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...
2 BSF personnel killed in Congo WHAT HAS HAPPENED ? Two BSF personnel who were part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Were among five people killed during a protest in an eastern town near the border with Uganda on Tuesday (July 26). A total 175 Indian peacekeepers have so far died while serving with the United Nations. India has lost more peacekeepers than any other UN Member State. Both the deceased bravehearts were in the rank of head constable and hailed from Rajasthan, a senior officer said. UN PEACEKEEPING Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the UN to assist host countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace. UN peacekeepers provide security and the political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace....