1. EaseMyTrip Introduces ScanMyTrip.com, India’s First Travel Marketplace on the ONDC
Tags: National News
EaseMyTrip, a leading online travel aggregator, has launched ScanMyTrip.com, entering the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
An Overview of the News
This makes EaseMyTrip the first Online Travel Agency (OTA) to offer and purchase travel services through the ONDC network.
ScanMyTrip.com is a marketplace for travel services, allowing OTAs, MSMEs, travel agents, and homestays to list and access services such as flights and accommodations.
Vision and Goals
EaseMyTrip aims to enhance digital infrastructure for businesses in the travel and tourism sector.
Rikant Pittie, cofounder of EaseMyTrip, highlighted that the platform is designed to support travel service providers like homestays and MSMEs, helping them compete in a digital market.
The goal is to provide advanced digital tools for businesses of all sizes to scale and reach more customers.
Financial Performance and Share Movements
EaseMyTrip reported a net profit of INR 33.9 Crore for Q1 FY25, up 31% year-on-year.
Quarterly revenue increased by 23% to INR 152.6 Crore, driven mainly by air ticket sales.
Despite the financial growth, its shares closed 1.8% lower, at INR 41.08 on the BSE.
2. Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh Appointed Chief of Air Staff
Tags: Person in news
Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, currently Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will become the next Chief of Air Staff.
An Overview of the News
He will succeed Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on the afternoon of September 30.
Singh was commissioned into the fighter pilot stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1984 and has nearly 40 years of distinguished service.
He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College.
Singh is a Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, with over 5,000 hours of flying experience on various fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.
Other Key Appointments
Nehal Vora: MD & CEO of Central Depository Services (India).
Swati Vijay Kulkarni: India’s Next Ambassador to Algeria.
RS Sharma: Non-Executive Chairperson of ONDC.
R. Ravindra: India’s Next Ambassador to Iceland.
Rajesh Verma: Chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR.
Dr. Vinay Goyal: State Mission Director for National Health Mission.
Manish Kumar Gupta: New Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh.
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh: Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.
Subhasri Sriram: MD & CEO of Shriram Capital.
Dr. T.V. Somanathan: New Cabinet Secretary of India.
3. WAAYU Launches as India's First Zero-Commission Food Delivery App on ONDC
Tags: National News
WAAYU, India's first zero-commission food delivery app, is now live on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
An Overview of the News
The app aims to create a seamless connection between restaurants and consumers, eliminating commission fees.
Growth and Expansion
Since its launch in May 2023, WAAYU has onboarded over 3,000 restaurants in major Indian cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
WAAYU collaborates with buyer apps like TATA Neu and OLA to enhance order volume and customer experience.
Strategic Partnerships
The entry of Flipkart as a buyer app on the ONDC network, alongside other platforms like Paytm and Tata Neu, is expected to boost demand for WAAYU's services.
This strategic expansion aims to democratize the food delivery ecosystem in India, benefiting both restaurants and consumers.
Company Vision and Technology
Founded by Mandar Lande and Anirudha Kotgire, WAAYU is developed by Destek Infosolutions Pvt Ltd, based in Pune.
With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, WAAYU plans to use its AI-based platform for steady expansion across the country.
4. RS Sharma Appointed Non-Executive Chairperson of ONDC
Tags: Person in news
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a government-backed initiative, has appointed RS Sharma as its non-executive chairperson.
An Overview of the News
RS Sharma is a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
RS Sharma’s Professional Background
First Director General and Mission Director of Aadhaar.
Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA).
Chief Secretary of the Jharkhand government.
Sharma's contributions:
He helped India lead in using technology to address large-scale challenges during his time at TRAI and the NHA.
He played a significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic in deploying digital solutions.
About ONDC
It is a private, non-profit Section 8 company.
Established by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India.
Founded: 31 December 2021.
CEO: Thampy Koshy (since February 2022).
Founder: Government of India.
Headquarters: India.
Aim: To develop an open e-commerce network.
5. 16 National e-Governance Awards presented at Mumbai Conference on September 3-4, 2024
Tags: Awards
27th National Conference on e-Governance held on 3rd and 4th September 2024 at Mumbai, Maharashtra.
