal Council:  States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• Composition  Of Zonal Councils:
  • Chairman:  The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils.
  • Vice Chairman: The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as
    • Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.

• Members: Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.
• Advisers: One person nominated by the Planning Commission for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries, and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone

About North Eastern Council (NEC)

• The NEC is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region which consists of the eight States:
  • Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
• Genesis: The NEC was constituted as a statutory advisory body under the North Eastern Council Act 1971 for the rapid development of the Region.
• Nodal Ministry:  It falls under the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region.
• Composition: The Council comprises Governors and Chief Ministers of constituent States and three members nominated by the President.
  • The Union Home Minister is the ex-officio Chairman and the Minister of State(IC) Department of North East Region is the ex-officio Vice-Chairman of the NEC.

Significance Of Zonal Councils:

• Integration: Bringing out national integration;
• Peace and harmony: Arresting the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism, linguism, and particularistic tendencies;
• Cooperative federalism: Enabling the Centre and the States to cooperate and exchange ideas and experiences;
• All round development: Establishing a climate of cooperation amongst the States for the successful and speedy execution of development projects.

Also Read:  What is the Special Category Status?

News source: PIB

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Context: The European Union (EU) member states reached political agreement on the world’s first set of comprehensive laws to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

EU Takes Lead on Regulating AI

• The EU becomes the very first continent to set clear rules for the use of AI.
• The European Parliament will now vote on the proposed AI Act early next year, and the legislation is likely to come into force by 2025.

Must Read: Global AI Summit London 2023 

What does the World’s First Law on Regulating AI Propose?

• The EU Framework: Divides AI use into 4 Risk Classes:
  • Banning Applications: Some applications will be largely banned, including the deployment of facial recognition on a mass scale, with some exemptions for law enforcement.
    • AI applications focused on behavioral control will be also banned
  • High-risk applications: High-risk applications  such as the use of AI tools for self-driving cars will be allowed, but subject to certification and an explicit provision for the backend techniques to be made open to public scrutiny. 
  • Medium risk category: eg: AI chatbots, can be deployed without restrictions, but with detailed documentation of the tech know-how and user transparency.
  • Limited risk category: To comply with minimal transparency requirements that would allow users to make informed decisions. This includes AI systems that generate or manipulate image, audio, or video content eg: deepfakes.

Also Read: What Are Deepfakes? – Issues, Challenges, And Solutions

• Safeguards:
  • Adoption by law enforcement agencies: Governments can only use real-time biometric surveillance in public areas when there are serious threats involved, such as terrorist attacks.
  • Consumers’ rights:  Consumers are empowered to file a complaint against any perceived violations.

Significance 

• Drive economic innovation: It will act as a launch pad for EU start-ups and researchers to lead the global AI race.
• Transparency and accountability: The AI  Act would help the development of technology that does not threaten people’s safety and rights. 
• It will act as a template and model law for other countries to follow.

News source: Indian Express

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Context: The Prime Minister said that the Thiruvalluvar statue in Cergy, France is a beautiful testament to the shared cultural bonds between France and India.

About Thiruvalluvar

• Thiruvalluvar commonly known as Valluvar  was an Indian poet and philosopher.
• Thiruvalluvar stands tall as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge.
• He is the author of the Tirukkuṟaḷ which is a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economic matters, and love.
  • Tirukkural  is an all-inclusive ethical that focuses on the avoidance of killing and the avoidance of falsehood.
  • Its 133 sections of 10 couplets each are divided into three books: aram (virtue), porul (government and society), and kamam (love).

Associated Places: Tiruvalluvar

• Tiruvalluvar temple : Tiruvalluvar temple was constructed in the early 16th century at Mylapore, Chennai which is a part of the Ekambareswarar temple complex. 
• Temple memorial : One of Asia’s largest auditoriums is located in Valluvar Kotam, a temple-memorial constructed in Chennai in 1976.
• Statue : Kanyakumari also has a 133-foot-tall statue of Thiruvalluvar.

Impact on India-France Cultural Relations

• Cultural Links: The Thiruvalluvar statue serves as a guide, inspiring individuals to follow Thiruvalluvar’s noble thoughts and further strengthening the cultural links between India and France.
• Deep-rooted ties: The statue serves as a symbol of the deep-rooted ties that bind the two nations ie India and France

News source: PIB

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Context: A Parliamentary panel report named ‘Issues relating to Untraceable Monuments and Protection of Monuments in India’ was presented in both houses of Parliament.

More on news

• After prayers at the Martand Sun Temple ruins in May 2022, the Archaeological Survey of India, under the Ministry of Culture, expressed concern to the Anantnag district administration, deeming it a rule violation.

