SAARTHI

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Picture Courtesy: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet/ondc-launches-saarthi-reference-app-for-businesses-to-create-multilingual-buyer-apps/article68629225.ece

Context: 

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has launched the Saarthi App.

About the Saarthi App

• The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has developed Saarthi App in collaboration with the Bhashini to allow firms to develop buyer-side apps with multilingual support.
• It currently supports five languages: Hindi, English, Marathi, Bengali, and Tamil.
  • • The future objective is to add support for all 22 languages Bhashini supports to ensure complete linguistic coverage throughout India.
• It offers real-time translation to allow businesses to serve customers in several locations without needing separate app versions.
• It integrates voice recognition technology to allow users to interact with the app in their native languages.

Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) ●The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has created the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to promote open e-commerce. ●It was established in December 2021 with an initial investment from the Quality Council of India and Protean eGov Technologies Limited.

About Bhashini

• The Prime Minister launched Bhashini in July 2022 to offer language technology solutions as digital public goods via the Bhashini platform.
• Bhashini is India's Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered language translation platform.
• It aims to bridge language barriers in digital areas by making the internet and digital services available in multiple Indian languages.
• Key Objectives:
  • • Make digital content and services accessible in all Indian languages.
    • Create advanced language technologies such as speech recognition, machine translation, and text-to-speech systems for Indian languages.
    • To provide citizens with digital tools and materials in their local language.
• It offers AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools to MSMEs, startups, and individual innovators to build and deliver services in many languages.
• Key Components:
  • • Creation of large-scale linguistic resources, including dictionaries, corpora, and databases.
    • Development of fundamental technologies for Indian languages, including Natural Language Processing (NLP), Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), and Optical Character Recognition (OCR).
    • Development of programs and services that use these technologies to provide multilingual support in various fields, including education, healthcare, and government.
• It covers all 22 officially recognised Indian languages to meet diverse linguistic needs.

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Source:

THE HINDU

Wikipedia

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Which of the following is the main objective of the recently launched Saarthi app? A) Provide a platform for selling e-commerce products directly to customers. B) Offer a platform for peer-to-peer financing. C) Promote financial literacy and investor education. D) Enable firms to develop their multilingual buyer-side apps. Answer: D Explanation: The Saarthi app is a reference tool that enables firms to design their customised buyer apps with multilingual features. These features include real-time translation, transliteration, and speech recognition capabilities to increase digital commerce accessibility and diversity.