DAILY PIB 1ST OCTOBER 2022

• ULIP:Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, as part of the ‘National Logistics Policy (NLP)’ is the promising initiative in the logistics sector that aims to bring ease of doing business in the logistics sector by simplifying the logistics processes, improving its efficiency, bringing in transparency and visibility, and reducing logistics cost & time.ULIP to provide direct and indirect benefits like monitoring of cargo movement, consignment tracking, inventory management thereby helping in structured planning to the stakeholders.

• Technology telecom development fund:Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), a body under the Department of Telecommunications, officially launched Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme. The scheme is aligned with Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi’s clarion call of adding Jan Anusandhaan in the new phase of Amrit Kaal.

Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) aims to fund R&D in rural-specific communication technology applications and form              synergies among academia, start-ups, research institutes, and the industry to build and develop the telecom ecosystem.

• SPARSH: SPARSH is a web-based system for processing the pension claims and crediting the pension directly into the bank accounts of defence pensioners without any external intermediary.It is an end-to-end solution to all pension-related processes, from claim initiation to disbursement. Pensioners can log on to the portal and get their pension-related issues resolved.

• DARPAN:The Defence Accounts Receipts and Payment System is a unified solution for third party bill payment and accounting. Its real-time processing will provide comprehensive insights into various accounting and financial performances of the defence sector.

Essential commodities:There is no specific definition of essential commodities in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Section 2(A) of the Act states that an “essential commodity” means a commodity specified in the Schedule of the Act.The Centre, if it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in the public interest, can notify an item as essential, in consultation with state governments.

The ECA 1955 is used to curb inflation,prevent hoarding and blackmarketing of foodstuffs.