Content:

1. Mahakumbh 2025: A Spectacle of Faith, Unity, and Tradition
2. 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.