UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

  The   2024 Global Heath Expenditure Report   by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that the average per capita government spending on health in all country income groups fell in 2022 from 2021 after a surge in the early pandemic years. The report entitled, “Global spending on health Emerging from the pandemic” has been published in alignment with the   Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day   campaign marked annually on 12 December. The campaign’s focus for 2024 is on improving financial protection for people everywhere to access health services they need. Government spending on health is crucial to delivering UHC. Its deprioritization can have dire consequences in a context where 4.5 billion people worldwide lack access to basic health services and 2 billion people face financial hardship due to health costs. “While access to health services has been improving globally, using those services is driving more and more people into financial hardship or povert...

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (Act) received the assent of the Hon'ble President on 11th August 2023. A draft of the Rules as envisaged under different sections of the Act have been made. The Rules provides for the necessary details and implementation framework of the Act. Features of the Rules: Notice by Data Fiduciary to Data Principal: The notice provided by the Data Fiduciary to the Data Principal must be clear, standalone, and understandable, distinct from any other information shared by the Data Fiduciary. Registration and obligations of a Consent Manager: Consent Manager must be a company incorporated in India with sound financial and operational capacity, having a minimum net worth of two crore rupees, a reputation for fairness and integrity in its management, and a certified interoperable platform enabling Data Principals to manage their consent. Processing for provision or issue of services by the State or its instrumentality: The State and its instrume...

  A single drop of water journeys across the land filtering through rocks and sand to become the invaluable resource we rely on—clean groundwater. This essential source supports life, fuels agricultural productivity and secures water for millions. In 2024, total annual groundwater recharge experienced a significant increase of   15 BCM (Billion Cubic Meters), while extraction decreased by 3 BCM compared to the 2017 assessment.   This progress underscores the importance of understanding groundwater's availability, usage, and the challenges ahead. Country’s Groundwater Resources [2] The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in collaboration with State Groundwater Departments, releases annual reports on groundwater resources. The  'National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2024'  offers a comprehensive state-wise overview, serving as a foundation for effective policies and management strategies. According to the latest report, the total annual g...

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on Thursday notified amendment in the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 to include Para 1.07A and 1.07B  to bring legal backing in the FTP to make it necessary to do consultation with stakeholders to seek views, suggestions, comments or feedback from relevant stakeholders, including importers/exporters/industry experts concerning the formulation or amendment of the Foreign Trade Policy. It also provides the mechanism to inform reasons for not accepting views, suggestions, comments or feedback concerning the formulation or amendment of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023. The latest amendments in the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 reflect upon the Central Government’s commitment towards strengthening the scope of Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in India by encouraging stakeholder and expert participation through consultation in the decision-making process. The key objective of the amendments is to encourage the participation of all stakeholders in the d...

The Government of India has decided to constitute a Working Group for base revision of the current series of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) from base 2011-12 to 2022-23. The composition of the Working Group is as follows:   1. Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog Chairman 2. Additional Director General, Field Operations Division, Ministry of Statistics & P.I. Member 3. Deputy Director General, Economic Statistics Division, Ministry of Statistics & P.I. Member 4. Deputy Director General, National Accounts Division, Ministry of Statistics & P.I. Member 5. Deputy Director General, Enterprise Survey Division, Ministry of Statistics & P.I. Member 6. Economic Adviser, Department of Economic Affairs, ...