Key Recommendations of the Report

• Conservation Priority: The ASI may explore the possibility of permitting puja/worship/religious activities at centrally protected monuments of religious significance if  such actions wouldn’t negatively impact the monuments’ state of conservation and preservation.
  • Ministry of Culture Stand: The Ministry of Culture Outlined that as per the policy decision, revival of worship is not allowed where it was not in vogue at the time of protection (by the ASI) or has been abandoned for long.
    • As of now, ASI only permits worship and rituals at monuments wherein such traditions were on at the time of the monument coming to the agency’s custody.
• Untraceable monuments: The Culture Ministry could manage to provide Action-taken Taken Notes on only 21 out of the total of 35 recommendations.
  • ASI must “conduct the survey for identifying monuments on priority, in a time-bound manner”.
  • The survey results “must be placed in public domain”
  • It should include the data relating to expenditure incurred on them and the problems in and around the monuments.

Concern

• Pandora’s Box: Many of the protected monuments include dilapidated temples, dargahs, churches, and other religious sites, which will be an administrative and conservation nightmare.

ASI rules for prayers are allowed at Protected sites:

• Prayers are allowed at protected sites only if they were “functioning places of worship” at the time it took charge of them. Eg: namaz is held every Friday at the Taj Mahal.
  • No religious rituals can be conducted at non-living monuments (where there has been no continuity of worship when it became an ASI-protected site)

About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Culture.
• Functions: Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
• Regulation: It regulates all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.

News source: Indian Express

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Context: YUVAi-Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI’ is set to be prominently featured at the upcoming Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit.

About YUVAi

• It is a collaborative initiative of the National e-Governance Division – Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Intel India.
• It is designed to equip the youth with essential AI skills and commitment to enabling a future-ready workforce.

Features of the YUVAi Scheme 

• Launch year:  2020
• Aims:
  • Skills: Bridging skills gap, 
  • Digital literacy: build digital readiness among the next generation, and
  • Inclusivity: continue the momentum of the inclusive and collaborative AI Skilling program.

• ‘YUVAi’ will help foster a deeper understanding of AI, equip school students from classes 8th to 12th across the nation with AI skills, and empower them to become human-centric designers and users of AI. 

Objectives of the YUVAi Scheme

The objectives of YUVAi are to:

• Foster a deeper understanding of AI-tech and social skills
• Enable youth to develop AI-enabled solutions as a sign of achievement
• Empower youth to become human-centric designers and users of AI.

Various thematic areas:

Students will be encouraged to submit ideas (individually or in teams of 2) through a 120-second video explaining a proposed AI-enabled solution for any one of the eight core themes:

• Krishi – AI in Agriculture
• Aarogya – AI in Healthcare
• Shiksha – AI in Education
• Paryavaran – AI in environment & clean energy
• Parivahan – AI in transportation
• Grameen Vikas – AI for Rural Development
• AI for Smart Cities
• Vidhi aur Nyaay – AI in Law & Justice

 News Source PIB

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Context: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recently marked its 75th anniversary.

Human Rights Day 2023

• Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10 every year to commemorate the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly. 
• The theme for Human Rights Day 2023 is “Freedom, Equality, and Justice for All”

Learn more about Human Rights Day 2023 here. 

About Human Rights

• Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. 
• Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery, and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. 
• Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)?

• Genesis: It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. 
• About: The declaration consists of a preamble and 30 articles outlining fundamental rights and freedoms.
• Significance: It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.

Achievements of UDHR

• Guiding Principles for nations: Although the declaration isn’t a treaty and isn’t legally binding, many nations have adopted its guiding principles into their legal systems
  • They are recognized as the cornerstone of international human rights law.
• Inspiration for human rights treaties: It served as an inspiration and a stepping stone for over 70 human rights treaties at the international and regional levels.
  • It inspired movements against racism, LGBTIQ+ problems, decolonization, and the anti-apartheid movement as well as freedom fighters worldwide.

