General Knowledge & Current Affairs Test-1

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos on Thursday successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle powered by the world ’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine, after calling off its launch at least four times previously.
Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator) lifted off at 7.15 am on Thursday in a mission of many firsts. While it is the second launch by a private startup in India, it is the first to use a private launchpad that the company has set up at the country ’s only operational spaceport at Sriharikota.
“Elated at the successful launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD by @AgnikulCosmos! A historic moment for India ’s space sector. Powered by world ’s first single piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine, this achievement showcases brilliance of our young innovators,”Dr Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe responsible for coordinating with the private space sector, said on X.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also congratulated Agnikul in a post on X, saying it is “a major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing ”.
Typically, engine parts are manufactured separately and assembled later. Using the 3D-printed manufacturing process is likely to lower the launch cost and cut down the vehicle assembly time. The company aims to offer affordable launch services to small satellites.
“We are proud to present India ’s first semi-cryo rocket engine, which is also the world ’s most integrated single shot 3D printed piece. It signals the ability to rapidly assemble rockets that is unparalleled,”said Prof Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, founding advisor Agnikul Cosmos and head of National Centre for Combustion Research and Development, IIT Madras.
The launch vehicle, developed by the IIT Madras-incubated startup, also demonstrated India ’s first semi-cryogenic engine. The engine —called Agnilet —uses sub-cooled oxygen as fuel. Cryogenic engines, such as the one used in the upper stages of India ’s heaviest launch vehicle, LVM3, use gases liquified at extremely low temperatures as fuel.
The launch vehicle has been designed to launch from its mobile launchpad, called Dhanush, from any location. While this was a suborbital launch, the vehicle can fly payloads ranging from 30 kg to 300 kg.
The mission was designed to reach a height of about 8 kilometres before splashing into the sea. The company hopes to conduct its first orbital launch, which will be able to carry satellites to an orbit around the Earth by the end of the financial. They hope to provide regular launched in the next calendar year. The other private launch provider Skyroot, which achieved its first sub-orbital launch in 2022, is also likely to undertake its first orbital launch this year.
“This is the culmination of 1000s of hours of reviews and hard work by the team. We are blessed to have had the opportunity and the full support of IN-SPACe and ISRO to design and build original space worthy hardware in India,”said Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of Agnikul Cosmos.
[Excerpt from Indian Express “Agnikul Cosmos Launches First 3D Printed Rocket Engine ”Dated 31/05/24]

Where was the world 's first rocket powered by a fully 3D-printed engine launched from?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos on Thursday successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle powered by the world ’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine, after calling off its launch at least four times previously.
Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator) lifted off at 7.15 am on Thursday in a mission of many firsts. While it is the second launch by a private startup in India, it is the first to use a private launchpad that the company has set up at the country ’s only operational spaceport at Sriharikota.
“Elated at the successful launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD by @AgnikulCosmos! A historic moment for India ’s space sector. Powered by world ’s first single piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine, this achievement showcases brilliance of our young innovators,”Dr Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe responsible for coordinating with the private space sector, said on X.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also congratulated Agnikul in a post on X, saying it is “a major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing ”.
Typically, engine parts are manufactured separately and assembled later. Using the 3D-printed manufacturing process is likely to lower the launch cost and cut down the vehicle assembly time. The company aims to offer affordable launch services to small satellites.
“We are proud to present India ’s first semi-cryo rocket engine, which is also the world ’s most integrated single shot 3D printed piece. It signals the ability to rapidly assemble rockets that is unparalleled,”said Prof Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, founding advisor Agnikul Cosmos and head of National Centre for Combustion Research and Development, IIT Madras.
The launch vehicle, developed by the IIT Madras-incubated startup, also demonstrated India ’s first semi-cryogenic engine. The engine —called Agnilet —uses sub-cooled oxygen as fuel. Cryogenic engines, such as the one used in the upper stages of India ’s heaviest launch vehicle, LVM3, use gases liquified at extremely low temperatures as fuel.
The launch vehicle has been designed to launch from its mobile launchpad, called Dhanush, from any location. While this was a suborbital launch, the vehicle can fly payloads ranging from 30 kg to 300 kg.
The mission was designed to reach a height of about 8 kilometres before splashing into the sea. The company hopes to conduct its first orbital launch, which will be able to carry satellites to an orbit around the Earth by the end of the financial. They hope to provide regular launched in the next calendar year. The other private launch provider Skyroot, which achieved its first sub-orbital launch in 2022, is also likely to undertake its first orbital launch this year.
“This is the culmination of 1000s of hours of reviews and hard work by the team. We are blessed to have had the opportunity and the full support of IN-SPACe and ISRO to design and build original space worthy hardware in India,”said Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of Agnikul Cosmos.
[Excerpt from Indian Express “Agnikul Cosmos Launches First 3D Printed Rocket Engine ”Dated 31/05/24]

