Content:

1. DELHI BECOMES THE 28TH LEGISLATURE TO JOIN THE NATIONAL E-VIDHAN APPLICATION PLATFORM
2. GI-Tagged Jaggery Exported from Shamli, Muzaffarnagar to Bangladesh

DELHI BECOMES THE 28TH LEGISLATURE TO JOIN THE NATIONAL E-VIDHAN APPLICATION PLATFORM

Background

• The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is a digital governance initiative under the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) to transition legislative assemblies to a paperless and transparent system.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance , e-Governance )

• It aligns with the broader vision of “One Nation, One Application”, aiming for standardized digital legislative processes across India.
• NeVA is hosted on Meghraj 2.0, India’s cloud infrastructure, ensuring scalability, security, and accessibility across multiple devices.
• It was launched to modernize legislative institutions, ensuring real-time access to legislative documents and seamless coordination among lawmakers.
• Delhi signed the tripartite MoU with MoPA and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) on March 22, 2025, becoming the 28th legislature to join the initiative.

Key Features of NeVA

• Paperless Operations: Reduces reliance on physical documents, cutting costs and promoting environmental sustainability.
• Real-time Access: Legislators can access agendas, bills, reports, and other crucial legislative documents anytime, anywhere.
• Multilingual Support: Enhances inclusivity across India’s linguistic diversity.
• Device-Agnostic Platform: Works across smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.
• Secure Digital Repository: Ensures data integrity, security, and confidentiality of legislative records.

Significance of Delhi’s Adoption

• Enhances Legislative Efficiency: Digital tools streamline workflows and empower legislators to function more effectively.
• Improves Transparency & Accountability: Real-time documentation ensures legislative processes remain open and accessible.
• Supports Digital Governance Goals: Strengthens Delhi’s commitment to technology-driven governance as part of its 100-day agenda.
• Sets a Model for Other Legislatures: The adoption by the Delhi Assembly underscores the growing momentum for legislative digitization nationwide.

Future Prospects

• Expansion Across Other States: Encourages remaining legislative bodies to adopt NeVA, strengthening a uniform digital legislative framework.
• Integration with Other Governance Initiatives: Aligns with broader e-Governance programs such as Digital India and Smart Governance.
• Improved Public Engagement: Enhances citizen access to legislative processes, fostering greater democratic participation.
• Data-Driven Policy Making: Digital legislative records enable better analysis, tracking, and evaluation of legislative activities over time.

This marks a milestone in digital transformation for Indian legislative institutions, setting a precedent for transparent, efficient, and technology-driven governance across the country.

GI-Tagged Jaggery Exported from Shamli, Muzaffarnagar to Bangladesh

Background and Context

• Geographical Indication (GI) Tag: The GI tag ensures product authenticity and uniqueness, providing market recognition and premium pricing.
• Muzaffarnagar & Shamli – Jaggery Hub: Significance:
  • Muzaffarnagar produces about 20% of India’s total jaggery, making it a key hub for this sweetener.
  • GI Tag Recognition: Granted on March 31, 2023, as “Muzaffarnagar Gur (Jaggery).”
  • Validity: Registered until December 1, 2030.

• APEDA’s Role: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) supports Indian agricultural exports by facilitating quality assurance, market linkages, and trade expansion.
• Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) & Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs): These entities help small farmers aggregate their produce, negotiate better prices, and enter global markets directly.

Relevance : GS 3(Export , Economy )

Significance of the Export Initiative

• Milestone in Direct Agricultural Exports:
  • First-ever direct export of 30 MT GI-tagged jaggery from western UP to Bangladesh.
  • Strengthens trade relations with Bangladesh in the sugarcane value chain.

• Empowerment of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs):
  • Brijnandan Agro FPC, formed in 2023, leads the export drive.
  • Has 545 members, including two women directors.
  • Diversified exports include jaggery, sugarcane products, Basmati rice, and pulses.

• Government & Institutional Support:
  • APEDA-backed training programs ensure compliance with global standards.
  • ₹4 lakh financial aid under Uttar Pradesh’s Agri Export Policy—first FPO in the state to receive such support.

• Capacity-Building Initiatives:
  • Export promotion workshop on Basmati rice and other agricultural products held.
  • 220 farmers participated, learning about global market standards and export-oriented farming.

• Precedents in Agricultural Exports from Western UP:
  • Neer Adarsh Organic FPO’s Basmati rice exports to Lebanon (2023) & Oman (2024).
  • Demonstrates growing capacity of UP-based FPOs in global agri-trade.

Forward Linkages & Implications

• Economic & Trade Benefits:
  • Expands market access for UP farmers, ensuring higher income and economic security.
  • Strengthens India’s footprint in the global jaggery and sugarcane derivatives market.

• Policy and Infrastructure Development:
  • May lead to improved cold storage, packaging, and logistics facilities for perishable agri-products.
  • Encourages state and central governments to promote FPO-led direct exports.

• Bangladesh-India Trade Relations:
  • Strengthens agri-export ties under the India-Bangladesh trade agreement.
  • Potential to diversify into other agri-products such as pulses, oilseeds, and processed foods.

• Scaling Up Agricultural Exports:
  • Success of UP’s jaggery export can be replicated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, where jaggery production is significant.
  • Encourages more GI-tagged Indian products to enter the international market.

Conclusion

This landmark export of GI-tagged jaggery showcases the success of farmer-led export initiatives, backed by APEDA and government support. It reinforces India’s agricultural export ambitions, ensures higher farmer incomes, and strengthens international trade linkages.