• 14 Jun 2025

Bihar Biofuels Production Promotion (Amendment) Policy, 2025

Why in News? 

The Bihar government has introduced the Bihar Biofuels Production Promotion (Amendment) Policy, 2025, modifying its Biofuels Production Promotion Policy 2023 to encourage greater private sector involvement. 

• The amended policy aims to increase bioenergy output and accelerate the state’s progress towards renewable energy goals. 

Key Points 

• Bihar Biofuels Production Promotion Policy, 2023: 
  • About: The Bihar government launched the Bihar Biofuels Production Promotion Policy, 2023, by broadening its earlier Ethanol Production Promotion Policy, 2021, to expand the scope beyond ethanol to include Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG)/bio-CNG units. 
    • The policy promotes biofuel production using agricultural residues, animal dung, and waste, aiming to boost farmers’ incomes, create jobs, and align with the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018. 
  • Objectives: The policy aims to enable production of 100% fuel-grade ethanol and CBG/bio-CNG from all permitted feedstocks under the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, and to promote greenfield standalone units for these biofuels in Bihar. 
  • Coverage: Greenfield standalone distilleries producing 100% fuel-grade ethanol (single or dual feed) and for units producing Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG)/bio-CNG. 
  • Incentives: The policy offers a capital subsidy of 15% of plant and machinery cost or Rs 5 crore (whichever is lower), while for SC, ST, EBC, women, differently-abled, war widows, acid attack victims, and third gender entrepreneurs, the subsidy is 15.75% or Rs 5.25 crore (whichever is lower). 
• Key Changes in Bihar Biofuels Production Promotion (Amendment) Policy, 2025: 
  • Land Lease: Up to 25% of BIADA-managed industrial land can now be leased for CBG units, with a 30-year lease at Rs 75,000 per acre annually. 
  • Date Extension: Stage-1 clearance deadline for compressed biogas (CBG) units extended to 31st March, 2027 via the Single Window Clearance Portal. 
    • Financial approval deadline for CBG projects extended to 31st March, 2028; applicable to private players and oil marketing companies (OMCs). 

Eurasian Otter in Kashmir

Why in News? 

After three decades of presumed extinction, researchers spotted the Eurasian otter—a key part of Kashmir’s aquatic ecosystem—in the Lidder River at Srigufwara, south Kashmir. 

Key Points 

• Eurasian Otter: 
  • About: 
    • It is a semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal. 
    • Its scientific name is Lutra lutra. 
  • Distribution: 
    • It has one of the widest distributions of all Palaearctic mammals. 
    • Its range covers parts of three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. 
    • In India, the Eurasian otter is found in the northern, northeastern, and southern regions. 
  • Habitat: 
    • It lives in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, including highland and lowland lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, swamp forests, and coastal areas. 
    • In the Indian subcontinent, Eurasian otters inhabit cold hilly regions and fast-flowing mountain streams. 
      • India is home to three otter species – the smooth-coated, the Asian small-clawed, and the Eurasian Lutra lutra. 
  • Conservation Status: 
    • IUCN: Near threatened 
    • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II 
    • CITES: Appendix I 
• Rare Sighting in Kashmir: 
  • Locally known as ‘Vuder’, the Eurasian otter was once widespread in Kashmir's wetlands and rivers, especially in Dachigam, Rambiara, and Lidder. 
  • The sharp decline in otter populations is attributed to increasing water pollution and rampant hunting for their fur, both of which degraded their natural habitats. 

50 years of National Emergency

Why in News? 

50 years ago, on 12th June 1975, the Allahabad High Court invalidated Indira Gandhi's 1971 election in the Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Shri Raj Narain Case, 1975 leading to the declaration of a National Emergency (NE) on 25th June 1975 that continued till March 1977.