News Source: Indian Express

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Context: On the tenth day of COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, significant developments unfolded in the discussions surrounding the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Significant Developments of COP-28

• COP Presidency Plenary: COP 28 President Sultan Al Jaber stated that there were more “areas of divergence than convergence” in all negotiation tracks. 
  • For mitigation, the major divergence was language around fossil fuel phaseout/phasedown and abatement technologies. 
  • There was also divergence on the difference between the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC) and the term “equitable transition” and division of the remaining carbon budget.
• COP 29 Host: Azerbaijan has been announced as the host country of the next COP summit in 2024 — COP 29 — with the capital city of Baku set to host the talks at the end of next year.
  • Global Stocktake draft: The last draft of the Global Stocktake text has effectively proposed including India and China in the list of countries with historical responsibility for creating significant emissions.
    • Till now, only the developed countries have been listed as historical emitters.  
  • New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG): New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) refers to ongoing negotiations on a new climate finance commitment that developed countries must make to developing countries to accelerate the world’s transition away from fossil fuels
• Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies: The Netherlands headed a joint ministerial statement on phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. Canada, France, Austria, Belgium, Antigua & Barbuda, and Finland are among the signatories of the coalition.
  • The joint ministerial addresses the lack of a clear methodology and international cooperation as key barriers to the implementation. 

About Article 6

• Article 6 of the Paris Agreement outlines ways in which countries can collaborate to fulfill their nationally determined contributions (NDC), widely recognized as the provision for carbon markets (and non-market approaches) within the Paris Agreement. 

Must Read: NDC Synthesis Report For 2023: UNFCCC

News Source: Down to Earth

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Context: UNICEF Day is celebrated on 11th December to commemorate child rights and increase awareness about protecting child rights. 

About UNICEF Day 2023

• It was on 11th December 1946, that the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund was created to address the needs of children impacted by World War II. Since then, this day has been celebrated as UNICEF Day. 
• This year, the theme for UNICEF Day 2023 is “For every child, every right.”

Learn more about UNICEF Day 2023 here. 

About UNICEF

• Name: UNICEF continued to use its original acronym UNICEF even after its full name was changed to United Nations Children’s Fund in 1953. 
• Presence: It has established its presence in 192 countries and territories worldwide in the 77 years since its founding in 1946. 
• Funding: UNICEF is supported by government funding and individual voluntary donations. 
• Guide: The Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, has been the guiding light for UNICEF. 
• Awards: In 1965, UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for ‘Promotion of Brotherhood among nations’. 
• Program: Initially, UNICEF started by focusing on the children in developing countries in the 1960s. However, since then it has expanded its program to also include women’s development and Child Health. 
• Governance Structure: UNICEF became a permanent part of the UN in 1956, and is governed by an Executive Board. 
  • The executive board is elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council and consists of 36 members elected for a three-year term. 

Important Reports by UNICEF

• Flagship reports by UNICEF are ‘The State of the World’s Children’ and ‘UNICEF Annual Report’. 
• Other reports like The Climate-Changed Child have also been published by UNICEF, which focuses on the Children’s Climate Risk Index. 

Must Read: UNICEF Report Highlights Nearly a Billion Children Globally Exposed to Extremely High Water Stress

UNICEF in India

• UNICEF started to work in India in 1949 and has been working with the Ministry of Women and Child Development. 
• It has supported India in various interventions such as Census 2011, Polio Campaign 2012, and India Newborn Action Plan, 2014. 

Strategic Plan (2022-2025) 

• UNICEF’s strategic plan for 2022-2025 reflects UNICEF’s contribution to child-focused Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all settings.
• It is the first of two sequential plans towards 2030 and it provides a global framework for country programmes and National Committees towards SDG achievement. 

Source: Livemint

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Context: According to the reports from the Institute of Canadian Citizenship, the rate of immigrants leaving Canada hit a two-decade high in 2019. 

Immigrants Are Leaving Canada

• Official data on Immigrants in Canada from Statistics Canada show that 93,818 people left Canada in 2022 and 85,927 exits were recorded in 2021. In the first six months of 2023, about 42,000 individuals have left Canada. 
• Due to the high cost of living, sky-rocketing rental costs, and rental shortages, immigrants are facing a tough time in Canada, with many choosing to leave Canada. 
• However, currently emigration as a total percentage of the population stands at a fraction of the population at about 0.09 percent. 

Immigrants in Canada: How much do immigrants contribute to the Canadian economy?

• According to Statistics Canada, Canada’s Statistical Agency, immigrants in Canada are making an important contribution across every sector of Canada’s economy. 
• As of May 2021, immigrants in Canada aged 25 to 54 represented: 
  • over 36% of people working in accommodation and food services
  • nearly 38% of those working in the transportation and warehousing sector
  • over 34% of those working in professional, scientific and technical services
  • over 20% of those working in construction
• Immigration has been the main mechanism to fight Canada’s aging and slowing population. The contributions of the immigrants in Canada have helped fuel the economic growth of the country.   
• As a result of these contributions, Canada has become the 10th largest economy in the world and has matched the average 2% growth rate of the USA over the past decade, well above the average of 1.4% in the G7. 

