Content

1. 25th All India Major Port Cultural Meet 
2. PANKHUDI – an Integrated Digital Portal to Strengthen Partnerships for Women and Child Development

25th All India Major Port Cultural Meet 

Why in News ?

• 25th edition of the All India Major Port Cultural Meet inaugurated on 8 January 2026.
• Hosted at Paradip Port, Odisha — a major maritime hub on India’s east coast.
• Organised under the aegis of Major Ports Sports Control Board, reflecting institutional focus on employee welfare and cultural integration.
• Participants: 200+ participants from 9 major ports.
• Theme: Cultural unity, inter-port harmony, and talent beyond professional roles.

Relevance

• GS II (Governance): Humanising public administration; employee welfare and institutional cohesion.
• GS III (Infrastructure): Ports as socio-economic institutions; importance of soft infrastructure.

Participating Major Ports

• Chennai Port
• Cochin Port
• Deendayal Port (Kandla)
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPA)
• Kolkata Port
• Mumbai Port
• Visakhapatnam Port
• V.O. Chidambaranar Port
• Paradip Port (Host)

Institutional & Administrative Significance

• Highlights soft power within public sector institutions.
• Reinforces employee engagement and morale-building in strategic infrastructure sectors.
• Demonstrates federal cultural integration across ports located in diverse regions.
• Aligns with the broader governance approach of “humanising public administration”.

Notable Observations

• Emphasis on participation over competition reflects inclusive institutional ethos.
• Odisha’s selection underscores its classical Odissi heritage and cultural prominence.
• Marks continuity of inter-port cultural diplomacy over 25 editions.

Conclusion

• The event underscores that India’s port ecosystem integrates economic, social, and cultural dimensions, reinforcing unity among employees of strategically vital maritime institutions.

PANKHUDI – an Integrated Digital Portal to Strengthen Partnerships for Women and Child Development

Why in News ?

• Launched on 8 January 2026 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Introduction of PANKHUDI, an integrated digital portal for CSR and partnerships in women and child development.
• Aimed at strengthening transparency, convergence, and stakeholder participation using technology.

Relevance

• GS II (Governance & Social Justice): Women–child welfare; PPP/CSR in governance; Centre–State–civil society convergence.
• GS II (E-Governance): Digital transparency, single-window platforms, Jan Bhagidari.

What is PANKHUDI ?

• Full Form: Platform for Partnerships, Knowledge, and Holistic Development Initiatives (officially branded as PANKHUDI).
• Nature: Single-window digital partnership & CSR facilitation portal.
• Objective: Streamline voluntary, CSR, and institutional contributions for women and child welfare.

Key Features of the Portal

• Single-window digital interface for:
  • Individuals and citizens
  • NRIs
  • NGOs
  • Corporate entities
  • CSR contributors
  • Government agencies
• End-to-end workflow:
  • Registration
  • Identification of initiatives
  • Proposal submission
  • Approval tracking
• Non-cash contributions only → enhances financial transparency and auditability.

Thematic Focus Areas

• Nutrition
• Health
• Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
• Child protection, welfare, and rehabilitation
• Women’s safety, empowerment, and livelihood support

Alignment with National Vision

• Inspired by PM’s emphasis on:
  • Technology as a trust-building bridge
  • Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation) in governance
• Reflects Digital India + Inclusive Governance approach.

Convergence with Flagship Missions

PANKHUDI digitally strengthens implementation of:

• Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0
• Mission Vatsalya
• Mission Shakti

Governance & Accountability Dimensions

• Common platform for Centre–State–CSR–Civil Society convergence.
• Enables:
  • Better monitoring
  • Outcome-based implementation
  • Traceability of funds and initiatives
• Reduces fragmentation in welfare delivery.

Scale of Impact 

• 14 lakh+ Anganwadi Centres
• ~5,000 Child Care Institutions
• ~800 One Stop Centres (OSCs)
• 500+ Sakhi Niwas
• 400+ Shakti Sadan
• Directly impacts crores of women and children across India.

Bottom Line

• PANKHUDI institutionalises CSR–Government collaboration through a transparent digital framework.
• Marks a shift from fragmented welfare initiatives to outcome-oriented, partnership-driven social governance in women and child development.