Governance Community

India is set to introduce the BRICS Startup Forum in 2023, aiming to foster cooperation and exchange of successful strategies among startups, investors, mentors, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Textiles, revealed this during a virtual address at the “7th BRICS Industry Ministers’ meeting,” which was hosted by South Africa. Goyal underscored the profound changes witnessed in India and highlighted the advancements attributed to the Startup India initiative. He emphasized the initiative’s role in nurturing nearly 100,000 startups in the nation. Goyal delved into the concept of “Transforming Production Systems,” emphasizing India’s potential to support fellow BRICS nations and the global community at large. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (‘The World Is One Family’), reflecting the country’s dedication to being a responsible global participant, advocating for inclusivity, tolerance, and interconnectedness. The Industry Ministers from the other BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa) also participated in the meeting, leading to the adoption of a Joint Declaration. The ministers jointly stressed the significance of digitalization, industrialization, innovation, inclusivity, and investment within the BRICS alliance. Recognizing the escalating importance of Industry 4.0 and emerging technologies, the declaration acknowledged their role in driving the digital overhaul across various economic sectors. The BRICS members concurred on the necessity of nurturing human resources through upskilling and reskilling initiatives. The ministers voiced their dedication to strengthening industrial collaboration, expediting economic resurgence, and cultivating a fair, vibrant, and unbiased environment conducive to growth. Moreover, the ministers recognized the pivotal role of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and advocated for their integration and diversification into global industrial, supply, and value chains. A notable emphasis was placed on creating market avenues within BRICS countries to promote comprehensive growth for projects led by women, youth, and marginalized communities.

A significant digital transformation is underway in the cooperative sector, as the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) office in Pune prepares to launch its digital portal. Scheduled to be inaugurated by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah, the portal aims to promote ease of doing business in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar se Samridhi’. This initiative by the Ministry of Cooperation marks a major step in strengthening the cooperative movement across the country. The objectives of computerizing the CRCS office are multifaceted, including paperless applications and processing, automatic compliance with the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act (MSCS Act) and Rules through software, and enhanced ease of doing business. The new portal will facilitate transparent processing, improved analytics through MIS (Management Information Systems), and efficient communication. The platform will encompass various modules such as registration, amendment of bye-laws, annual return filing, audits, inspections, inquiries, arbitrations, elections, and more. It will also incorporate the latest amendments to the MSCS Act, 2002, streamlining the entire process through electronic workflows. User registration will be OTP-based, ensuring compliance checks, and video conferencing for hearings will be available. The project aims to register new MSCS entities efficiently, fostering a seamless functioning process. With over 1,550 multi-state cooperative societies registered in the country, the CRCS plays a crucial role in administering the MSCS Act, 2002. The digital transformation will ease activities related to multi-state cooperatives and establish a robust digital ecosystem, while also encouraging youth participation through a ‘hackathon’ competition. The ministry has actively sought feedback from National Cooperative Societies and Multi-State Cooperative Societies to enhance the new portal and create a more inclusive and tech-driven cooperative sector.

India Post embraces the spirit of patriotism and national pride as it announces its wholehearted support for the Government’s “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign. From August 13 to 15, the India Post’s 1.6 lakh post offices across the country will sell the Indian flag, making it easily accessible to citizens. Whether you prefer to walk into a nearby post office or use the convenient ePostOffice facility, purchasing the tricolor has never been easier. But the engagement doesn’t stop at flag sales. The Post Office aims to foster a sense of unity and awareness among citizens through a series of Jan Bhagidari events. By connecting people to this significant initiative of New India, they encourage active participation from all corners of the nation. Taking inspiration from the campaign, citizens are invited to capture their love for the flag by clicking selfies with the national emblem hoisted at their homes and workplaces. These moments of national pride can be shared on social media with designated hashtags, including #IndiaPost4Tiranga, #HarGharTiranga, and #HarDilTiranga. In the pursuit of instilling a deeper sense of patriotism and honoring the symbol of unity and freedom, India Post’s efforts in supporting “Har Ghar Tiranga” prove instrumental in strengthening the spirit of love and togetherness for the nation.

