Microsoft joins India's ONDC WHAT HAS HAPPENED? US firm Microsoft has become the first big tech company to join the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), A government-backed project which is aimed at enabling small merchants and mom-and-pop stores in parts of the country to access processes and technologies that are typically deployed by large e commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart. The software giant intends to introduce social e-commerce - group buying experience in the Indian market, Which would include a shopping app for Indian consumers along with their social circle, harnessing the ONDC network to discover the best pricing among retailers and sellers. WHAT IS OPEN NETWORK FOR DIGITAL COMMERECE ? It is an initiative aimed at promoting open networks for all aspects of exchange of goods and services over digital or electronic networks. ONDC is to be based on open-sourced methodology, using open specifications and open network protocols inde...
Why President Murmu uses the word ‘Johar’ ? WHAT HAS HAPPENED ? The 15th President of India, Droupadi Murmu, assumed office Monday with a ‘Johar’ greeting to the country. ‘Johar’, which essentially means ‘salutation and welcome’, is used within the tribal communities of Jharkhand, and in parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. According to several tribal leaders from Jharkhand, the word ‘Johar’ also means ‘paying respect’. Just like Namaskar, "Johar" is also used along with folded hands to greet people, or in case of elders, by touching their feet. Tribal communities are nature worshippers and follow Sarna religion code, although it is not an official religion. "Juhar" is also one of the rituals of Nuakhai, an agricultural festival celebrated to welcome the new crop. It is a combination of two words - 'nua' means 'new' and 'khai' means 'to eat'. WHICH TRIBAL COMM...