About India-Canada Relations

• Due to the recent fallout between India and Canada, on the murder of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the ties have been deteriorating. 
• Canada is home to one of the largest communities of Indian origin, with approximately 4% of Canadians being of Indian heritage. 
• In the year 2022, the bilateral trade in goods between India and Canada reached approximately US$8.2 billion. This represents a trade volume growth of 25% compared to the year 2021. 
• Indian Students comprise nearly 50% of the international students studying in Canada. 

Know more about India-Canada Relations Deteriorated: Amidst Khalistan Tensions here.

Source: Business Standard

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Context: As per the data from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), PM Vishwakarma Scheme has received over 21 lakh applications in the two and half months after its launch.

PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Application Status

• The highest number of applications had come from Karnataka (6.28 lakh), followed by West Bengal (4.04 lakh), Assam (1.83 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (1.53 lakh) and Andhra Pradesh (1.21 lakh). 
• In contrast, 15 States including Haryana, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and northeastern States, have sent less than 10,000 applications each.

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PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Aim, Coverage, and Implementation

• Aim: PM Vishwakarma scheme aims to improve the quality and reach of the products and services of artisans and craftsmen to ensure that they are integrated into the domestic and global value chains with high-value products. 
• Coverage: 18 types of traditional trades will be covered under the scheme initially for providing benefits to the people engaged in these trades ( such as Carpenter, Cobbler, Boat Maker, Mason, Armourer, Blacksmith, Basket/Mat/Broom Maker/Coir Weaver, Hammer & Tool Kit Maker).
• Implementation: The Vishwakarma scheme will be implemented as a Central Sector Scheme, with an initial outlay of Rs 13,000 crore. 
• Nodal Ministry: MoMSME will be the Nodal Ministry for the Scheme.
  • Cojointly Implemented by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of India.
  • The workers will be registered at Common Service Centres, in the biometric-based portal for free.  
• Outcome: The Vishwakarma Scheme will help to enhance the skills of the workers and provide access to formal credit through lead banks of the area. 

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PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Benefits

• Recognition: PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID Card: A unique digital number shall be created and reflected on the certificate and the ID Card. The certificate shall enable the applicant’s recognition as a Vishwakarma and shall make him/her eligible to avail of all the benefits under the Vishwakarma Scheme. 
• Skill Upgradation: Aimed at enhancing the capabilities of traditional artisans and craftspeople, who have been working with hands and traditional tools for generations. This intervention consists of three components: Skill Assessment, Basic Training, and Advanced Training
• Toolkit Incentive: An incentive of up to Rs. 15,000 will be provided to the beneficiary after the Skill Assessment at the start of Basic Training. The incentive will be disbursed to the beneficiaries through e-RUPI/ e-vouchers which can be utilized at designated centres to procure improved toolkits. 
• Credit Support: Access to affordable credit under the Vishwakarma Scheme will be facilitated. The beneficiary must have undergone Skill Assessment and completed Basic Training to be eligible to avail first tranche of credit support of up to Rs 1 lakh
• Incentive for Digital Transactions: Incentivize digital transactions undertaken by the artisans and craftspeople through cashback. The online transaction trail created is expected to enhance the credit score of the artisans.
• Marketing Support: Marketing support in the form of quality certification, branding, advertising, publicity, and other marketing activities would be extended to the beneficiaries to improve their linkage to the value chain of MSMEs and established companies.

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PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Implementation Mechanism

• There will be a three–tier verification and approval process for the registration of beneficiaries;
• Stage 1: Verification at Gram Panchayat or ULB Level.
• Stage 2: Vetting and Recommendation by the District Implementation Committee.
• Stage 3: Approval by the Screening Committee (chaired by an officer of the Office of DC-MSME along with the State Lead Bank Manager and representatives of MSDE).

Source: The Hindu

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Context: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of applying digital health technologies to strengthen health systems, prevent disease, and enhance service delivery.

Digital Healthcare Market in India

• It is estimated that the digital healthcare market in India will grow from $2.7 billion in 2022 to around $37 billion in 2030.
• As of August 2023, around 44.2 crore unique IDs have been created and 110 digital health services have been integrated into the digital mission.

