Government e Marketplace (GeM)

For: Preliminary; Mains: GS III

Topics covered: Economics, News initiatives, achievements during FY 2018-19

News Flash

Government e Marketplace (GeM) has closed the Financial Year 2018-19.

 

Findings

• The year witnessed a four-fold increase in total value of transactions on the portal and doubling of number of sellers in the marketplace.
• There has also been an overall growth in other dimensions like number of categories, products and buyers.
• Despite such phenomenal growth in transactions, average rejection rate of supplies remained below one percent, which is proof of high quality of products/services offered on the portal.

 

Highlights from the FY year 2018-19

• GeM was awarded Digital India Platinum Award for ‘Exemplary Online Service’ by the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY).
• It was also nominated for the prestigious UN-ITU WSIS.
• GeM had taken up some special initiatives to spread awareness, train prospective users and promote inclusiveness in the marketplace. One such mega initiative was National Mission on GeM.  The Mission witnessed 315 capacity building exercises across 187 districts of 31 states/UTs.
• 18 dedicated theme-based events, which included technology architecture, services, credit facilities, legal framework, localization etc. were held to steer the future roadmap for GeM and strategize exponential growth.
• As a part of inclusive agenda, another special initiative was launched to enable Women Entrepreneurs and Women led Self Help Groups to showcase and sell their products on GeM. The initiative is aptly named as ‘Womaniya’.
• Another programme like SWAYATT- an initiative to promote Start-ups, Women and Youth Advantage Through e-Transactions, was launched in February 2019.
• In association with Start -up India, GeM Start-up Runway has been initiated to facilitate Start-ups in selling innovative products and services to government buyers.

 

Milestones achieve in FY 2018-19

• Grossed over Rs. 23,000 crores in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) through more than 17 lakh transactions on the platform.
• Made over 8.8 lakh products available on its platform through a network of over 2 lakh sellers and service providers.
• These products and services are being bought by over 34,000 government organisations (Central, State Governments and PSUs) registered on the platform.
• 42% of transactions by volume are done with MSMEs registered on the platform.
• Buyers from across 36 States and Union Territories (UTs) are buying on the platform. 24 States and UTs have signed a formal MoU with GeM to adopt it as the core procurement portal in their respective territories.
• Average savings of more than 25% achieved across transactions on the platform.
• Integration with Aadhaar, UdyogAadhaar, Ministry of Corporate Affairs21 (MCA21), Public Financial Management System (PFMS), PAN, GSTN, Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Railways, and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) empanelled rating agencies for robust registration process.
• Training of over 1.3 lakh buyers and sellers has been conducted across 28 States and UTs to enable them to seamlessly operate the platform.
• MoUs have been signed with 12 banks for payment integration (State GeM Pool Account-SGPA, Electronic Performance Bank Guarantee-ePBG, Electronic Earnest Money Deposit-eEMD) to facilitate a cashless, contactless and paperless paymentsystem on the platform.
• MoU signed with MSME Ministry, Common Service Centers (CSC) and industrial associations (CII, FICCI, AIMA, MAIT, FICCI, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, IIA and ASSOCHAM. for facilitating training, capacity building and on boarding of manufactures and vendors across the country.
• Integration with Quality Council of India (QCI) for ensuring quality compliances of the products and services offered through GeM.
• Traffic on GeM website has increased by 50% in FY 2018-19 Vs. 2017-18

 

GeM

GeM is the national public procurement portal offering end to end solution for all procurement needs of Central and State govt. departments and PSUs.

Since its inception on 9th August 2016, GeM has transformed public procurement in the country by leveraging technology and making procurement contactless, paperless, and cashless. GeM facilitates procurement at the right price, right quality and right quantity in a transparent and efficient manner. The platform reduces manual process inefficiencies and human interventions in procurement and enables increased coverage, access, and efficiency of faceless standardised public procurement.

Source: United News of India

 

 

World’s first armed amphibious drone boat

For: Preliminary ; Mains: GS III

Topics covered: New Innovation, Science & technology, Defence equipment

News Flash

China has successfully tested the world’s first armed amphibious drone boat which the Chinese military analysts claimed could be used in land assault operations and is capable of forming a combat triad with aerial drones and other drone ships.

 

Features

• The drone ship, named Marine Lizard, is built by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group under China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).
• Having a maximum operation range of 1,200 kms, the Marine Lizard can be remotely controlled via satellites.
• In ship form, the 12-meter-long Marine Lizard is a trimaran propelled by a diesel-powered hydrojet and can reach a maximum speed of 50 knots while maintaining stealth.
• When approaching land, the amphibious drone ship can release four continuous track units hidden under its belly, and travel at 20 kms an hour on land.
• The Marine Lizard’s payloads include an electro-optical system and a radar system.
• It is equipped with two machine guns and a vertical launching system for anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles
• It can autonomously sail, avoid obstacles and plan routes.
• This amphibious drone boat is suitable for island assault operations as a swarm of such drone ships could lead an attack following a first wave of artillery and air strikes.
• The drone boat is also a great choice for coastal defence.
• Guided by China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, the Marine Lizard can cooperate with other battle units in an integrated command system.
• He also pointed out the amphibious Marine Lizard can possibly form an unmanned sea-land-air integrated combat system with aerial armed reconnaissance drones and other drone ships, which can engage in combat with great efficiency and low risk of casualties.

 

Source: Hindustan Times

 

 

Floating Solar Power Plant

For: Preliminary ; Mains: GS II

Topics covered: Environment protection, new-age green and sustainable technology, development, Electricity need.

