State PCS - Bihar (BPSC)

• 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). 

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.