State of Health in India

• Inadequate Health Infrastructure: The state of primary healthcare infrastructure varies greatly across India, with some states lagging. 
  • A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted that India has only 0.5 public hospital beds per 1000 population. 
  • India needs 3.5 million additional hospital beds to adequately serve the healthcare needs of the population.
• Shortage of Skilled Professional:
  • As per National Health Workforce Accounts (NHWA) the stock density of doctors and nurses/midwives is 8.8 and 17.7, respectively, per 10,000 persons.
  • All these estimates are well below the WHO threshold of 44.5 doctors, nurses, and midwives per 10,000 population. 
• Epidemiological Transition: The rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and diabetes is a major concern, driven by unhealthy lifestyle choices.
  • Obesity has increased from 19% to 23% between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5.
  • According to  WHO, Non-communicable diseases led to 66% of deaths in India in 2019.
• Low insurance coverage: 
  • Despite increased health insurance coverage, millions remain uninsured, and out-of-pocket expenses are high.
  • The share of Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) in total Health Expenditure (THE) declined from 62.6% to 47.1%, it is still high.
• Fragmented healthcare Market:  Standalone hospitals and nursing homes provide 95 percent of private hospital beds. 
  • Though these institutions provide a much-needed service, they are unable to provide multi-specialty, let alone tertiary and quaternary care.
• The ethical and regulatory concerns:
  • The ethical and regulatory concerns surrounding the use of AI in healthcare need urgent attention.
  • AI and Robotics are increasingly being used in surgery, diagnosis, and medical decision-making.

What is Digital Health?

• Digital Health refers to the integration of technology, data, and electronic communication in healthcare.
• It encompasses a wide range of applications including health tracking, telemedicine, electronic health records wearable devices health apps, etc.

Digital Health as Catalyst to Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

• Universal Health Coverage, a core objective of Sustainable Development Goal 3, envisions providing essential health services to all individuals and communities without financial hardship.

• Digital health is a great enabler in the delivery of healthcare services and has the potential to support overall universal health coverage targets.
• India has adopted a two-pronged approach 
  • Focusing on digital health through policy framework and 
  • Creating a digital ecosystem for path-breaking interventions that focus on not just availability, accessibility, and affordability but also equity of health services.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Components

• ABDM aims to develop the backbone for the country’s integrated digital health infrastructure. 
• Components Of ABDB:
  • ABHA Number: The ABHA number will be used to uniquely identify persons, authenticate them, and thread their health records (only with the informed consent of the patient) across multiple systems and stakeholders.

• • ABHA Mobile App (PHR):
    • A PHR is an electronic record of health-related information on an individual that conforms to nationally recognized interoperability standards and that can be drawn from multiple sources while being managed, shared, and controlled by the individual. 
    • The most salient feature of the PHR, and the one that distinguishes it from the EMR and EHR, is that the information it contains is under the control of the individual. 
  • Key features of the ABHA mobile application are:
    • Creation of ABHA Address
    • Discovery of Health Information
    • Linking of health records/ with a given ABHA Address
    • View Health Records
    • Management of consents
  • Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR): 
    • It is a comprehensive repository of all healthcare professionals involved in delivery of healthcare services across both modern and traditional systems of medicine. 
  • Health Facility Registry (HFR)
    • It is a comprehensive repository of health facilities of the nation across different systems of medicine. 
    • It includes both public and private health facilities including hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories and imaging centers, pharmacies, etc.

Must Read: Renaming of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres

Digital Health: Benefits

• Build a Comprehensive Health Ecosystem: Emerging technologies such as Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, and Cloud Computing provide additional opportunities for facilitating a more holistic digital health ecosystem that can increase equitable access to health services, improve health outcomes and reduce costs.
  • For instance, in 2021 in the USA, AI-assisted CT imaging was used to detect pneumonia and treat COVID-19 patients. 
• Bridge Gap Between Urban- Rural Healthcare: Digital health technologies can help to bridge the gap between urban and rural healthcare by bringing medical expertise to remote locations. 
  • For example, Telemedicine, allows patients to see their doctor via video call, eliminating travel and reducing wait times.
• Streamline healthcare processes: Additionally, digital healthcare solutions streamline them, making them more efficient and cost-effective. 
  • For Example, Electronic health records (EHRs) enable a seamless exchange of patient information between healthcare providers, ensuring continuity of care and reducing medication errors.
• Improve Healthcare Providers’ productivity: New AI models fundamentally enhance a doctor’s productivity, enabling a doctor to attend to many more patients with a higher quality and better productivity.
  • For example, generative AI can help enhance the productivity of clinicians with note-taking and content summarization that can help keep medical records as thorough as possible. 
    • AI could also help with accurate coding and sharing of information between departments and billing.
• Health Management System: The digitization of healthcare systems creates vast amounts of data that can be analyzed to gain valuable insight into disease patterns, treatment outcomes, and population health trends. 
  • Insights from these data can potentially transform health policy, resource allocation, and public health interventions.
• Innovative partnerships and consolidation: The Indian digital health ecosystem offers healthcare startups and established players opportunities to scale their services and thrive.
  • Startups and established players collaborate to leverage their strengths and maximize value. Examples include pharma companies partnering with disease-management platforms and insurance companies partnering with health-tech players.
  • The fragmented healthcare market is seeing consolidation, particularly by large players like Tata, Reliance, PharmEasy, etc.

