05-05-21 Daily-Gujarat-GPSC Current Affairs

Although theCentrehas asked the states to increase budgetary spending to provide better Health facilities, theGujarat governmenthas over the past few years reduced its healthcare allocation. The Union governments advice was made under the newNational Health Policy, which was announced in 2017.

TheGujaratgovernments reduction in the healthcare allocation could probably be one of the contributing reasons for the strain the public health is facing in the pandemic.

The Gujarat government reduced the Health sector budget allocation from 5.7% of the total budget in 2016-17 to 5% in 2021-22. The National Health Policy also proposed to increase budget spending of at least 2.5% of the totalGSDP(gross state domestic product) for health Services. But the Gujarat government has spent only about 0.6% so far.

The Ministry of Labour & EMPLOYMENT has informed Section 142 of the Social Security Code, 2020, which addresses Aaadhar’s applicability.

The Ministry will be able to collect Aaadhar information for the Database of beneficiaries under various social security schemes as a result of the section’s notification.

The first supply of UCO (Used Cooking Oil) based Biodiesel blended Diesel under the EOI Scheme was flagged off by Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas from Indian Oil’s Tikrikalan Terminal in Delhi.

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can be made from vegetable oils, animal fats, tallow, and waste cooking oil, and is similar to traditional or “fossil” diesel.

Another benefit of Biodiesel is that it is carbon-neutral, meaning that the oilseed absorbs the same amount of CO2 that is emitted when the fuel is burned in a vehicle.

Biodiesel is also quickly biodegradable and totally non-toxic.