What is one significant advantage of using 3D printing technology in rocket engine manufacturing, according to the CEO of Agnikul Cosmos?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos on Thursday successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle powered by the world ’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine, after calling off its launch at least four times previously.
Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator) lifted off at 7.15 am on Thursday in a mission of many firsts. While it is the second launch by a private startup in India, it is the first to use a private launchpad that the company has set up at the country ’s only operational spaceport at Sriharikota.
“Elated at the successful launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD by @AgnikulCosmos! A historic moment for India ’s space sector. Powered by world ’s first single piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine, this achievement showcases brilliance of our young innovators,”Dr Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe responsible for coordinating with the private space sector, said on X.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also congratulated Agnikul in a post on X, saying it is “a major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing ”.
Typically, engine parts are manufactured separately and assembled later. Using the 3D-printed manufacturing process is likely to lower the launch cost and cut down the vehicle assembly time. The company aims to offer affordable launch services to small satellites.
“We are proud to present India ’s first semi-cryo rocket engine, which is also the world ’s most integrated single shot 3D printed piece. It signals the ability to rapidly assemble rockets that is unparalleled,”said Prof Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, founding advisor Agnikul Cosmos and head of National Centre for Combustion Research and Development, IIT Madras.
The launch vehicle, developed by the IIT Madras-incubated startup, also demonstrated India ’s first semi-cryogenic engine. The engine —called Agnilet —uses sub-cooled oxygen as fuel. Cryogenic engines, such as the one used in the upper stages of India ’s heaviest launch vehicle, LVM3, use gases liquified at extremely low temperatures as fuel.
The launch vehicle has been designed to launch from its mobile launchpad, called Dhanush, from any location. While this was a suborbital launch, the vehicle can fly payloads ranging from 30 kg to 300 kg.
The mission was designed to reach a height of about 8 kilometres before splashing into the sea. The company hopes to conduct its first orbital launch, which will be able to carry satellites to an orbit around the Earth by the end of the financial. They hope to provide regular launched in the next calendar year. The other private launch provider Skyroot, which achieved its first sub-orbital launch in 2022, is also likely to undertake its first orbital launch this year.
“This is the culmination of 1000s of hours of reviews and hard work by the team. We are blessed to have had the opportunity and the full support of IN-SPACe and ISRO to design and build original space worthy hardware in India,”said Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of Agnikul Cosmos.
[Excerpt from Indian Express “Agnikul Cosmos Launches First 3D Printed Rocket Engine ”Dated 31/05/24]