News Flash

Floating solar or FPV (Floating photovoltaic), refers to an array of solar panels on a structure that floats on a body of water, typically an artificial basin or a lake.

• Singapore-based AM International Holdings, has announced its foray into renewable energy by setting up a floating solar power plant.
• Founder chairman of AM International Group, laid the foundation stone for the 24 MW floating solar power plant at SPIC’s Thoothukudi factory complex, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
• The floating plant would be located in the company’s water reservoir on the Thoothukudi plant premises.
• The project is one of its kind and one of India’s first floating renewable energy initiative to optimise energy production in industrial plants.

 

Significance of Solar energy

• The sun provides more than enough energy to meet the whole world’s energy needs, and unlike fossil fuels, it won’t run out anytime soon.
• No greenhouse gas emissions are released into the atmosphere when you use solar panels to create electricity.
• After solar panels have been installed, operational costs are quite low compared to other forms of power generation.
• Fuel isn’t required, and this means that solar power can create large amounts of electricity without the uncertainty and expense of securing a fuel supply.

 

Significance of floating solar plants

• Land availability or high land costs is no more big issue.
• The global floating solar market is driven by Asian countries, with China and Japan being home to bulk of the existing operational capacity of 259 MW.

 

Negatives- floating solar plants

• Non-availability of floats in India makes it an expensive option.
• Project costs higher by 30%-50%than ground mounted solar.
• Dependent on European or Chinese suppliers.

 

Source: The Hindu

 

 

Entry of women into mosques

For: Preliminary; Mains: GS II

Topics covered: Social Justice, Governance, Polity

News Flash

A Pune based muslim couple has submitted their petition in the Supreme Court against the prohibition of entry of Muslim women into mosques. They also said in petition that the Holy Quran does not differentiate between men and woman. It speaks only about the faithful. But Islam has instead become a religion in which women are being oppressed. They terming bar as illegal, gender based discrimination, unconstitutional and a violation of their dignity.

 

Present Situation

• Women are allowed to offer prayers only under mosques coming under the Jamaat-e-Islami and Mujahid denominations.
• Muslim women are barred from mosques under the predominant Sunni faction.
• In mosques where women are allowed, there are separate entrances and enclosures for men and women

 

Earlier the Apex court upheld the dignity of women worshippers aged between 10 and 50 by lifting the bar on them to pray at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

 

Why Separate halls/area for men and women

The reason for this is that during worship nothing should distract them from focusing on God. Also the postures during prayer in Islam mean that it makes sense for men and women not to pray together so that everyone can stay focused on God.

‘Narrated Ibn Umar:  The Prophet (saw) said, “Allow women to go to the Mosques at night.” ’ (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 13, Number 22)

Some mosques around the world do not have a separate prayer halls for men and women, however, the vast majority do.

 

Shias and Sunnis

Shias consider Ali and the leaders who came after him as Imams. Most believe in a line of 12 Imams, the last of whom, a boy, is believed to have vanished in the ninth century in Iraq after his father was murdered. Shias known as Twelvers anticipate his return as the Mahdi, or Messiah.

Sunnis emphasise God’s power in the material world, sometimes including the public and political realm, while Shias value martyrdom and sacrifice.

 

Causes of split

A schism emerged after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632. He died without appointing a successor to lead the Muslim community, and disputes arose over who should shepherd the new and rapidly growing faith.

Some believed that a new leader should be chosen by consensus; others thought that only the prophet’s descendants should become caliph.

 

Source: The Hindu

 

 

India’s trade deficit reaches a record high

For: Preliminary ; Mains: GS III

Topics covered: Import-Export, Trade deficit, Reasons and outcomes, Impact and effect

News Flash

Despite exports and imports growing at the same rate of 9 per cent, India’s trade deficit reached a record high of $176 billion in 2018-19.

According to data released by the commerce and industry ministry:

• Exports stood at $32.55 billion in March, taking the total tally in 2018-19 to $331 billion.
• While it is the first time that outbound trade has remained above $300 billion for two consecutive years.
• A continuous shoot up in imports, which grew at double digit levels for 6 of the last 12 months, took cumulative imports to a soaring high of $507.44 billion.
• In march, new orders in key foreign exchange earning sectors such as gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and petrochemicals.
• Export growth reached double-digit figures for the first time since October.
• Of the 30 major product groups, 20 recorded a growth in March.
• Low Import of Crude oil, Gold, metal.

Source: Indian Express

 

 

ATTENTION

‘First’ 3D printed heart

Scientists in Israel unveiled a 3D print of a heart with human tissue and vessels.

This is the first time that anyone has successfully engineered and printed an entire heart replete with cells, blood vessels, ventricles and chambers. People have managed to 3D-print the structure of a heart in the past, but not with cells or with blood vessels.

But the scientists said many challenges remain before fully working 3D printed hearts will be available for transplant into patients.

Significance of the development 

Cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading cause of death, according to the World Health Organization, and transplants are currently the only option available for patients in the worst cases.

But there are two problems :
• Number of donors is limited and many die while waiting.
• When they do benefit, they can fall victim to their bodies rejecting the transplant — a problem the researchers are seeking to overcome.

 

 

NASA Awards for Three Indian Teams

NASA has awarded three teams from India as part its annual NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge, which invites high school and college students to build and test roving vehicles for future missions to the Moon, Mars and
beyond.

• The team from KIET Group of Institutions in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, won the “AIAA Neil Armstrong Best Design Award”.
• The Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management and Engineering from Mumbai, Maharashtra, won the “Frank Joe Sexton Memorial Pit Crew Award”.
• A team from Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab, won the STEM Engagement Award.