GeM, CSC and India Posts sign MoU for engagement of last-mile Government buyers, sellers and service providers in public procurement

Government eMarketplace [GeM], CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. [CSC-SPV], and Department of Posts, inked a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] for the advocacy, outreach, mobilization and capacity-building of last-mile Govt buyers, sellers and service providers in public procurement. The MoU was signed by Shri PK Singh, CEO, GeM, Shri Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, CEO, CSC-SPV and Shri Ajay Kumar Roy, Chief General Manager, Parcel Directorate, Department of Posts in New Delhi today.  

Why is it in news?

The MoU was conceived after the successful integration of GeM and India Post on 05th May 2022. With this integration, it is now possible for all last-mile Govt buyers, sellers and service-providers to avail the logistics services and facilities over GeM through the India Post facilities located in the remotest parts of India.  

Highlights

·       Nearly 4.5 lakh+ Common Service Centers [CSC] and approx. 1.5 lakh+ India Post offices across India will be trained to assist last-mile Govt buyers, sellers and service providers with buyer/ seller registration, product catalogue upload and management, order acceptance, fulfilment and invoice generation  functionality on GeM portal.

·       Value-added services such as photography of product images, packaging, logistics and shipment of packages through Speed Post and Business Parcel, through India Post website, online, print and office communication channels will also be delivered at charges defined by CSC and Department of Posts. GeM Services offered through CSCs and India Post Offices will be made available to all Govt buyers, sellers and service providers at no charge. 

·       Vernacular language-based training curriculum in print and digital media for CSCs and India Post staff based on the requirement of the participants is being developed by GeM in consultation with CSC-SPV and Dept of Posts. Training sessions will be conducted through in-person and virtual training modes at 6,000+ CSCs nominated by CSC-SPV and co-located at district and block-level, who in turn will train panchayat level Village-Level Entrepreneurs [VLE] to familiarize them on various buyer and seller functionalities on the GeM portal. 

·       Rates for packaging materials and shipment of packages through Speed Post and Business Parcel through India Post website, online, print and office communication channels will be shared with CSCs. Dept of Posts will conduct “Train-the-Trainer” training programs related to various postal products and services such as Speed Post and Business Parcel, namely, packaging of consignments using packaging material defined as per the Shipment Packaging Policy of Dept of Posts through the 6,000+ CSCs nominated by CSC-SPV in a phased manner.

·       Dept of Posts will ensure the availability of India Post packaging material including boxes, BOPP tapes, bubble-wrap, flyers and air sacks in-store at nearest post offices for CSCs, facilitate the pick-up, transmission and delivery of Speed Post and Business Parcel as per standards defined by Dept of Posts, and ensure priority processing of all GeM labelled packages. 

·       GeM will institute a rewards and incentives program for top-performing CSCs and Post Offices. CSCs and Post Offices achieving the highest number of i) successful buyer and seller registrations, and ii) product and service catalogue uploads at block, district, state and national level, will be felicitated through awards at the Annual GeM-CII National Public Procurement Conclave [NPPC] held each year on 8-9th August in New Delhi.

·       GeM will work with CSC-SPV and India Post to train top performing CSCs and staff at Post Offices as “GeM Master Trainers” during “GeM Boot Camps”, create and share their success stories in print and digital media, and groom them as GeM Ambassadors, in their respective communities. 

·       Last-mile stakeholders such as Local Bodies, Panchayati Raj institutions, among others and under-served seller groups in rural areas; namely women, khadi and tribal entrepreneurs, micro, small enterprises [MSE], self-help groups [SHGs], farmer producer organizations [FPO], Startups, artisans and weavers, divyangjan and Hunar-Haat craftsmen, bamboo producers, and stakeholders’ such as Corporates, Private Companies Colleges, Scientific and Technical Research Institutions, and Universities, among others in public procurement will benefit from this MoU.  

·       Speaking at the ceremony, Shri PK Singh, CEO, GeM mentioned that “inclusion is a core value at GeM, and this partnership will leverage and utilize the online and physical infrastructure of CSCs and India Post Offices to ensure the inclusion and participation of last-mile stakeholders on GeM”.

