National Institute of Social Defence recognised as Awarding Body

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The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has officially recognized the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) as an Awarding Body (Dual Category).

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• The agreement aims to strengthen the vocational education and training (VET) landscape, particularly in the social sector, focusing on geriatrics (welfare of senior citizens).
• As an Awarding Body, NISD is authorized to award, assess, and certify learners in training centers owned or managed by NISD for its approved qualifications. This enhances the standardization and accreditation of its specialized training programs.
• The recognition will help NISD align its programs with national and global frameworks, contributing to initiatives like the Skill India Mission.
• This recognition strengthens India’s social sector by ensuring that a well-trained workforce meets the growing demands in the welfare of senior citizens and related areas.

About National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)

• NCVET, under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), serves as the national regulator for vocational education and training.
• It plays a vital role in setting standards, developing regulations, and improving the quality and outcomes of skilling initiatives across the country. 
• It is responsible for the recognition and regulation of awarding bodies and assessment agencies that are instrumental in developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry demands.

About National Institute of Social Defence (NISD)

• NISD is an Autonomous Body under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• It is the nodal training and research institute in the field of social defence. 
• It specializes in human resource development in areas such as drug abuse prevention, welfare of senior citizens and transgenders, beggary prevention, and other social defence issues. 

India and Singapore Sign Letter of Intent on Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC)

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Recently, India and Singapore signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for collaboration on the Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) during the ongoing Singapore Maritime Week (SMW).

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• The agreement focuses on maritime digitalization and decarbonization projects, aiming to enhance cooperation on zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies and the adoption of digital solutions in the maritime sector.
• Both nations will identify key stakeholders and work toward formalizing the partnership with a memorandum of understanding on the Singapore-India GDSC.
• With India’s strength in Information Technology and green fuel production, along with Singapore’s role as a global maritime hub, this partnership will set new benchmarks in sustainability and efficiency in the maritime sector. 

Green and Digital Shipping Corridor

• The GDSC aims to set new benchmarks in sustainability and efficiency in the maritime industry, benefiting both countries and the global maritime sector.
• The corridor will drive innovation, accelerate the use of low-emission technologies, and strengthen digital integration in the maritime sector. 

e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi (e-KUN) portal

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As of the date, 26 banks are onboarded on the e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi (e-KUN) portal, and a total loan amount of Rs 21,61,700 has been disbursed to farmers via this portal. 

About e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi (e-KUN) portal 

e-KUN portal provides the farmers, an online platform to obtain post-harvest loans from banks by pledging their electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (e-NWRs) for the stocks kept in WDRA registered warehouses. 

• e-NWRs are digital warehouse receipts that allow for the transfer of ownership of stored commodities without physical delivery, facilitating financing and trading.  

A joint endeavor of Department of Food and Public Distribution, WDRA, Department of Financial Services and NABARD, this gateway aims to improve ease of obtaining pledge finance by farmers against their stocks.

The government's CIBIL score is not required for farmers to be registered on the e-KUN portal.

Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA)  

• It is a statutory body under the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007.
• The main objective of WDRA is to implement Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWR) System in the country, which would help farmers to store their produce in scientific storage godowns near by their farms and to seek loan from banks against their NWR. 
• The main functions of the Authority are to make provisions for the development and regulation of warehouses, which includes negotiability of warehouse receipts, registration of warehouses, promotion of scientific warehousing of goods, improving fiduciary trust of depositors and banks, enhancing liquidity in rural areas and promoting an efficient supply chain.