Key Points 

• Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Shri Raj Narain Case, 1975: 
  • About: It is a landmark in India’s constitutional and democratic history, arising from the 1971 general elections, where Prime Minister Indira Gandhi defeated socialist leader Raj Narain, leading to a legal challenge on grounds of electoral malpractices. 
  • Electoral Context and Allegations: Raj Narain alleged that Indira Gandhi misused government machinery and public funds for electoral gain, violating the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court seeking to invalidate her election on grounds of these alleged malpractices. 
  • Allahabad High Court Verdict: The court found Indira Gandhi guilty of misusing government machinery for election campaigning.  
    • As a result, her election was invalidated and she was disqualified from holding Prime Ministerial office. 
  • Appeal in Supreme Court: Indira Gandhi appealed the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court, seeking both a stay on the High Court’s order and an opportunity to contest its findings. 
  • Declaration of Emergency: Amidst political turmoil, on 25th June 1975, Indira Gandhi’s government declared a National Emergency, leading to the suspension of civil liberties, press censorship, and postponement of elections. 
• Key Facts About National Emergency: 
  • About National Emergency: NE is proclaimed by the President under Article 352 when the security of India or a part of it is threatened by War, External Aggression (external emergency), or Armed Rebellion (internal emergency). 
    • The 38th Amendment Act, 1975 allowed the President to issue Emergency proclamations on grounds of war, external aggression, armed rebellion, or imminent danger thereof, while the 44th Amendment Act, 1978 replaced "internal disturbance" with "armed rebellion". 
  • Territorial Extent: NE can extend to the whole of the country or only a part of it. 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 enabled the President to limit the operation of NE to a specific part of India. 
  • Parliamentary Approval: As per the 44th Amendment Act, 1978, NE must be approved by both Houses within one month by a special majority (originally two months). 
    • If the Lok Sabha is dissolved at the time of declaration, the Rajya Sabha’s approval remains valid, but the reconstituted Lok Sabha must approve it within 30 days of its first sitting. 
  • Duration: It continues for 6 months, and can be extended to an indefinite period with approval of Parliament for every 6 months (44th Amendment Act 1978). 
  • Revocation: It can be revoked anytime by the president without the requirement of approval by Parliament. 
    • The Lok Sabha can pass a resolution to disapprove the continuation of a National Emergency. If one-tenth of its total members submit a written notice to the Speaker (if in session) or to the President (if not in session), a special sitting must be held within 14 days. The resolution must be passed by a simple majority. 
  • Judicial Review: The 38th Amendment Act, 1975 made the Emergency declaration immune to judicial review. This was later reversed by the 44th Amendment Act, 1978.  
    • In the Minerva Mills case, 1980, the Supreme Court held that a Proclamation of NE can be challenged if it is mala fide, based on irrelevant or extraneous facts, or is absurd or perverse. 

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

Why in News? 

Bihar has emerged as the top-performing state in India under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) by achieving a 92% online OPD registration rate using the Scan-and-Share QR code facility.  

• Out of 11.38 crore OPD registrations under the ABDM since 2021, Bihar alone accounts for 2.94 crore registrations. 
• It is followed by Uttar Pradesh (2.25 crore) and Andhra Pradesh (1.70 crore).
  

Key Points 

• About the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): 
  • Launched: It was launched In 2021 by the Government of India. 
  • Objective: To build a robust digital health ecosystem that ensures secure, efficient, and inclusive exchange of health data, while improving accessibility, equity, and the overall quality of healthcare services across the country. 
  • Budget Allocation: It was launched with a five-year outlay of ₹1,600 crore from 2021-22 to 2025-26. 

 

• Major Components of ABDM: 
  • ABHA Number (Ayushman Bharat Health Account): The ABHA app allows users to generate an ABHA address, link their health records, and control consent for sharing personal health data. 
  • ABHA Mobile App (Personal Health Record - PHR): 
    • It facilitates creation of ABHA addresses and linking of health records. 
    • It allows users to manage their consent for data sharing. 
  • Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR): 
    • It is a national digital platform of verified healthcare professionals. 
    • It enables easy access to qualified service providers. 
  • Health Facility Registry (HFR): 
    • It is a comprehensive database of public and private healthcare facilities. 
    • It improves service coordination and system integration. 
• Benefits of the Digital Health Ecosystem: 
  • Patients’ health records are stored digitally, eliminating the need for physical documents and reducing paperwork. 
  • Real-time access to prescriptions, diagnostic results, and treatment history ensures quicker hospital processes and continuity of care during future visits with patient consent.