DigiReady Certification Portal

The DigiReady Certification Portal was recently launched by the Quality Council of India (QCI) and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to MSME and small scale entities.

• DigiReady Certification Portal aims to assess and certify digital readiness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and small entities.
• It is an initiative of Quality Council of India (QCI) and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
• It is an online self-assessment tool, MSMEs can evaluate their preparedness to seamlessly on-board as sellers on the ONDC platform, thereby expanding their digital capabilities and business potential.
• It also resonates with the objectives of the recently launched FIRST (Forum for Internet Retailers, Sellers, and Traders).
• It accelerates the integration of MSMEs into the Network while also amplifying their potential to thrive in the digital economy.

ADVANTAG(I)GE INDIA

The Microsoft recently announced ADVANTAG(I)GE INDIA, which aims to train two million Indians with AI skills by 2025.

• ADVANTAG(I)GE INDIA intends to push India’s AI transformation and empower its workforce for jobs in the future.
• It an initiative to equip 2 million people in India with artificial intelligence (AI) skills by 2025.
• It is part of Microsoft’s wider Skills for Jobs initiative, which aligns with the company’s responsible AI principles.
• The goal of ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA is to bridge the gap in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities by training individuals while also focusing on rural areas to ensure AI-induced progress is more inclusive.
• Training will be given through partnerships with the government, non-profit firms, and businesses across the country.
• It is a significant step towards democratising access to AI skills across the nation and reflects Microsoft’s deep commitment to enabling inclusive growth with technology.
• Microsoft has partnered with India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship as well as 10 state governments to provide basic and advanced training in AI to 500,000 students and job seekers.

Micro-plastics

The scientist have recently detected various sizes of the micro-plastics in the digestive tract of the fishes which are consumed by humans in the Nile River.

• Plastic debris is a particular concern to marine life.
• Over time plastics break down into smaller pieces known as micro-plastics.
• Micro-plastics are small plastic pieces less than 5 millimetres long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.
• The scientists have found that the degradation of micro plastics leads to production of greenhouse gases.
• Airborne micro-plastics may influence the climate by scattering and absorbing solar and terrestrial radiation, leading to atmospheric warming or cooling depending on particle size, shape and composition.
• It negatively affects animal and human health. Micro-plastics have been shown in laboratory studies to be toxic to animals and cells.
• They are carriers of pollutants including heavy metals.
• The micro-plastics that can be consumed or absorbed in various ways by aquatic organisms.
• The scientist have detected different sizes of micro plastics in the digestive tracts of the fish which are consumed by the human.
• The Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) – Was launched at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012.
• It was launched in response to a request set out in the Manila Declaration on Furthering the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities.
• The GPML is a multi-stakeholder partnership that brings together all actors working to prevent marine litter and plastic pollution.
• By providing unique global platform to share knowledge and experience, partners are able to work together to create and advance solutions to this pressing global issue.
• The partnership is led by a Steering Committee and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides secretariat services.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)

The cabinet has recently approved the PM-MKSSY for a period of 4 years with an outlay of 6000 crore rupees to facilitate access to institutional financing fisheries sector micro and small enterprises.

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) is a scheme for formalization of the fisheries sector and supporting fisheries micro and small enterprises.
• It has an investment of over Rs. 6,000 crores over a period of next four (4) years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 in all States/Union Territories.
• It is a central sector scheme under the Central Sector Component of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Aims and objectives – Gradual Formalization of the unorganized fisheries sector through self-registration of fishers, fish farmers.
• To support workers under a National Fisheries Sector Digital Platform including creation of work based digital identifies of fish workers for improved service delivery.
• Facilitating access to institutional financing fisheries sector micro and small enterprises.
• Providing one-time incentive to beneficiaries for purchasing aquaculture insurance.
• lncentivizing fisheries and aquaculture microenterprises through performance grants for improving fisheries sector value-chain efficiencies including creation and maintenance of jobs.
• Incentivising micro and small enterprises through performance grants for adoption and expansion of fish and fishery product safety.
• Beneficiaries – Fishers, Fish (Aquaculture) Farmers, Fish workers, Fish Vendors.
• Micro and Small enterprises in the form of Proprietary Firms, Partnership Firms and Companies registered in India.
• Societies, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), Cooperatives, Federations, Village Level Organizations like Self Help Groups (SHGs), and Startups engaged in fisheries and aquaculture value chains.
• Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) also include Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs).
• Any other beneficiaries that may be included by the Department of Fisheries, Gol as targeted beneficiaries.
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana – A scheme to bring about ecologically healthy, economically viable, and socially inclusive development of the Fisheries sector of India.
• To know more about it click here .

Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)

Recently Cabinet have approved the extension of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) for another 3 years up to 2025-26.

• In order to address the infrastructure requirement for fisheries sector, the union Government during 2018-19 created the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
• FIDF envisages creation of fisheries infrastructure facilities both in marine and inland fisheries sectors and augment the fish production to achieve the target set under the Blue Revolution.
• FIDF will continue provide concessional finance to the Eligible Entities (EEs), including State Governments/Union Territories for development of identified fisheries infrastructure facilities through Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs) that includes:
  • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and
  • National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC) and All scheduled Banks.
• The eligible entities under FIDF are:
  •  State Governments / Union Territories, 
  • State Owned Corporations and State Government Undertakings,
  • Government Sponsored, Supported Organizations,  Fisheries Cooperative Federations, Cooperatives and Collective Groups of fish farmers & fish produces,
  • Panchayat Raj Institutions, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Women & their entrepreneurs, Private Companies and Entrepreneurs.
• The extension of FIDF will further leverages the financial resources, encourages more investments in development of infrastructure for fisheries and aquaculture both from the public and private sector.