23-03-23 Daily-Kerala-KPSC Current Affairs

TheKerala budget for 2023-24signals that the state is changing its approach from profligate spending to . Whether or not it is forced by the Union Government and the CAGs stand on off budget financing through KIIFB, it is a welcome change as the previous path was taking the state towards a fiscal crisis that would have badly affected future generations.

The new approach to budget making shows respect for fiscal discipline.
The finance minister has focused on raising revenues through a slew of tax hikes and expenditure rationalization. The Fiscal Deficit is projected to come down to 3. 5% of state GDP as per the cap set by the Finance Commission. But it is disappointing to see the revenue defi citcreep up from 1. 96% of state GDP to 2. 1%. It means that, in spite of the revenue gains from tax hikes, the state continues to prioritise short term spending over investments.

While there are funds allocated in a number of important areas, it is of concern that the Education budget has fallen by a massive 30% from Rs 2,546 crore allocated last year to Rs 1,773 crore in this budget. At a time when there are reports of exodus of students from the state, lower funds for education is the last thing we need. Presumably this is because of a cut in the centrally sponsored component of the education budget, but nevertheless the government has to take imaginative action to revitalize the higher Education sector in particular and that too with limited funds.

Prime Minister Modi has recently launched an app called Call Before You Dig to prevent uncoordinated digging that can cause damage to underground utility assets, such as optical fibre cables

The app has been developed jointly by the Department of Telecommunications and the Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics, which operates under the Gujarat government. Its primary aim is to protect the countrys underground public Infrastructure

The Call Before You Dig app will facilitate coordination between excavators and asset owners through SMS/email notifications and click-to-call Options

Rajasthan would become the first state in India to guarantee right tohealthcarefor its residents. The goal is for everyone to have access to free and quality healthcare irrespective of their ability to pay. Any resident of the state can demand provision of healthcare as a right from the government or take the government to court if it failed to do so. Doctors, led by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), have opposed this law. After complaining about various provisions in the law, the doctors have now demanded withdrawal of the entire law.

Most doctors thought that the law forced them to provide all Services for free to patients. However, most free services talked about in the law are for government institutions. The law talks of people right to avail freeOPDservices, IPD services consultation, drugs, diagnostics, emergency transport, procedure, and emergency care provided by all public Health institutions accordantly to their level of health care. In the right to avail free healthcare services, the government has scrapped the words any clinical establishment, which means this is mandated only for public health institution, health care establishment and designated health care centres in the prescribed manner and subject to terms and conditions specified in the rules. Most of the bill pertains to public health services. Doctors now take objection to the term designated healthcare centres saying any private establishment could be made one. However, the understanding is that a healthcare centre would be designated in consultation with that centre.

India is aiming to become a leader in the global shipbuilding by launching the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) and setting a goal of becoming a Global Hub for Green Ship building by 2030. The GTTP will start with the production of Green Hybrid Tugs, which will run on Green Hybrid Propulsion systems, and eventually switch to alternative fuel sources like Methanol, Ammonia, and Hydrogen.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda SonowaI has inauguarted the National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) set-up in Gurugram, Haryana, and the Green Tugs will begin operating in major ports by 2025. By 2030, it is expected that 50% of all Tugs will be converted into Green Tugs, resulting in a significant reduction in emissions and contributing to the countrys Sustainable Development goals

Pakistan’s Parliament passed a bill to curb the powers of the chief of The Supreme Court regarding suo motu cases and the constitution of benches, in a significant move to rein in the top judiciary amid criticism by the Opposition.

Minister forLawand Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced ‘The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023’ on Thursday in the Senate, a day after it was passed by the National Assembly – the lower house of the parliament.