In a significant move within the e-commerce industry, Amazon has declared its alliance with the Indian government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This announcement comes following Microsoft’s decision in 2022 to become the first major tech company to join the network, aiming to introduce group buying to the Indian market via social e-commerce. Established by the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), ONDC is an open e-commerce protocol.
This platform envisions enabling a buyer registered on one participating e-commerce site to buy goods from a seller on another participating platform, such as Flipkart. Such a feature overcomes the current system where buyers and sellers need to use the same app for a transaction to occur.
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2023
During the 2023 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), held across 35 states and union territories in India, West Bengal reported the highest number of species (498), followed by Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. According to Bird Count India (BCI), Kerala recorded the most extensive bird checklists, with Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu coming second and third, respectively.
The GBBC, launched in 1998, is an annual event that unites bird enthusiasts, students, and nature lovers in counting birds seen around their living or working environments. Bird Count India spearheads this event in India. India managed to upload the second-highest number of checklists worldwide, behind only the United States, and the third-highest species count of any country, thanks to increased participation from all over the country.
Garcinia Pedunculata’s Cardioprotective Potential
Garcinia pedunculata, a medicinal plant native to Assam known locally as ‘Borthekera,’ has been found to be beneficial in heart disease prevention. The dried pulp of this plant’s ripe fruit has shown promising results in reducing indicators of cardiac hypertrophy, oxidative stress, and heart inflammation caused by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Despite its rich antioxidant content, its cardioprotective potential was unexplored until now.
Under the aegis of the National Health Mission (NHM), the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) is striving to reduce cases of cardiovascular diseases.
Breakthrough Growth of eShram Portal
The Ministry of Labour & Employment launched the eShram portal in 2021 to build a national database for unorganised/migrant workers and provide them with a Universal Account Number (UAN). As of 24th February 2023, a whopping 28.60 crore workers had registered on the portal.
The eShram portal aims to offer social security benefits and welfare schemes to those workers not part of organised sectors, particularly migrant workers. It also identifies workers who fail to benefit from these schemes due to lack of awareness or other reasons. The Ministry of Labour & Employment has initiated data matching of eShram beneficiaries with the Ration Card data from the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD). This ensures that all eligible workers registered on eShram receive ration card benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Last Modified: February 20, 2024