Digital Health Adoption in India: Challenges 

• Lack of Infrastructure:
  • Limited digital infrastructure: This includes unreliable internet connectivity, lack of access to devices, and poor digital literacy, particularly in rural areas.
  • Digital literacy and digital divide: Many citizens, especially in rural areas and among older generations, lack the basic digital skills needed to access and utilize digital health platforms.
• Privacy concerns:
  • Data privacy: There is a lack of trust in how data is collected, stored, and used by healthcare providers and tech companies.
  • Security breaches: Concerns exist about the potential for data leaks and misuse of sensitive health information.
    • For Example: In November 2022, AIIMS faced a cyber–attack. As the servers went down, it affected the out-patient department (OPD) functioning and also sample collection services.
• Lack of standardization and interoperability:
  • Inconsistent data formats and standards: This makes it difficult for different healthcare systems to communicate and share information seamlessly.
  • Fragmented ecosystem: The lack of a unified platform or standard protocols creates inefficiencies and hinders data exchange.
• Regulatory framework:
  • Rapidly evolving technologies: Regulatory frameworks often struggle to keep pace with the rapid advancements in digital health technologies.Uncertainty and ambiguity: The absence of clear regulations and guidelines creates uncertainty for stakeholders, leading to hesitancy in adopting and implementing digital solutions.
  • Data governance and compliance: The lack of robust data governance and compliance mechanisms can increase the risk of data breaches and misuse of information.
• Additional challenges:
  • Lack of skilled professionals: There is a shortage of healthcare professionals trained in using and managing digital health technologies.
  • Cost and affordability: developing and implementing digital health solutions can be a significant cost, particularly for smaller healthcare providers.

Way Forward: Digital Healthcare Towards Universal Health Coverage in India

• Bridging the Digital Divide: Infrastructure expansion: Investing in reliable internet connectivity, affordable devices, and digital literacy programs, particularly in rural areas and among vulnerable populations.
  • Local language support: Localizing digital health platforms and resources to ensure accessibility and inclusivity.
  • Developing user-friendly interfaces: Designing digital health platforms that are easy to use and accessible to people with varying levels of digital literacy.
• Strengthening the Regulatory Framework:
  • Developing clear and comprehensive regulations: Establishing data privacy standards, security protocols, and guidelines for data collection, storage, and sharing.
  • Promoting interoperability: Implementing standardized data formats and interoperability protocols to enable seamless data exchange between different healthcare systems.
  • Creating a robust regulatory body: Establishing a central authority responsible for overseeing the digital health ecosystem, ensuring compliance with regulations, and addressing emerging challenges.
• Comprehensive Digital Health Ecosystem: 
  • Established players: Established players need to integrate digital capabilities into their existing business models and adopt a “startup mindset.”
  • Startups: Startups need to find a product-market fit, identify a value pool, and define the scope of their services. Partnering with other players in the ecosystem can enhance their success.
• Fostering Innovation and Collaboration:
• • Promoting public-private partnerships: Encouraging collaboration between government, healthcare providers, technology companies, and research institutions to accelerate innovation and develop effective digital health solutions.
  • Supporting startups and entrepreneurs: Providing funding, mentorship, and infrastructure support to startups developing innovative digital health technologies.
  • Leveraging existing platforms: Integrating digital health solutions with existing healthcare infrastructure, such as public health facilities and community health centers.
• Building Capacity and Expertise:
• • Investing in training programs: Equipping healthcare professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to use and manage digital health technologies effectively.
  • Encouraging knowledge sharing and collaboration: Fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders in the digital health ecosystem.
• Prioritizing Patient-Centricity:
• • Ensuring patient privacy and security: Implementing robust data protection measures and empowering patients to control their health data.
  • Focusing on affordability: Developing cost-effective digital health solutions that are accessible to all sections of society.
• Monitoring and Evaluation:
• • Collecting data and tracking progress: Regularly monitoring the impact of digital health interventions and using data to inform decision-making and adapt strategies.
  • Conducting research and evaluation: Investing in research to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of digital health interventions and identify areas for improvement.
  • Promoting transparency and accountability: Publicly available information about digital health initiatives, data usage, and performance metrics.