An Overview of the News
16 National Awards for e-Governance 2024 announced on 23 August 2024 were presented.
List of Key Award-Winning Projects
Poshan Tracker
Organisation: Ministry of Women & Child Development
Project Head: Indevar Pandey, Former Secretary
iGOT
Organisation: Karmayogi Bharat
Project Head: Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary
Area Officer, the Worksite Monitoring and Inspection Management System
Organisation: Department of Rural Development
Project Head: Amit Kataria, Former Joint Secretary, DoRD
Shiksha Setu Axom
Organisation: Samagra Shiksha, Assam
Project Head: Dr. Om Prakash, Mission Director
Rajkisan Saathi Phase - II
Organisation: Department of Information Technology and Communication, Government of Rajasthan
Project Head: Inderjeet Singh, Commissioner and Special Secretary
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
Organisation: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
Project Head: Sanjiv, Joint Secretary
Use of Teleradiology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Chest Radiograph and Auto Approval for Direct Bank Transfer of Relief to Silicosis Patients
Organisation: Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Government of Rajasthan
Project Head: Dr. Samit Sharma, Secretary to Government of Rajasthan
JHAR - JAL Portal
Organisation: Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Government of Jharkhand
Project Head: Dr. Manish Ranjan, Former Secretary, Government of Jharkhand
Lab Mitra
Organisation: District Administration, Varanasi, Government of Uttar Pradesh
Project Head: S. Rajalingam, District Magistrate
Wokha SAATHI (Smart AI-based Assistant for Timely Help & Interface) Whatsapp Chatbot
Organisation: District Administration Wokha, Government of Nagaland
Project Head: Ajit Kumar Ranjan, Deputy Commissioner
AI Enabled Adaptive Traffic Control System & Smart Hawking Solution
Organisation: Rajkot Municipal Corporation, Government of Gujarat
Project Head: Devang P. Desai, Municipal Commissioner
PCMC Smart Sarathi Project
Organisation: Pimpri Chinchwad Smart City Limited, Government of Maharashtra
Project Head: Shekhar Singh, Municipal Commissioner
India Hypertension Control Initiative
Organisation: ICMR - National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai
Project Head: Dr. Ganeshkumar Parasuraman, Scientist ‘E’
National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases
Organisation: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow
Project Head: Dr. Uttam Kumar Sarkar, Director
Karnataka GIS
Organisation: Karnataka State Remote Sensing Application Center, Government of Karnataka
Project Head: Dr. D. K. Prabhuraj, Former Director
Use of Barcode in Digitizing Property Registers of Police Station Inventory – e-Malkhana
Organisation: Commissionerate of Police, Chandannagar, Government of West Bengal
Project Head: Amit P. Javalgi, Commissioner of Police.
6. BranchX Launches India’s First ONDC-Powered Personal Loan
Tags: Economy/Finance
BranchX, based in Bangalore, launches India’s first personal loan via ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce).
An Overview of the News
Aiming to enhance financial access for India’s 1.4 billion people, focusing on the middle class, young professionals, small business owners, and entrepreneurs.
Emphasizes a paperless and transparent loan process using ONDC framework for digital-first lending solutions.
Features of BranchX's Personal Loan Product:
Offers a seamless, paperless application and disbursement process, leveraging digital technologies.
Enhances affordability and financial literacy through voice AI Banking, providing educational resources and personalized financial guidance.
Plans to extend services with an SME lending product in the future.
Commitment to Financial Inclusion and Growth:
CEO Rajesh Johnny highlights BranchX's dedication to using technology for the benefit of underserved communities in India.
Focuses on driving economic growth by expanding access to credit and simplifying the lending process.
Already serves over 100,000 customers with a significant Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of $50 million.
Innovation in Financial Products:
Known for innovative financial products like the Raja Rani card for family expense management.
Offers micro-saving products linked to gold investments and jewelry, catering to diverse financial aspirations.
Dedicated to fostering an inclusive financial future through AI-driven solutions and leveraging digital infrastructure.
7. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Launches Two New Schemes on World MSME Day in New Delhi
Tags: Government Schemes
Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Jitan Ram Manjhi, launched two new schemes on World MSME Day in New Delhi on June 27.
An Overview of the News
Majhi launched two new schemes MSME Team and Yashaswini Abhiyan.
MSME Team:
Launched MSME Team initiative to facilitate inclusion of micro and small enterprises on Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), with focus on women-owned enterprises.
It aims to help five lakh micro and small enterprises join the Open Network for Digital Commerce.
