Open Network for Digital Commerce

Published On:

Why in the News?

In May 2024, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) had its busiest month, with 8.9 million transactions. That's a big 23% increase from the previous month.

What is ONDC?

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is like a big network of online markets where sellers, like brands, can sell directly to buyers without any middlemen. It was started in 2021 by the Ministry of Commerce as part of Digital India. ONDC helps with delivering groceries, home stuff, food, and more.

It's not a profit-making organization and aims to help local online shops in different industries to be found easily by any app. It's kind of like UPI but for e-commerce, making things fairer for everyone.

The Quality Council of India is ensuring different online shops can join and improve this network. Here are its main goals:

• Making e-commerce fair and open for everyone.
• Helping small, local businesses join in.
• Giving more choices to buyers.
• Making things cheaper.

How it works:

ONDC isn't just one website like Amazon or Flipkart. It's more like a hub where buyers and sellers from different websites can connect.

What are the Potential Advantages of ONDC?

Here's a simplified version:

Empowering Consumers:

• ONDC gives consumers more information, so they can make better choices and have more options to buy from. This might mean lower prices for them.

Boosting Competition:

• ONDC makes the competition fairer by giving smaller sellers a chance. This encourages more sellers to join, offering a wider range of products and maybe lower prices for buyers.

Innovation:

• ONDC's open system encourages new ideas and improvements.

Cost Efficiency:

• ONDC's setup could make things run smoother and save money by cutting down on unnecessary steps.

Boosting Small Businesses:

• ONDC makes it easier for small businesses to join the online market, creating a more diverse and fairer digital shopping world.

What are the Challenges to ONDC?

Here's a simplified version:

Complexity Factor:

• ONDC is more complex compared to user-friendly systems like UPI. It might not be as easy for people to use.

 

Breaking Established Habits:

• People are used to how current e-commerce sites work. ONDC needs to be easy to use to compete.

Dispute Resolution Concerns:

• ONDC only handles buying and selling online, not the whole transaction process. This might cause more disputes about deliveries, product quality, etc., as ONDC isn't directly involved.

Lack of a Robust Grievance Redressal Mechanism:

• It's not clear who's responsible for customer service on ONDC, which might make people hesitant to join.

Challenges from Existing E-commerce Platforms:

• Big e-commerce sites already have loyal customers and special deals. ONDC needs good plans to attract and keep customers in this tough competition.

Price Advantage Uncertainty:

• ONDC might be unable to control prices or offer big discounts as big players do.

Way Forward

Here's a simplified version:

Enhancing Digital Infrastructure:

• The government can help ONDC by improving internet access in rural areas and promoting digital skills for everyone.

Promoting Digital Literacy:

• Teaching people how to use ONDC in their language will help both buyers and sellers, especially small businesses. Making ONDC easy to use is important.

Targeted Outreach Programs:

• Special programs with enough funding are needed to get small sellers, like local shops, to join ONDC. Giving them support and incentives can help them get started.

Dispute Resolution Framework:

• Having a system to solve problems like unclear pricing or disputes between buyers and sellers is important. This will make everyone trust ONDC more.

Conclusion

The success of ONDC depends on teamwork between the government, businesses, and society.

By focusing on improving internet access, teaching people digital skills, helping sellers join, and solving problems quickly, ONDC can bring fairness, openness, and more competition to online shopping in India.

Role of Nuclear Technology in Global Food Safety

Why in the News?

A recent International Symposium called "Safe Food for a Better Life," held by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), talked about how nuclear technologies are crucial for making sure our food is safe.

The symposium also pointed out how nuclear technology can help in making sure we have enough food for everyone, ensuring food security.

What is the Application of Nuclear Technology on the Food Safety Standard?

Supporting the One Health Approach:

• The One Health approach sees human, animal, and environmental health as connected. Nuclear methods can detect and monitor harmful substances in food and the environment. For example, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, a nuclear technique, quickly identify animal diseases.

Food Irradiation:

• Using ionizing radiation, food irradiation removes harmful bacteria and pests, making food safer and last longer.

Stable Isotope Analysis:

• This nuclear method checks the origin and authenticity of food, detecting any fake products and confirming labels.

Soil and Water Management:

• Nuclear fallout helps scientists study soil erosion. Radioactive elements from nuclear events indicate soil health and erosion rates.

Pest Control:

• Techniques like the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) use nuclear methods to control pests in agriculture, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

Plant Breeding and Genetics:

• Nuclear technology helps develop crop varieties resistant to climate change. By exposing seeds to radiation, genetic diversity increases, aiding breeding efforts.

What is the Need for Tech-Related Advancements in Food Security?