KisanKonnect, an integrated ‘farm-to-fork’ company, has introduced India’s first digital farmers market called ‘Aapka Apna Farmers Market’ through its app. The initiative, inaugurated by wellness advocate Shilpa Shetty Kundra, links 5,000 farmers from Maharashtra directly to consumers in Mumbai and Pune. By eliminating intermediaries, KisanKonnect reduces wastage and ensures fair prices for both farmers and urban consumers. The company’s proprietary technology, Kisan-Trace, offers complete information about the farm, farming practices, and growing location of the vegetables to consumers even before purchase, promoting transparency and trust. Founded three years ago, KisanKonnect has established an advanced tech-enabled supply chain, serving more than three lakh urban consumers through its app and farm stores. The company follows ‘Responsible Agriculture Practices,’ prioritizing soil improvement, using biofertilizers instead of chemicals, and providing farmers with scientific Agronomy inputs for better crop productivity. Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty-Kundra has recently invested in the start-up, further endorsing its vision. Nidhi Nirmal, Co-founder, and Chief Business Officer of KisanKonnect, highlighted the importance of consumers knowing the source of their food for confidence in its quality. The partnership between KisanKonnect and urban consumers in Mumbai and Pune aims to connect conscious consumers with farmers who practice responsible farming methods, ensuring the delivery of fresh produce directly from the farm to their homes. KisanKonnect’s farm-fresh vegetables and fruits can be accessed through their website and mobile app (KisanKonnect Farm Fresh Produce). The company has garnered trust and preference from customers who appreciate its commitment to quality and sustainable agriculture practices.  

The Government of Odisha has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of California, Berkeley, to foster collaboration in various domains. The focus of this partnership includes research, impact assessment of schemes, entrepreneurship, and exchange of academic publications. Both entities will work together on research projects, as well as organize joint conferences and workshops. A significant aspect of this collaboration is the emphasis on conducting joint training workshops in cutting-edge fields, aiming to train around 1,000 researchers. The key areas of focus within emerging technologies such as AI, ML, and generative AI will have a transformative impact on public service delivery mechanisms within the governance system. Through this MoU, the Government of Odisha will have the opportunity to leverage UC Berkeley’s alumni network for further collaboration on various initiatives. The initial phase of cooperation will involve the launch of pilot projects in crucial sectors like Disaster Management and Climate Control, Healthcare, Fintech, and Agriculture. Tusharkanti Behera, Minister of State for E & IT, Sports & YS, and Home in Odisha, expressed his optimism about the numerous opportunities for cooperation, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and research in the coming year. He believes this partnership will foster goodwill and yield substantial benefits for both societies involved.

ServiceNow has announced the launch of its India Innovation Centre, a digital incubation hub aimed at empowering Indian enterprises to redefine their work processes with the help of advanced technologies like GenAI, hyperautomation, and low-code apps. Located in Knowledge City, Hyderabad, the innovation center provides purpose-built rooms where companies can develop custom digital blueprints to scale their business strategies. The facility will also host on-demand training sessions in collaboration with academia, customers, and partners to enhance the digital skills of Indian citizens. The opening ceremony was attended by Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of IT, Government of Telangana, who commended ServiceNow’s commitment to augmenting Indian enterprises and Hyderabad’s reputation as a technology hub. Kamolika Gupta Peres, Vice President & Managing Director of ServiceNow Indian Sub-Continent, highlighted the significance of the Innovation Centre in facilitating direct conversations between customers and ServiceNow engineers. The Hyderabad-based Innovation Centre is the company’s largest development center outside the USA, contributing significantly to ServiceNow’s global product development cycle. Indian enterprises have increasingly embraced ServiceNow solutions to address productivity challenges and establish robust digital businesses. The company serves leading technology providers, top banks, and has witnessed rapid growth in the public sector since the launch of its local data centers in 2022. With over 15 percent of its global workforce based in India, ServiceNow prioritizes investing in the country’s broader ecosystem to equip people with digital skills. Sumeet Mathur, Vice President & Managing Director of ServiceNow India Technology & Business Centre, emphasized that the new innovation center will act as a collaborative briefing center, enabling customers to explore the value that ServiceNow can bring to their organizations. With Hyderabad serving as ServiceNow’s largest product development site, the center presents an opportunity for developers to directly engage with end-users, leading to greater efficiency and innovation. Additionally, ServiceNow’s RiseUp program has partnered with ten academic and government institutions in India, committing to train over 5,500 students in digital skills. The company plans to expand its educational partnerships and further enhance its training initiatives in the country.

