10 Years of Government e-Marketplace
Polity
Context
- The Government e Marketplace (GeM) completed ten years of operations on 9 August 2026.
Government e-Marketplace
- It is India’s online public procurement portal launched in 2016 under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- It is a 100% government-owned, not-for-profit company.
Core Pillars
- Inclusivity: Onboards MSMEs, startups, and women artisans.
- Efficiency: Reduces time via paperless and cashless processes.
- Transparency: Uses open electronic bidding to eliminate corruption.
Key Features
- Flexible Purchasing: Supports direct buying, e-bidding, and reverse auctions.
- Seamless Integration: Verified via Aadhaar, PAN, GSTIN, and corporate banking.
Major Sub-Initiatives
- SWAYATT: Promotes startups, women, and youth-led businesses.
- Womaniya: Showcases handicrafts made by women Self-Help Groups.
- Startup Runway: Helps tech startups pitch products to state buyers.
- SARAS Collection: Markets utility goods produced by rural artisans.
National Youth Parliament Scheme Web Portal
Polity
Context
- The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has launched an upgraded version of the National Youth Parliament Scheme web portal, known as NYPS 2.0.
National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS)
- It is an initiative of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
- Objective- It is aimed at promoting democratic values, parliamentary practices, and constitutional awareness among young people.
- Uniqueness – Unlike the previous version, which was limited to students of recognized institutions only, NYPS 2.0 is open to all educational institutions, groups and citizens across the country.
Web Portal:
- The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs launched the web portal of the NYPS in 2019.
- Aim: To expand the outreach of the Youth Parliament Programme of the Ministry to all the recognized educational institutions of the country.
Mahanadi River Water Dispute
Polity
News –
- The long-standing Mahanadi River water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh has once again come into focus.
Constitutional and Legal Framework
Inter-State River Waters
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- Article 262: Empowers Parliament to adjudicate disputes relating to inter-state river waters.
- Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956: Provides for the establishment of water dispute tribunals.
- River Boards Act, 1956: Provides for river basin planning (though no River Board has been established under the Act).
- Entry 17 (State List): Water is primarily a state subject.
- Entry 56 (Union List): Parliament can regulate and develop inter-state rivers in the public interest.
Other Inter-State River Water Disputes
- Cauvery: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry.
- Krishna: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh.
- Godavari: Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha.
- Ravi-Beas: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan.
- Mahadayi (Mandovi): Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra.
- Vamsadhara: Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Additional information – Mahanadi River
- Origin: Sihawa Hills, Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh. Length: Approximately 851 km.
- States Covered: Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and a small part of Jharkhand.
- Mouth: Empties into the Bay of Bengal near Paradip, forming a fertile delta.
- Major Tributaries: Left Bank: Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand. Right Bank: Ong, Tel, Jonk, Ib.
Chandrayaan-5
Science & technology
News –
- Scientists from ISRO and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) recently reviewed the progress of the Chandrayaan-5.
- Also known as LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration),
About –
- It is a joint project between ISRO and JAXA.
- Targeted for launch around 2028.
- Objective – The mission focuses on exploring the Moon’s South Pole to study surface and subsurface water-ice deposits.
- The mission will take off on a Japanese rocket, H3, and is planned to carry seven scientific instruments for carrying out different kinds of experiments.
Additional information – Chandrayaan-3
- It is India’s third moon mission.
- It was made by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- On August 23, 2023, it landed near the Moon’s South Pole. This made India the first country to reach the south polar region and the fourth country to land on the Moon. August 23 is now celebrated as National Space Day in India.
Key Quick Facts
- Launch Rocket: LVM3-M4 rocket.
- Landing Site: Named Shiv Shakti Point.
- Mission Life: 1 Lunar Day (about 14 Earth days).
The Three Spacecraft Parts
Propulsion Module: Carried the lander close to the Moon. It has 1 payload
- SHAPE (Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth): Studies Earth from orbit.
Vikram Lander: The main box that made the soft landing.It has 4 payloads
- ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) : Measures surface temperature.
- ILSA (Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity): Records moonquakes.
- RAMBHA-LP (Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere – Langmuir Probe) :Measures plasma density.
- LRA (Laser Retroreflector Array) : Measures Moon distance (NASA)
Pragyan Rover: A small 6-wheeled robot. It has 2 payloads.
- LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope): Finds elements (found Sulphur).
- APXS (Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer): Studies soil minerals.
Why the South Pole Matters
- Water Ice: Deep craters have ice that never melts.
- Resources: This ice can make drinking water, oxygen, and fuel for future astronauts.
- History: The cold preserves old solar system clues.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
Government Schemes
News-
- The Union Government announced that post-harvest losses in Karnataka’s marine fisheries range between 6.21% and 10.13%.
Fisheries Sector of India
- Producer – India is the 3rd largest fish producing and 2nd largest aquaculture producing nation in the world.
- India is the 4th largest exporter of fish and fisheries.
- In terms of employment, the sunrise sector supports the livelihood of over 30 Mn people in India.
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)– to bring about the Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India.
Government Initiatives for the Growth of the Sector
- National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB): Established in 2006, NFDB serves as the apex body for the planning and promotion of fisheries development in India.
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Launched in 2020, PMMSY is a flagship scheme aimed at boosting fish production and doubling farmers’ income.
- Blue Revolution: Launched in 2015, the Blue Revolution aims to promote sustainable development and management of the fisheries sector.
Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan
Polity
News –
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan to build a drug-free India through awareness and community engagement.
About –
-
- It is a 100-week youth campaign launched on August 2, 2026.
- Mandate – It aims to eradicate substance abuse to achieve Viksit Bharat @2047.
- Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
-
- Platform: Conducted through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat).
- Timeline: 100 weeks (active every Sunday).
- Origin: Inspired by a pilot in Varanasi (Kashi Declaration).
- Synergy: Complements the Ministry of Social Justice’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
Key Pillars
- Mass Mobilisation: Uses 1 crore+ youth, NSS units, and spiritual bodies.
- Sunday Activities: Promotes sports, yoga, and arts as positive alternatives.
- Destigmatization: Treats recovering addicts as “warriors” for social reintegration.