The Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) is a distinctive initiative kickstarted by the Office of the President of India. Commenced in 2015, the festival’s main aim is to appreciate, honour, and incentivise grassroots innovations. This initiative organises an annual festival to commemorate creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India jointly organise this event.
Driving Innovations for Social Good
There is more to FINE than meets the eye; it is not just a festival but also a platform that allows innovators to connect with potential stakeholders. The objective behind this setup is to improve the prospects of these innovators in coming years for the larger social good. This platform also encourages lateral learning and linkages among the innovators to reinforce the ecosystem for new India.
National Innovation Foundation and its Role
Established in 2000 with the support of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, NIF has been instrumental in strengthening grassroots technological innovations and exceptional traditional knowledge across the country. Over the years, NIF has gathered an extensive database of ideas, innovations, and traditional knowledge practices from all corners of India.
YONO Cash: SBI’s Technology Shift for Cardless Transactions
In line with the trend of digitalization, the State Bank of India (SBI) recently introduced ‘YONO Cash’—an application designed to facilitate cardless withdrawal of cash from SBI ATMs nationwide. To complete the cash withdrawal, customers need to initiate the process on the YONO app and set a six-digit YONO Cash pin for the transaction, providing them with an easy, fast, and secure way of withdrawing money.
| Innovation | Year | Founder |
|---|---|---|
| FINE | 2015 | Office of the President of India |
| NIF | 2000 | Department of Science and Technology, Government of India |
| YONO Cash | Recent | State Bank of India |
Linking Human Jaw Evolution to Neolithic Era
As per recent research, there has been a significant change in human diet due to Neolithic advancements in agriculture. This change affected human jaw evolution, thereby enabling people to pronounce the consonants ‘f’ and ‘v’. The study reveals that language is not merely a random product of history but has connections with biological changes at that time.
UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4): Prioritising Sustainable Development Goals for 2030
The fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) was recently held in Nairobi, Kenya. During this assembly, nations pledged to expedite measures to establish a new model of development to respect the vision laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. The pledge included a unanimous agreement to considerably reduce single-use plastic products like cups, cutlery, and bags by 2030.
The United Nations Environment Assembly and its Role
The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the governing body of the UN Environment Program. It addresses the critical environmental challenges faced worldwide and biennially sets the agenda for global environmental policies while developing international environmental law.
UNNATEE: India’s Approach to Enhancing Energy Efficiency
The Indian government launched the National Energy Efficiency Strategy Plan 2031, “UNNATEE” (UNlocking NATional Energy Efficiency potential) to accelerate energy efficiency in India. The initiative by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) establishes a clear linkage between energy supply-demand scenarios and energy efficiency opportunities. The initiative provides a comprehensive roadmap to address India’s environmental and climate change mitigation actions through energy efficiency measures.