Climate Change:

• Climate-related issues like droughts, floods, and changing temperatures can harm crop growth and food supply. That's why we need to promote climate-smart agriculture (CSA).

Food Waste:

• About one-third of the food produced globally is wasted each year, according to the FAO. This is around 1.3 billion tons. Also, in 2020, around 3.1 billion people couldn't afford a healthy diet.

Increasing Population:

• The world's population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, putting a lot of pressure on food production. We need technological advancements to meet this demand.

Limited Resources:

• There's not much arable land or freshwater available. Technology like vertical farming, hydroponics, and better irrigation can help us produce more food with what we have.

What Challenges are Associated with Using Nuclear Technology for Food Safety?

Geographical and Regional Variations:

• Different regions have unique climates and farming methods, which can make it hard to use nuclear techniques everywhere. Adjusting isotopic techniques for soil and water management may need specific adaptations for different soil types, climates, and irrigation methods.

Limited Funding and Technology:

• Building facilities for food preservation and pest control using irradiation needs a lot of money, which can be hard to get due to budget limits. Also, accessing advanced techniques or specialized equipment can be tough because of high costs or technology transfer rules.

Regulatory Challenges:

• Using nuclear tech in agriculture has strict rules to ensure safety. Getting approvals and licenses can be slow and complicated. Also, issues like intellectual property rights can slow down progress.

Lack of Allied Infrastructure:

• There aren't enough labs or experts in nuclear agriculture, which limits how much we can use these techniques.

Way Forward

Developing Infrastructure and Facilities:

• Invest funds and resources to establish facilities like food irradiation centres and labs equipped for nuclear technology. These facilities can help preserve perishable food, reduce waste, and ensure food safety.

 

Regulatory Reforms and Streamlining Processes:

• Develop safety guidelines for handling radioactive materials in agriculture and form a regulatory body to approve and commercialize mutant crops. This will ensure safety while making the approval process smoother.

Promoting Public-Private Partnerships:

• Encourage partnerships between research institutions, private companies, and the industry to share nuclear technology. Offer incentives for companies to invest in developing and selling nuclear-based agricultural products.

International Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing:

• Work with international organizations like the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre to share knowledge and technology. Collaborating internationally can help improve nuclear agriculture practices globally.

Special Marriage Act, 1954

Why in the News?

The recent decision by the Madhya Pradesh High Court regarding the marriage of a Muslim man and a Hindu woman, even though it was registered under the Special Marriage Act (SMA), has sparked widespread discussion.

The court rejected the couple's request for protection and assistance in registering their marriage, stating that it didn't align with personal laws.

A 'registered marriage' refers to a civil marriage under the SMA, conducted in a registrar's office without any religious ceremonies.

What is the Recent Judgement of the MP High Court?

The petitioners argued that since they intended to marry under the Special Marriage Act, they didn't need the Islamic Nikah ceremony. They planned to continue following their religions without the Hindu petitioner converting to Islam.

However, the High Court noted that according to Islamic law, the marriage of a Muslim man with a Hindu woman is not considered valid. Even if such a marriage is registered under the Special Marriage Act, it would still be seen as irregular.

The court stressed that personal laws take precedence over the Special Marriage Act in this situation and dismissed the couple's petition.

What is the Special Marriage Act, of 1954?

The Special Marriage Act of 1954 (SMA) allows couples to marry without changing their religion, unlike other marriage laws which may require conversion. Here's how it works:

About SMA:

• It's a law for civil marriage, where the state approves the marriage, not the religion.
• Other laws, like the Muslim Marriage Act and Hindu Marriage Act, often require one spouse to convert.
• SMA lets couples from different religions or castes marry without converting.

Who Can Apply:

• Anyone from any faith – Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jain, Buddhist, etc.
• Some rules like not marrying close relatives still apply.
• Minimum age for marriage: 21 for men, 18 for women.

Procedure:

• Couples need to inform the "Marriage Officer" of their district at least 30 days before.
• They and three witnesses sign a declaration.

After that, they get a "Certificate of Marriage.

Notice Period:

• The notice is kept public for 30 days.
• Anyone can object if they think the marriage breaks SMA rules.
• The Marriage Officer investigates any objections.

Concerns:

Objections: Sometimes, people object to delay or stop the marriage.

Privacy: Publishing notices can invade privacy.

Social Stigma: Couples may face discrimination for inter-caste or inter-religious marriages.

Conclusion

The recent ruling by the MP High Court emphasized the challenges faced by interfaith couples in India due to conflicts between personal laws and secular marriage laws. It highlights the need for a better understanding of legal frameworks and social dynamics related to marriage.