Day: 16 January 2026

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has marked seven years of its Womaniya Initiative, a flagship programme aimed at increasing the participation of women-led micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in public procurement across India.   Launched to empower women entrepreneurs, the Womaniya Initiative provides a dedicated platform on GeM for women-led businesses to showcase and sell their products directly to government buyers. Over the years, the initiative has helped improve market access, visibility and business opportunities for thousands of women-owned enterprises.   Officials said the programme has played a key role in…

Department of Posts achieved a significant milestone with the successful booking of its first online order through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) on January 13, 2026, acting in the capacity of a Logistics Service Provider (LSP). The consignment was successfully delivered today on January 15, 2026. The inaugural order, placed by UdyamWell, marks an important step in the Department’s efforts to provide digitally enabled and interoperable logistics solutions. UdyamWell, an ONDC-enabled initiative, is focused on supporting Bharatpreneurs by offering comprehensive services to artisans, farmers, and other rural entrepreneurs.…

India and Israel have signed a Joint Ministerial Declaration of Intent to strengthen bilateral collaboration in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, aiming to enhance productivity, sustainability and technological innovation.   The declaration was signed during a high-level meeting between ministers of the two countries, reflecting their shared commitment to deepen cooperation in areas such as aquaculture technologies, fish health management, capacity building and knowledge exchange. The partnership is expected to support India’s efforts to modernise its fisheries sector while drawing on Israel’s expertise in advanced aquaculture practices.   Officials said…

The Indian Researchers have uncovered long-term climate records from sediment samples collected from a lake in Tamil Nadu, shedding light on historical climate variations that could help guide conservation and biodiversity management strategies.   The study involved analysing layered lake sediments that preserve evidence of past environmental conditions, including rainfall patterns, vegetation changes and monsoon variability over thousands of years. Researchers found that periods of stronger and weaker monsoons significantly influenced the region’s ecosystems, affecting water availability and biological diversity.   By examining how landscapes and ecosystems responded to earlier climate…