India’s third lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-3, successfully lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, according to the predetermined launch schedule. This mission aims to establish India as the fourth country to achieve a spacecraft landing on the moon, showcasing the nation’s capability for a safe and gentle touchdown on the lunar surface. LVM3 M4/Chandrayaan-3 Mission:LVM3 M4 vehicle🚀 successfully launched Chandrayaan-3🛰️ into orbit. — ISRO (@isro) July 14, 2023 The GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle was employed to launch the spacecraft. It is estimated that the journey from Earth to the moon will take approximately a month, with the anticipated landing date set for August 23. Following the landing, the spacecraft will operate for one lunar day, equivalent to about 14 Earth days. Chandrayaan-3 serves as the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) subsequent endeavor following the challenges encountered during the soft landing phase of the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019.

G20’s Culture Working Group (CWG) held its inaugural session today in Hampi, Karnataka, focusing on the significance of culture. Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Coal and Mines, delivered a speech at the event. He highlighted the transition from identifying priorities to reaching consensus on actionable recommendations, which would play a crucial role in integrating culture into policymaking. The four priority areas discussed are: safeguarding and restoring cultural property, utilizing living heritage for a sustainable future, promoting cultural and creative industries, and leveraging digital technologies for culture’s protection and promotion. Joshi emphasized that the goal is to build consensus on a ministerial declaration that encompasses these priorities, fostering an inclusive and sustainable future. Joshi acknowledged the valuable contributions of G20 member countries in shaping the shared vision, stating that cultural heritage serves as a unifying thread in our diverse world. He stressed that culture bridges gaps, encourages understanding, and enables appreciation of our shared human journey. He urged participants to recognize the power of unity, the beauty of diversity, and the immense potential culture holds for human development, social inclusion, and global harmony. As part of the CWG’s cultural endeavors, an attempt is being made to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by creating the largest display of lambani embroidery patches. This initiative involves over 450 women artisans from the lambani community associated with Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra, showcasing around 1300 lambani embroidery patch works at the G20 event. Delegates are also being immersed in India’s rich cultural heritage through visits to significant sites like the Vijaya Vittala Temple, the Royal Enclosure, and the Yeduru Basavanna complex of the Hampi Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, they will enjoy a coracle ride on the Tungabhadra River and participate in a yoga session at the Shri Pattabhirama Swamy Temple.  

The Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced a new scheme aimed at enhancing and modernizing fire services in various states across India. This initiative falls under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and has been allocated a total budget of Rs 5,000 crore. Out of this amount, Rs 500 crore will be designated for incentivizing states based on their legal and infrastructure reforms. The Home Ministry has sent a letter to the Chief Secretaries and heads of Fire Services of all states to inform them about this scheme. The scheme was announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a meeting with Disaster Management ministers from states and Union Territories in New Delhi on June 13. The primary objective of the scheme is to expand and modernize fire services in states by utilizing the preparedness and capacity-building component of the NDRF. This is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen India’s disaster risk reduction system and ensure minimal loss of life and property during emergencies. To seek funding under this scheme, state governments will be required to contribute 25% of the total project cost from their own budgets, except for the North-Eastern and Himalayan states, which will contribute 10%. The scheme originates from the recommendation of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, which allows for an allocation of 12.5% of the NDRF and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the funding window of preparedness and capacity building. The ministry emphasized that there will be no spill-over of liabilities for projects sanctioned beyond the award period specified. For further details about the scheme, interested parties can download the information from the website of the Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (https://ndmindia.mha.gov.in).  

In a meeting held at the Pragati Maidan convention center in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a discussion with the Union Council of Ministers, sparking speculation about a potential major cabinet reshuffle in the final year of his government’s second term. Following the meeting, PM Modi tweeted about the fruitful exchange of views on various policy- related matters. During the meeting, the Prime Minister encouraged the ministers to focus on accelerating India’s growth in different sectors with the goal of transforming the country into a global superpower by 2047, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of India’s independence. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to shift the ministers’ attention beyond 2024 and work towards long-term growth, as stated in a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).