Content:
- Mahakumbh 2025: A Spectacle of Faith, Unity, and Tradition
- SWAYATT initiative on GeM celebrates 6 years of transformative impact
Mahakumbh 2025: A Spectacle of Faith, Unity, and Tradition
Cultural Roots:
- Originating from the Samudra Manthan mythology, it embodies ancient spiritual traditions centered on purification and liberation through holy river baths.
- Recognized globally as an intangible cultural heritage, it’s a testament to India’s enduring cultural legacy.
Relevance : GS 1(Culture , Heritage ) , GS 2(Governance)
- Historical Evolution:
- Documented since the Maurya and Gupta eras, with Mughal support and colonial records, it reflects continuity through centuries of change.
- Held every 12 years across Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik, with the rare Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj every 144 years, making 2025 a historic event.
- Inclusivity:
- Featuring 13 Akharas, including Kinnar and Mahila Akharas, it showcases progressive inclusion within traditional frameworks.
Governance and Administration
- Event Magnitude:
- Managed over 66 crore attendees in 45 days (exceeding the projected 45 crore), demonstrating exceptional administrative capacity.
- A temporary city, Maha Kumbh Nagar, with luxury tents like IRCTC’s “Maha Kumbh Gram,” reflects innovative planning for mass gatherings.
- Infrastructure:
- Renovation of 92 roads, construction of 30 pontoon bridges, and 800 multilingual signages ensured accessibility and navigation.
- Collaboration between central and state authorities highlights effective coordination.
- Health Management:
- Deployed 2,000+ medical personnel across 23 hospitals with 360 beds, offering services from minor treatments to surgeries.
- Netra Kumbh tested 5 lakh eyes and distributed 3 lakh spectacles, showcasing large-scale welfare initiatives.
- Security:
- A seven-tier system with 50,000+ personnel, AI-powered cameras, and underwater drones ensured safety.
- Cyber security measures, including 56 experts and a helpline (1920), tackled modern threats.
Economic and Developmental Aspects
- Economic Boost:
- Affordable medicine sales via Jan Aushadhi Kendras targeted ₹2,000 crore (₹1,500 crore achieved), supporting local economies.
- Promotion of district-specific products and village industries enhanced small-scale entrepreneurship.
- Tourism Growth:
- Drew visitors from South Korea, Spain, and beyond, with promotion at international fairs positioning Uttar Pradesh as a tourism hub.
- Luxury accommodations and curated travel packages spurred economic activity.
- Digital Economy:
- Initiatives like DakPay QR and a banking helpline encouraged cashless transactions, aligning with broader financial inclusion goals.
Environmental Sustainability
- Eco-Friendly Measures:
- Planted 119,700 saplings, including Miyawaki forests, and enforced a plastic ban to promote sustainability.
- Trash skimmers cleared 10-15 tons of river waste daily, protecting water bodies.
- Green Dialogue:
- The January 31 Green Maha Kumbh event engaged 1,000+ experts on water conservation and environmental balance.
- Sanitation:
- 22,000 workers, 12,000+ toilets, and bio-toilets maintained cleanliness, setting a high standard for public hygiene.
Technological Advancements
- Technology Integration:
- Used 2,750 AI-powered cameras, drones, and multilingual tools (11 Indian languages) for security and accessibility.
- The Kumbh Sah’AI’yak chatbot provided real-time assistance, enhancing user experience.
- Communication:
- BSNL’s 90 BTS towers and free SIMs ensured connectivity for millions, supporting self-reliance in telecom.
- Digital Reach:
- 33 lakh website visitors from 183 countries and live broadcasts amplified global engagement.
Social Welfare and Inclusivity
- Healthcare Outreach:
- AYUSH services treated 2.18 lakh pilgrims, integrating traditional healing into public health.
- Provided free meals to 20,000 daily and issued 25,000 ration cards, emphasizing welfare.
- Worker Support:
- Offered housing, schools, and fair wages to 10,200 sanitation workers, prioritizing labor dignity.
