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• Operation Olivia: ICG protects over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley Turtles along the Odisha Coastline
• GeM Celebrates 8th Incorporation Day

Operation Olivia: ICG protects over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley Turtles along the Odisha Coastline

Background & Objective

• Launched by: Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
• Operational Period: Annually from November to May
• Main Objective: Protect Olive Ridley turtles during their nesting season along the Odisha coastline, especially:
  • Gahirmatha Beach
  • Rushikulya River Mouth
• Significance: These beaches witness the arrival of over 8 lakh Olive Ridley turtles annually.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

Key Achievements in 2025

• Record Protection: Safeguarded over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles at Rushikulya in February 2025.
• Evidence of Success: Largest mass nesting event recorded—testament to ICG’s conservation efforts.

Operational Strategies

• Surveillance Operations:
  • 5,387 surface patrol sorties
  • 1,768 aerial surveillance missions
• Enforcement:
  • Detained 366 boats engaged in illegal fishing
  • Prevented habitat disruption and poaching

Community & Collaborative Efforts

• Engagement with Fishing Communities:
  • Promoted use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs)
• Partnerships:
  • Signed MoUs with NGOs for:
    • Sustainable fishing awareness
    • Conservation education

Environmental Significance

• Biodiversity Conservation: Olive Ridley turtles are endangered under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Marine Ecosystem Health: Protection of nesting grounds ensures marine biodiversity balance.
• Global Recognition: Aligns with India’s commitment to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and UN SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

GeM Celebrates 8th Incorporation Day

• GeM (Government e-Marketplace) is an online platform launched by the Government of India in 2016 to facilitate transparent, efficient, and inclusive public procurement of goods and services by various government departments, organizations, and public sector undertakings.
• Theme: Innovation + Inclusion = Empowerment for all Indian entrepreneurs

Relevance : GS 2(Governance) , GS 3(Technology)

Key Achievements & Growth

• User base:
  • 1.64 lakh primary buyers
  • 4.2 lakh active sellers
• Product & Service Offering:
  • Over 10,000 product categories
  • More than 330 services
• Transaction cost savings: ~10% average savings in government procurement (as per World Bank and Economic Survey)

Inclusion & Empowerment

• Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs): Over 10 lakh onboarded
• Women Entrepreneurs: 1.84 lakh integrated
• Artisans & Weavers: 1.3 lakh empowered
• Startups: 31,000 onboarded
• Self-Help Groups & FPOs: Actively integrated into procurement system

Cost & Fee Reforms

• 97% transactions are now transaction fee-free
• Fees reduced by 33%–96% (max ₹3 lakh cap for orders above ₹10 crore)
• Caution money deposit:
  • 60% reduced for sellers with turnover < ₹1 crore
  • Full exemption for select groups

Notable High-Value Transactions

• ₹5,000 crore: Equipment for Akash Missile System
• ₹5,085 crore: Vaccine procurement
• Complex services onboarded:
  • Drone-as-a-Service for AIIMS
  • GIS & insurance for 1.3 crore people
  • Wet-leasing of flights & CT scanners

National Adoption

• Adopted in all States & UTs
• Uttar Pradesh: Leading user
• Mandatory use in 8 states: Maharashtra, Manipur, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, and UP
• IFMS Integration Success: Assam, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal, Delhi
  • Upcoming in Gujarat, Karnataka, and UP

Innovation in Digital Governance

• India’s 1st GenAI Chatbot – GeMAI:
  • Voice & text-enabled
  • Supports 10 Indian languages
  • Improves user support & service delivery

Transparency & Accountability

• Deployment of advancedanalytics:
  • Real-time fraud detection
  • Risk mitigation
  • Continuous monitoring

Strategic Vision Ahead

• Aligned with Aatmanirbhar Bharat
• Driving inclusive growth, digital transformation, and smart governance in public procurement