Governance Community

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).

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued cybersecurity guidelines that prohibit the use of AnyDesk and TeamViewer by government departments. The guidelines, applicable to all ministries, departments, and government institutions, aim to enhance information security practices. These guidelines can be accessed via the CERT-In website. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe and secure cyberspace. The guidelines serve as a roadmap for government entities and industries to mitigate cyber risks, safeguard citizen data, and strengthen the overall cybersecurity ecosystem. They will also serve as a benchmark for auditing teams, including internal and external auditors, to assess an organization’s security measures against the specified cybersecurity requirements. The guidelines cover various security domains, including network security, identity and access management, application security, data security, third-party outsourcing, hardening procedures, security monitoring, incident management, and security auditing. Additionally, they incorporate guidelines developed by the National Informatics Centre to promote cyber hygiene and enhance cybersecurity among Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and employees of Central Government Ministries/Departments. These guidelines play a crucial role in India’s larger cybersecurity framework as the country strives to achieve its goal of a $1 trillion digital economy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the 42nd edition of PRAGATI, an ICT-based platform for proactive governance and timely implementation, where he chaired a meeting involving the central and state governments. The meeting focused on the review of twelve key projects, seven of which were from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, two from the Ministry of Railways, and one each from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Steel, and Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. These projects have a combined value of over Rs 1,21,300 crore and are spread across ten states, including Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Haryana, as well as two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. During the meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress of various projects, such as the construction of AIIMS facilities in Rajkot, Jammu, Awantipora, Bibinagar, Madurai, Rewari, and Darbhanga. He emphasized the importance of resolving any outstanding issues and adhering to the stipulated timelines for the completion of these projects, considering their significance for the general public. Additionally, Prime Minister Modi discussed the ‘PM SVANidhi Scheme’ and urged Chief Secretaries to identify and include all eligible street vendors, particularly in tier II and tier III cities. He also directed a mission-mode campaign to promote digital transactions among street vendors and ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach the family members of SVANidhi beneficiaries through the ‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’ initiative. Furthermore, the Prime Minister commended Chief Secretaries for successfully organizing G20 meetings and encouraged them to maximize the benefits derived from these meetings, especially in terms of promoting tourism and exports in their respective states. The PRAGATI meetings have reviewed a total of 340 projects worth Rs 17.05 lakh crore thus far, as stated in a note from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) is set to mark ‘Udyami Bharat MSME Day’ on June 27th at Vigyan Bhawan with the launch of several initiatives aimed at promoting the growth and development of the MSME sector. One of the key initiatives to be unveiled is the Champions 2.0 Portal and mobile app, which will facilitate the geo-tagging of cluster projects and technology centers. The event will be attended by Narayan Rane, the Union Minister for MSME, as the Chief Guest, and Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, the Union Minister of State (MSME), as the Guest of Honour. The program will involve the announcement of results for the ‘MSME Idea Hackathon 2.0’ and the launch of ‘MSME Idea Hackathon 3.0’ specifically designed for women entrepreneurs. Additionally, certificates will be presented to MSMEs that have achieved gold and silver ZED certification, and a digital transfer of Rs. 400 crore as margin money subsidy will be made to 10,075 beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). Furthermore, the event will witness the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between various central government organizations. The aim of these initiatives and activities is to provide a boost to the MSME sector and empower women entrepreneurs, while promoting innovation and collaboration among MSMEs.