What is the main goal of Agnikul Cosmos?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos on Thursday successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle powered by the world ’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine, after calling off its launch at least four times previously.
Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator) lifted off at 7.15 am on Thursday in a mission of many firsts. While it is the second launch by a private startup in India, it is the first to use a private launchpad that the company has set up at the country ’s only operational spaceport at Sriharikota.
“Elated at the successful launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD by @AgnikulCosmos! A historic moment for India ’s space sector. Powered by world ’s first single piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine, this achievement showcases brilliance of our young innovators,”Dr Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe responsible for coordinating with the private space sector, said on X.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also congratulated Agnikul in a post on X, saying it is “a major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing ”.
Typically, engine parts are manufactured separately and assembled later. Using the 3D-printed manufacturing process is likely to lower the launch cost and cut down the vehicle assembly time. The company aims to offer affordable launch services to small satellites.
“We are proud to present India ’s first semi-cryo rocket engine, which is also the world ’s most integrated single shot 3D printed piece. It signals the ability to rapidly assemble rockets that is unparalleled,”said Prof Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, founding advisor Agnikul Cosmos and head of National Centre for Combustion Research and Development, IIT Madras.
The launch vehicle, developed by the IIT Madras-incubated startup, also demonstrated India ’s first semi-cryogenic engine. The engine —called Agnilet —uses sub-cooled oxygen as fuel. Cryogenic engines, such as the one used in the upper stages of India ’s heaviest launch vehicle, LVM3, use gases liquified at extremely low temperatures as fuel.
The launch vehicle has been designed to launch from its mobile launchpad, called Dhanush, from any location. While this was a suborbital launch, the vehicle can fly payloads ranging from 30 kg to 300 kg.
The mission was designed to reach a height of about 8 kilometres before splashing into the sea. The company hopes to conduct its first orbital launch, which will be able to carry satellites to an orbit around the Earth by the end of the financial. They hope to provide regular launched in the next calendar year. The other private launch provider Skyroot, which achieved its first sub-orbital launch in 2022, is also likely to undertake its first orbital launch this year.
“This is the culmination of 1000s of hours of reviews and hard work by the team. We are blessed to have had the opportunity and the full support of IN-SPACe and ISRO to design and build original space worthy hardware in India,”said Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of Agnikul Cosmos.
[Excerpt from Indian Express “Agnikul Cosmos Launches First 3D Printed Rocket Engine ”Dated 31/05/24]

What role did government organizations like IN-SPACe and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) play in the success of the launch?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos on Thursday successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle powered by the world ’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine, after calling off its launch at least four times previously.
Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator) lifted off at 7.15 am on Thursday in a mission of many firsts. While it is the second launch by a private startup in India, it is the first to use a private launchpad that the company has set up at the country ’s only operational spaceport at Sriharikota.
“Elated at the successful launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD by @AgnikulCosmos! A historic moment for India ’s space sector. Powered by world ’s first single piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine, this achievement showcases brilliance of our young innovators,”Dr Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe responsible for coordinating with the private space sector, said on X.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also congratulated Agnikul in a post on X, saying it is “a major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing ”.
Typically, engine parts are manufactured separately and assembled later. Using the 3D-printed manufacturing process is likely to lower the launch cost and cut down the vehicle assembly time. The company aims to offer affordable launch services to small satellites.
“We are proud to present India ’s first semi-cryo rocket engine, which is also the world ’s most integrated single shot 3D printed piece. It signals the ability to rapidly assemble rockets that is unparalleled,”said Prof Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, founding advisor Agnikul Cosmos and head of National Centre for Combustion Research and Development, IIT Madras.
The launch vehicle, developed by the IIT Madras-incubated startup, also demonstrated India ’s first semi-cryogenic engine. The engine —called Agnilet —uses sub-cooled oxygen as fuel. Cryogenic engines, such as the one used in the upper stages of India ’s heaviest launch vehicle, LVM3, use gases liquified at extremely low temperatures as fuel.
The launch vehicle has been designed to launch from its mobile launchpad, called Dhanush, from any location. While this was a suborbital launch, the vehicle can fly payloads ranging from 30 kg to 300 kg.
The mission was designed to reach a height of about 8 kilometres before splashing into the sea. The company hopes to conduct its first orbital launch, which will be able to carry satellites to an orbit around the Earth by the end of the financial. They hope to provide regular launched in the next calendar year. The other private launch provider Skyroot, which achieved its first sub-orbital launch in 2022, is also likely to undertake its first orbital launch this year.
“This is the culmination of 1000s of hours of reviews and hard work by the team. We are blessed to have had the opportunity and the full support of IN-SPACe and ISRO to design and build original space worthy hardware in India,”said Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of Agnikul Cosmos.
[Excerpt from Indian Express “Agnikul Cosmos Launches First 3D Printed Rocket Engine ”Dated 31/05/24]