Conclusion:

India stands at the cusp, well positioned to create the new age models of healthcare for India and the world to adopt. 

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Context: This article is based on the news “Food versus Fuel: What’s happening with Centre’s ethanol blending scheme” which was published in the Indian Express. The government recently restricted the sweetener’s diversion for ethanol production to increase domestic supply after banning sugar exports.

Government Bans Sugarcane for Ethanol Production

• Ban on Sugarcane Use for Ethanol Manufacturing: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution earlier directed all mills and distilleries to stop using sugarcane juice or syrup to make any ethanol with immediate effect.

• • Thus, concerns have arisen among the producers about the adverse impact on the ethanol blending programme (EBP) because of the ban. 
• Sugar (Control) Order 1966: The directive was issued as per clauses 4 and 5 of the Sugar (Control) Order 1966. 
  • However, the government has allowed the use of ‘B-molasses’ for ethanol production in 2023-24.
• Curbing Price Rises: This move is expected to release 1.8-2 million tonnes (MT) of sugar in the domestic market which would help curb the rise in prices amidst reports of a fall in Sugar production in Maharashtra and Karnataka this season.

Must Read: Global Biofuel Alliance: Advancing Sustainable Energy

Why was the decision made to ban sugarcane for ethanol production?

• Estimated Fall in sugar production: The decision comes in the backdrop of an estimated fall in sugar production in the 2023-24 marketing year (October-September).
  • The sugar stocks at the end of the 2022–2023 sugar year were significantly lower than the record 143.3lakh tonnes (lt) of 2018–19 and the lowest since 39.4 lakh tonnes of 2016–17.
  • It aims to maintain adequate sugar availability for domestic consumption and to keep prices under check.

What concerns have been raised about the Ethanol Blending Targets?

• Impact on Ethanol Blending Targets:  The Oil-marketing companies (OMCs-BPCL, HPCL, IOCL, etc) published a tender for the delivery of about 825 crore liters of ethanol for 2023–2024 to meet their 15% blending objective. 
  • They got offers for about 559 crore litres in the first round of bids, of which 135 crore litres were made of ethanol made from sugarcane juice or syrup. 
  • The recent restrictions will impact further supply of ethanol impacting the Ethanol blending targets of OMCs. 
  • It might cause the blending objective for the ethanol supply year 2023–24 (ESY24), which runs from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024, to be missed.
  • The 12% ethanol blend goal for ESY23 was accomplished. The goal is 15% ethanol for ESY24 and 20% ethanol for ESY26. 

• Setback for Companies: It will prove a setback for the industry as the companies have set up capacities to produce ethanol directly from cane juice/syrup.
  • However, the government decision may impact the supply of feedstock, creating stranded capacities.
• Impact on revenue of Sugar Mills: Ethanol distillation provides large listed sugar mills with additional revenue sources however the current restriction has limited the revenue generation of the companies.
• Decrease in Crushing Capacity: As per the India Sugar Mills Association (ISMA),  this may lead to a supply halt, which will result in decreased crushing capacity and higher costs.
  • ISMA is an apex body of private sugar industries in India.
  • Crushing capacity means the estimated maximum rate of crushing at which a mill can operate continuously while maintaining a proper level of efficiency.

Know about Sugarcane Production In India here. 

Ethanol Blending Programme: Aim, Targets, and Current Status

• About: The ethanol blending programme was launched in January 2003. 
• Aim: The program sought to promote the use of alternative and environment-friendly fuels and to reduce import dependency for energy requirements.
• Source for ethanol Production: Sugarcane and its by-products like B molasses are the major source of ethanol production in India. Other sources for producing ethanol are corn, rice, and barley.
  • Around 25-30% of the ethanol supplied from cane for fuel-blending comes from cane juice and syrup.
  • Another 45% comes from B-heavy molasses, which is the residue from cane juice after two rounds of sugar processing. 
  • The rest is from C-heavy molasses, the residue after three rounds of sugar processing. Apart from cane, ethanol is also distilled from broken maize and rice
• Current Ethanol Blending Target: The Indian government has pledged to meet a 20% ethanol blending target by 2025-26.
  • This target is referred to as E20, which implies that by 2025, a liter of fuel oil is likely to have 200 ml of ethanol and 800 ml of petroleum in it. 
• Current Status: In the 2022-23 ethanol supply year (November-October), the government achieved 12 percent blending of ethanol with petrol.
  • The target for the current year is 15 percent for which 690 litres of ethanol would be required.
  • The Government has achieved the target of 10 percent average blending of ethanol in Petrol in the country under the EBP Programme in June 2022.