- Diversity:
- Inclusive Akharas and international participation fostered social cohesion across borders and communities.
International Relations and Global Image
- Global Appeal:
- Attracted tourists from 183 countries, British travel writers, and was showcased at international fairs, enhancing India’s global presence.
- Cultural Exchange:
- The Incredible India Pavilion and multilingual services positioned India as a spiritual and cultural leader.
- Economic Ties:
- Partnerships with airlines and tourism stakeholders opened avenues for investment.
Governance Lessons
- Scalability: Successfully handled an unprecedented crowd, offering insights into large-scale logistics.
- Coordination: Integrated efforts across railways, health, security, and tourism departments set a collaborative benchmark.
- Innovation: Leveraging AI, drones, and digital tools modernized event management.
- Sustainability: Balanced faith-based activities with eco-friendly practices, creating a replicable framework.
Broader Implications
- National Unity: Brought together diverse communities, reinforcing India’s pluralistic ethos.
- Policy Insights: Provides a blueprint for health, security, and environmental strategies in mass gatherings.
- Global Relevance: Positions India as a leader in managing cultural events with modern governance tools.
SWAYATT initiative on GeM celebrates 6 years of transformative impact
Introduction: Women Entrepreneurs on GeM
- Women entrepreneurs account for 8% of registered sellers on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
- As of February 2025, 1,77,786 Udyam-verified women micro and small enterprises (MSEs) have been registered.
- The cumulative order value fulfilled by women-led MSEs on GeM is ₹46,615 Crore.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues, Governance) , GS 3(Indian Economy
SWAYATT Initiative: Enhancing Women’s Participation
- Launch Date: 19th February 2019.
- Objective: To increase participation of women-led enterprises, youth, and startups in public procurement.
- Key Focus Areas:
- Training and onboarding of last-mile sellers.
- Women entrepreneurship development through direct market linkages.
- Encouraging small businesses in government procurement.
Collaboration with FICCI Ladies Organisation (FICCI-FLO)
- GeM signed an MoU with FICCI-FLO, which represents 9,500+ women entrepreneurs.
- Key Benefits of Partnership:
- Direct access to government buyers for women entrepreneurs, eliminating intermediaries.
- Better pricing for products due to direct sales.
- Hyper-local job creation and inclusive economic growth.
- Training and onboarding support for local businesses.
- Increased participation of women in public procurement.
Growth & Impact of SWAYATT Initiative
- Initial Status (2019):
- 6,300 women-led enterprises onboarded.
- 3,400 startups on GeM.
- Current Status (2025):
- 29,000+ startups onboarded.
- Women-led MSEs fulfilling a cumulative order value of ₹46,615 Crore.
- Startups fulfilling orders worth ₹35,950 Crore.
Addressing Challenges in Public Procurement for Women Entrepreneurs
- Access to Market:
- Digital platforms like GeM provide wider visibility and direct access to government procurement.
- Dedicated storefronts like “Startup Runway” and “Womaniya” enhance discoverability.
- Access to Finance:
- Market linkages through GeM enable financial growth for small businesses.
- E-market integration removes dependency on intermediaries.
- Access to Value Addition:
- Collaboration with industry bodies helps in capacity building.
- Women-led MSEs benefit from training, outreach, and advocacy efforts.
Future Roadmap & Goals
- Onboarding 1 lakh DPIIT-registered startups onto GeM.
- Doubling the number of women entrepreneurs on the platform.
- Increasing women entrepreneurs’ share in public procurement from 3.78% to a higher percentage.
- Strengthening last-mile women MSEs, FPOs, SHGs, Startups, and Cooperatives through capacity-building initiatives.
Conclusion: Strengthening Women’s Role in Public Procurement
- SWAYATT and GeM are actively bridging gender gaps in public procurement.
- Empowering women-led enterprises through digital platforms fosters economic inclusivity.
- Strategic collaborations like GeM-FICCI FLO partnership will further accelerate participation, economic contribution, and financial independence of women entrepreneurs in India.