·       CEO, CSC-SPV Shri Sanjay Rakesh complimented GeM and India Post for rolling out the delivery of e-comm, packaging and logistics services through the self-sustaining pan-India network of approx. 4.5 lakh+ CSCs. The MoU will expand the outreach and delivery of GeM services up to the last-mile Govt buyers, under-served sellers and service-providers through a national technology platform, thereby making e-comm services available to all citizens of India.

·       Shri Alok Sharma, Director General, Postal Services said that “the new partnership with GeM and CSC-SPV will propel India Post as the preferred logistics service provider for sellers on GeM portal” thereby ensuring a high-quality of service and faster delivery of e-commerce benefits through last-mile physical connectivity, across 1.5 lakh+ India Post Offices.

·       The MoU will address the twin challenges of “access to markets” and “access to finance” faced by under-served seller groups and align the untapped entrepreneurial energy of last-mile producers and service-providers in rural India with local Govt buyers. This will spur hyper-local procurement thereby integrating local value-chains through “Vocal for Local” and “Make in India” initiatives of the Government, thereby furthering the aim of ensuring a self-reliant “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

Cabinet approves Amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels -2018

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels -2018.

Why is it in news?

The “National Policy on Biofuels - 2018” was notified by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on 04.06.2018 in supersession of National Policy on Biofuels, promulgated through the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, in 2009.

Highlights

·       Due to advancements in the field of Biofuels, various decisions taken in the National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) meetings to increase biofuel production, recommendation of the Standing Committee and the decision to advance to introduce Ethanol Blended Petrol with up to twenty per cent ethanol throughout the country from 01.04.2023, amendments are done to the National Policy on Biofuels.

·       The following are the main amendments approved to the National Policy on Biofuels:

     i.        to allow more feedstocks for production of biofuels,

   ii.        to advance the ethanol blending target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol to ESY 2025-26 from 2030,

 iii.        to promote the production of biofuels in the country, under the Make in India program, by units located in Special Economic Zones (SEZ)/ Export Oriented Units (EoUs),

 iv.        to add new members to the NBCC.

   v.        to grant permission for export of biofuels in specific cases, and

 vi.        to delete/amend certain phrases in the Policy in line with decisions taken during the meetings of National Biofuel Coordination Committee.

·       This proposal will also attract and foster developments of indigenous technologies which will pave the way for Make in India drive and thereby generate more employment.   

·       The existing National Policy on Biofuels came up during year 2018. This amendment proposal will pave the way for Make in India drive thereby leading to reduction in import of petroleum products by generation of more and more biofuels. Since many more feedstocks are being allowed for production of biofuels, this will promote the Atmanirbhar Bharat and give an impetus to Prime Minister’s vision of India becoming 'energy independent' by 2047.

Virtual Meeting between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting today with H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia.

Why is it in news?

The two leaders held discussions on the entire range of bilateral issues, including cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, human resource development, defence and security, development cooperation, connectivity, post-pandemic economic recovery and people-to-people ties. They expressed satisfaction at the pace of bilateral cooperation.

Highlights

·       PM Hun Sen emphasised the importance that Cambodia attaches to its relations with India. Prime Minister Modi reciprocated the sentiment and stressed Cambodia’s valued role in India’s Act East policy.

·       The leaders reviewed the robust development partnership between both countries, including capacity building programmes and Quick Impact Projects under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation framework.

·       Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the historical and civilizational links between the two countries and expressed his happiness at India’s involvement in restoration of Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear temples in Cambodia, which depict the cultural and linguistic connect between the two countries.

·       Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked India for providing 3.25 lakh doses of Indian-manufactured Covishield vaccines to Cambodia under Quad Vaccine Initiative. 

·       The two leaders complimented each other on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Cambodia being celebrated this year.

·       As part of these celebrations, Prime Minister Modi invited His Majesty the King of Cambodia and Her Majesty Queen Mother to visit India at a mutually convenient time.

·       The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared interest.

·       Prime Minister Modi congratulated Cambodia on assuming the Chairmanship of ASEAN and assured India’s full support and assistance to Cambodia for the success of its Chairmanship.