In News:

e-Shram Portal, which aims to provide social security benefits to unorganised workers, has been upgraded with multilingual functionality for all 22 scheduled languages of India. This development, supported by the Bhashini Initiative, ensures that unorganised workers from diverse linguistic backgrounds can access the portal more easily and benefit from government welfare schemes.

About Bhashini Initiative:

• Launched in: July 2022
• Developed by: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
• Aim: To eliminate language barriers in accessing digital services by making AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools publicly available.

Key Features:

• Local Language Translation: Bhashini offers AI-powered translation services in 22 scheduled Indian languages to ensure that digital platforms like e-Shram are accessible to everyone in their native languages.
• Open AI and NLP Resources: These tools are made available to Indian MSMEs, startups, and innovators to create a more inclusive digital ecosystem.
• Crowdsourcing Platform (Bhashadaan): A platform for people to contribute to building linguistic datasets through initiatives like Suno India, Likho India, Bolo India, and Dekho India, furthering language diversity in digital services.
• National Digital Public Platform: Aimed at providing universal access to digital content in all Indian languages, facilitating smoother communication across regions.

e-Shram Portal: A One-Stop Solution for Unorganised Workers

• Purpose: The e-Shram portal was created to provide unorganised workers with access to social security benefits and welfare schemes.

Recent Upgrade:

• Multilingual Functionality: The portal has now been upgraded to support 22 scheduled languages, making it more inclusive and user-friendly for workers who speak various regional languages.
• Previous Version: Previously, the portal was only available in English, Hindi, Kannada, and Marathi. The integration of 22 languages is a significant improvement, enabling broader participation.

Importance of the e-Shram Portal for Unorganised Workers:

• Welfare Access: The portal provides access to government schemes designed for the welfare, livelihood, and well-being of unorganised workers, including gig and platform workers and building and construction workers.
• Integration of Social Security Schemes:
  • As of now, the portal facilitates access to 12 government schemes, with plans to integrate even more, including state-level programs.
  • Future plans include launching a mobile app, a single application form, and the integration of payment gateways for faster disbursement of benefits.

In News:

IndiaAI, under the Digital India Corporation, has partnered with Microsoft to advance AI adoption in India for inclusive development and economic transformation. The collaboration focuses on skilling, innovation, AI safety, and responsible AI development, with a goal of fostering AI innovation across India, particularly in underserved rural and urban areas.

Key Highlights:

• Training 500,000 Individuals by 2026:
  • Target Audience: Students, educators, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs.
  • Goal: Empower these groups with foundational and advanced AI skills for economic opportunities and digital transformation.
• AI Catalysts (Centers of Excellence):
  • Establishment of AI hubs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to foster rural AI innovation.
  • Objective to equip 100,000 AI innovators and developers through hackathons, community building, and creating an AI marketplace.
• AI Productivity Labs:
  • Set up in 20 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) across 10 states.
  • Focus on training 20,000 educators and providing AI education to 100,000 students in 200 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
• Support for Startups:
  • Microsoft’s Founders Hub program will provide Azure credits, business resources, and mentorship to 1,000 AI startups in India, boosting innovation and growth in the Indian startup ecosystem.
• Development of Indic Language Models:
  • Work on creating foundational AI models with support for Indic languages to address India’s linguistic diversity and cultural needs.
• AI Safety Institute:
  • Focus on building frameworks, standards, and evaluation metrics for responsible AI development.
  • Support for the creation of an AI Safety Institute in India to promote ethical and safe AI practices.
• Infrastructure & Research:
  • Microsoft will also focus on enhancing cloud infrastructure and support for AI research through Microsoft Research India.
  • AI-driven solutions will be developed for critical sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture.

Investment and Strategic Goals:

• $3 Billion Investment:
  • Microsoft has pledged $3 billion to expand AI and cloud infrastructure in India over the next 2 years. This investment will focus on:
    • Building scalable infrastructure for AI applications.
    • Enhancing cloud services and AI capabilities.
    • Establishing new data centers across India, supporting the AI-first agenda.
• AI Skill Development:
  • 10 million people will be trained over the next five years in AI skills, empowering the Indian workforce to adapt to AI technologies, driving job creation and economic growth.
• AI in India’s Economy:
  • India aims to become a global leader in AI, with AI-powered solutions contributing to diverse sectors like finance, e-commerce, and manufacturing.
  • Focus on economic growth through AI-powered industries and fostering entrepreneurship in underserved communities.

AI Technologies and Applications:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) involves machines performing tasks that require human intelligence like decision-making, problem-solving, and learning from data.
  • Machine Learning (ML): AI systems improve through data without being explicitly programmed.
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP): AI systems understand and respond to human language.
  • Computer Vision: AI systems analyze and interpret visual information.
  • Robotics: AI powers automated tasks through robots in industries like manufacturing and healthcare.
• Cloud Infrastructure enables the scaling of AI systems:
  • Cloud Computing provides on-demand access to computing power, essential for AI tasks requiring large amounts of data and processing power.
  • Data Centers host AI models and data, and cloud services such as Microsoft Azure will support AI startups and businesses.

Expected Impact and Benefits:

• Inclusive AI Development: Focus on empowering women, students, and rural innovators to bridge the digital divide and promote economic empowerment.
• Startup Ecosystem: The collaboration will foster a robust AI startup ecosystem, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship through AI tools, Azure credits, and mentorship.
• Skill Development & Education: AI-driven skill training initiatives will prepare millions of individuals for the jobs of the future, particularly in the AI-driven economy, and support education reform.
• AI for Critical Sectors: Development of AI-enabled solutions to address challenges in sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture, driving social impact and economic growth.

In News:

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Address at NCC Republic Day Camp 2025.

Key Highlights

• PanchPran as the Foundation of India’s Transformation:
  • PanchPran (Five Resolutions) were outlined by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar as the guiding principles for India’s future development.
  • These principles are fundamental to India’s national progress, ensuring a balanced approach to development and societal transformation.

The Five Principles of PanchPran:

• Social Harmony:
  • Aims to strengthen unity by leveraging India’s diverse cultures and traditions as sources of national strength.
  • Promotes inclusiveness and national integration.
• Family Enlightenment:
  • Emphasizes the importance of families in nurturing patriotic and moral values.
  • Acts as a foundation for creating a cohesive, enlightened society that respects traditions.
• Environmental Consciousness:
  • Advocates for sustainable development and conservation of nature.
  • Focuses on protecting natural resources for future generations.
• Swadeshi (Self-reliance):
  • Encourages promoting indigenous products as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
  • Strengthens India’s self-reliance by focusing on domestic production and consumption.
• Civic Duties:
  • Instills responsibility among citizens to actively contribute to the nation’s growth.
  • Encourages participation in community and national development activities.

National Cadet Corps (NCC)

• The National Cadet Corps (NCC) is the youth wing of the Indian Armed Forces, established in 1948.
• It is open to school and college students on a voluntary basis and is a Tri-Services organization, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Purpose and Training:
  • Cadets undergo basic military training in small arms and drills.
  • Officers and cadets have no obligation for active military service after completing their courses.
• Historical Background:
  • Traces its origins back to the ‘University Corps’ formed under the Indian Defence Act of 1917 to address shortages in Army personnel.
• Structure and Leadership:
  • The NCC is headed by a Director General (DG), a senior officer with a 3-star rank.
  • Its headquarters are located in New Delhi.