Yashaswini Abhiyan:
Launched Yashaswini Abhiyan to formalise and empower women-owned micro enterprises through training, guidance and awareness campaigns.
Focuses on raising mass awareness to formalise informal micro enterprises owned by women and provide necessary support.
During the Udyami Bharat event, Mr. Manjhi emphasized the importance of MSMEs adopting digital and technological solutions in a rapidly changing industrial landscape.
International MSME Day
International Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day or World MSME Day is observed across the world on 27 June every year.
This year, the theme for MSME Day 2024 is “Leveraging Power and Resilience of Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to Accelerate Sustainable Development and Eradicate Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises.”
The United Nations (UN) designated June 27 as Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day and this was done through a resolution passed in the United Nations General Assembly in April 2017.
8. First Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav
Tags: Festivals
Recently, the first Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav was organized at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Bhubaneswar, in a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Culture, the Odisha Government, and KIIT University.
An overview of the news
The event brought together 5,000 tribal athletes and 1,000 officials from 26 states, showcasing the diversity and richness of indigenous sports in India.
By organizing such events and supporting the promotion of indigenous sports, the government aims to preserve and revive these traditional games, ensuring their continued relevance and encouraging the younger generation to participate and excel in them.
About Indigenous Sports
The promotion and development of indigenous sports primarily lie with the respective State/Union Territory Governments, as 'Sports' is a state subject.
However, the Union Government supports their efforts through initiatives such as the 'Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports' Scheme.
This scheme includes a specific component dedicated to the development and promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games across the country.
It provided an opportunity for athletes from different states to come together, compete, and exchange their experiences, thereby promoting cultural exchange and unity.
Under this scheme, certain indigenous games have been identified for promotion, such as Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana, and Silambam.
9. 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a ‘God Bharai' ceremony in Rajasthan
Tags: State News
According to Jaskaur Meena, MP from Dausa, Rajasthan, people in Dausa, Rajasthan celebrate 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a ‘God Bharai' (Baby Shower) ceremony.
An Overview of the News:
- In this ceremony all the pregnant women of the area come together and they are provided with 'nutritional kits' for the health of their babies.
- According to MP Jaskaur Meena, about 3.5 lakh women have benefited from this scheme during 2022-23 only in Rajasthan.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated the new initiative of celebrating 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a 'baby shower' ceremony in Dausa, Rajasthan.
- This unique initiative of Dausa will give new energy to 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana'. This initiative will ensure the health security of not only the mothers but also the babies.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY):
- PMMVY was launched on January 1, 2017 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- This scheme, run by the Union Ministry of Child Development, was done for the welfare of pregnant and lactating women across the country.
- Under this, cash benefits are provided to pregnant women directly into their bank accounts to meet increased nutritional requirements and partially compensate for wage loss.
- All pregnant women and lactating mothers who are in regular employment under the Central Government or State Governments or Public Undertakings or who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law.
- Under this, five thousand rupees are given to all the eligible beneficiaries in three installments and the remaining amount of one thousand rupees is given after institutional delivery as per the conditions of maternity benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana.
- Thus on an average a woman is given Rs.6000.
Rajasthan:
- Capital: Jaipur
- Governor: Kalraj Mishra
- Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
- Number of seats in the Legislative Assembly: 200
- Number of seats in Lok Sabha: 25
- Number of seats in Rajya Sabha: 10
10. US court approved extradition of 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India
Tags: International News
A US court has approved the extradition of26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Pakistani-origin Canadian Tahawwur Rana to India.
An overview of the news
California District Court Judge Jacqueline Chooljian has approved the Indian government's request for Rana's extradition.
Rana was arrested in the US on an extradition request by India for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which killed over 160 people, including six Americans.
India has charged Rana with offenses including conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, waging war, murder and forgery.
Rana was convicted in Chicago in 2011 of providing material support to the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which planned the Mumbai terror attacks.
India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing his role in the 26/11 attacks carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in 2008.
What is Extradition?
Extradition is the formal process of surrendering a person from one state to another.
The purpose of this process is the prosecution or punishment for offences committed by a person within the jurisdiction of the requesting country.
The extradition of a fugitive criminal to India is regulated under the Indian Extradition Act, 1962.
The Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division, Ministry of External Affairs is the central/nodal authority to administer the Extradition Act.
Extradition process can be initiated in case of under-investigation, under-trial and convicted criminals.
