07 Jan 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Seventh Edition of Digital India Awards
2. Exercise Veer Guardian 2023

1. Seventh Edition of Digital India Awards

Syllabus: GS 3, Science and Technology.

Mains: Science and Technology developments and applications in everyday life.

Prelims: Digital India Awards, e-NAM.

Context: Seventh Edition of Digital India Awards.

Details:

• The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented the seventh edition of the Digital India Awards on January 7, 2023, in New Delhi.
• The President during her speech highlighted that the Digital India Awards acknowledge, inspire, and motivate both Government entities and startups to attain the vision of a digital India. 
• They are steps in direction of transforming India into a digitally empowered society where citizens’ potential is unleashed through the effective use of digital governance.
• It was further said that social justice should be the major objective of digital innovations. And India would become a knowledge economy only when the issue of the digital divide is adequately addressed.
• e-NAM, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, won the Platinum Award (First Prize) in the Digital Empowerment of Citizens Category.

e-NAM:

• e-NAM is a digital platform that integrates nearly 1260 APMC mandis across 22 States and 3 Union Territories.
• It provides online trading of approximately 203 agriculture and horticulture commodities thus enabling farmers to realize better remunerative prices for their produce.
• It provides multiple benefits and facilities like: 
  • Providing access to current commodity prices on a mobile app
  • GPS-based features capturing e-NAM mandis and mandi prices within ~100 kms radius along with route map
  • Advance registration 
  • SMS alert on the final bid price of the lot and payment receipt
  • Real-time competitive price bidding through e-NAM and the progress of the bidding process
  • Direct trade between farmer and trader, etc

For more information on e-NAM, read here: e-NAM – National Agriculture Market – Purpose & Implementation (UPSC GS-III)

Digital India Awards:

• Digital India Awards (DIA) has been instituted by MeitY, under the ambit of the National Portal of India. 
• It has been initiated to honour and encourage innovative digital solutions by various government entities in the realm of Digital Governance.
• DIA 2022 was given for seven different categories namely:
  • Digital Empowerment of Citizens
  • Public Digital Platforms
  • Digital Initiatives in Collaboration with Start-ups
  • Digital Initiative for ease of doing business
  • Data sharing and use for socioeconomic development
  • Digital Initiatives at the Grassroots level
  • Best Web & Mobile initiatives

For more information on Digital India, read here: Digital India – Objectives, Advantages & Challenges

2. Exercise Veer Guardian 2023

Syllabus: GS 3, Security.

Mains: Security challenges and their management.

Prelims: Exercise Veer Guardian.

Context: Exercise Veer Guardian will be held in Japan from 12 January to 26 January 2023.

Details:

• Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) will hold the joint Air Exercise, ‘Veer Guardian-2023’ at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan from 12 January 2023 to 26 January 2023.
• The exercise aims to promote Air Defence cooperation between both countries.
• The Indian contingent will comprise four Su-30 MKI, two C-17, and one IL-78 aircraft. Whereas the JASDF contingent will include four F-2 & four F-15 aircraft.
• This exercise is a step in deepening strategic ties and closer defence cooperation between Japan and India.
• Exercise ‘Veer Guardian’ will strengthen the long-standing bond of friendship and enhance the avenues of defence cooperation between the two Air Forces.
• The exercise will include various aerial combat drills, multi-domain air combat missions in a complex environment, and an exchange of best practices. Experts from both countries will also hold discussions and share their knowledge on varied operational aspects.

Also read: Dharma Guardian – India-Japan Bilateral Army Exercise [UPSC Notes]
Read the previous PIB articles here.

January 7th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here