• Significance: India has met the initial target of 10 percent ethanol blending in mid-2022, ahead of the targeted timelines of November 2022. 
  • This has led to a forex increase of over Rs 41,500 crore, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions of 2.7 million metric tonnes.

Ethanol Blending Programme: Advantages 

• Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG):  According to the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, grain-based ethanol cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 44 to 52% compared to gasoline.
  • Corn ethanol offers an average GHG reduction of 46% versus gasoline. 
• Reducing Import Dependency: With E20 (20% ethanol blending with petrol) implementation by 2025, India will save about `45,000 crore in oil imports and 63 MT of oil annually.
• Further Potential: According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), there will be 3.5-5x biofuels growth potential by 2050 due to net zero targets, creating a huge opportunity for India.
  • Net-Zero: It means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests.
• Growth in Ethanol Market: As per the estimates of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the global ethanol market was valued at $99.06 billion in 2022 and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% by 2032 and surpass $162.12 billion by 2032.

Ethanol Blending Programme: Challenges

• Risks of Food security: The EBP diverts foodgrains for ethanol production meant for the poor.
• In the 2023 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 111th out of the 125 countries revealing serious hunger concerns.
  • According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, about 209 million Indians, or about 15% of its population, were undernourished between 2018 and 2020. 
• Focus on water-intensive crops:  Currently, most of the ethanol being produced uses either sugarcane or rice as its raw material. Both these crops are water intensive.
  • Rice and sugarcane, along with wheat, consume about 80% of India’s irrigation water.

• Inefficient Subsidy Mechanism: FCI is currently purchasing broken rice for PDS, but is supplying it to distilleries at half the price.
  • This process is highly inefficient as the burden of subsidies to distilleries  is passed to the taxpayers.
  • Competition between the distilleries and the public distribution system for subsidized food grains could have adverse consequences for the rural poor and expose them to enhanced risk of hunger.
• Priority to Food-based Feedstocks:  The ethanol blending target of India primarily focuses on food-based feedstocks. 
  • This is against the 2018 National Policy on Biofuels, which prioritized grasses and algae; cellulosic material such as bagasse, farm and forestry residue; and, items like straw from rice, wheat, and corn.
• Logistics Issues: Currently, the entire quantity of ethanol is being transported by road on truck tankers. 
  • This is not only expensive but also requires burning fuel to carry fuel, which releases GHGs into the atmosphere.
• Infrastructural challenges: Need for additional storage tanks for ethanol at marketing terminals/depots
  • Need for ethanol-compliant dispensing units
  • Need for an additional underground tank, pipes/hoses, and dispensing units for ethanol blended gasoline supply at retail outlets

Way Forward to Achieve Ethanol Blending Targets

• Utilizing nonfood feedstock:  Technology for producing ethanol from “Advanced Biofuels,” including second generation (2G), should be promoted to prevent any trade-off with the food production system.

• Focus on  B-Heavy Molasses: Conversion of Residual Juice Quantity to B-Heavy Molasses must be permitted for Increased Ethanol Supply with Minimal Impact on Sugar Production.
• Compensatory Increase in price of ethanol: A compensatory increase in pricing for ethanol needs to be derived from B and C heavy molasses as it would ensure sufficient cash flow for sugar mills.
  • This will also mitigate potential delays or defaults in farmer payments due to reduced ethanol production from juice and syrup.
• Priority to food crops over fuel: The production of food must take precedence over fuel crops because of the diminishing groundwater reserves, the shortage of arable land, the unpredictable monsoons, and the declining agricultural yields brought on by climate change.
• Biofuels from waste: India can become a global leader in sustainable biofuels policy by focusing on ethanol made from waste. 
  • This would bring both strong climate and air quality benefits, since these wastes are currently often burned, contributing to smog.
• Departure from water-intensive crops: The ethanol strategy should make sure that farmers are not pushed into water-intensive crops and a water crisis is avoided.
• Alternative means of transport: The government should opt for other means of transporting ethanol, such as specialized pipelines, rail tank wagons, and ferries or steamers in coastal regions. 
  • The RORO (roll-on/roll-off) model of moving ethanol truck tankers by rail can be considered.
  • Adoption of Brazil Model: The movement of fuel and ethanol to the depots in Brazil which has 14 oil refineries and 354 ethanol distilleries is entirely through pipelines, rail, or coastal ships.

Conclusion:

Addressing challenges in the Ethanol Blending Programme requires a balanced approach that prioritizes food security, explores nonfood feedstocks, and embraces sustainable technologies to achieve India’s ethanol blending targets while mitigating potential negative impacts on agriculture and food availability.

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