What is the payload capacity of Agnikul Cosmos 'main vehicle, Agnibaan?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy (FIDE), which is the genesis co-author of the Beckn Protocol, that powers ecommerce networks like the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has unveiled a multi-network AI agent that can carry out commercial transactions on the user 's behalf.
The AI agent, Beckn Generative Pre-trained Transformer or BecknGPT, is an open-source demonstration app over Open AI ’s ChatGPT.
“The combination of Beckn protocol and AI can unlock a whole new world of possibilities,”Sujith Nair, co-creator of the Beckn Protocol, told ET. “An AI and Beckn-aware open network digital public infrastructure can accelerate innovations that remove friction of digital access and natural language barriers, making ecommerce democratic and accessible to a wider population including small businesses."
FIDE, formerly Beckn Foundation, is the genesis co-author of the Beckn Protocol.
At a recent Beckn community meetup, Ravi Prakash, co-creator of Beckn Protocol, and Mayur Virendra, head of technology strategy and innovation at FIDE, demonstrated how a Beckn-enabled AI chatbot could perform an entire exchange —from initiation to execution of an ecommerce order —on an open network.
The AI agent could also perform inter-network transactions, seamlessly switching between multiple open networks, (for example, from a retail network to an open energy network) using Beckn ’s inherent interoperability.
At the Beckn Bengaluru Meetup 1.0, Virendra entered a query for personal finance books in the chatbot. ‘Talking to open.network.becknprotocol.io ’read the interface as BecknGPT looked for options on personal finance books and returned with three books that could be purchased. On selecting the desired book, one entered the name and address, upon which a cash-on-delivery order was placed for the book.
A similar query on charging stations gave options of all the nearest charging stations one could visit during the demo.
Nair said this is an effort by FIDE and a few members of Beckn Open Collective, the open community of Beckn, to let developers imagine many more such possibilities with Beckn and AI.
“Networks can be based on healthcare, retail, agriculture, EV charging or education but one single AI agent acting as a buyer app can automatically know which network to look for,”he said.
Prakash said that for the demo, FIDE set up a dummy network simulating ONDC.
“BecknGPT acts like how a buyer app acts on ONDC,”Prakash said. Apps like Paytm, pincode and magicpin are customer-facing apps, which act as buyer apps on ONDC. Seller apps are merchant-facing apps where vendors can be onboarded. Prakash explained that it is a chat-based interface where the AI agent has been configured to understand Beckn.
“The AI agent could find networks built on Beckn Protocol like ONDC and the Unified Energy Interface,”he said.
So, when it did a search for books, it fired the query on a ONDC-like network, which was broadcast to multiple seller platforms. The sellers on these seller platforms gave back a response on relevant options. This, in turn, was relayed to the user.
Prakash clarified that this was not a product launch and that developers can build on this. He said that this is a one-of-a-kind AI assistant that can search through product catalogues on multiple networks.
[Excerpt from Economic Times “FIDE Unveils BecknGPT, an AI Agent Combining ChatGPT and Beckn Protocol ”Dated 28/05/24]

What is BecknGPT?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy (FIDE), which is the genesis co-author of the Beckn Protocol, that powers ecommerce networks like the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has unveiled a multi-network AI agent that can carry out commercial transactions on the user 's behalf.
The AI agent, Beckn Generative Pre-trained Transformer or BecknGPT, is an open-source demonstration app over Open AI ’s ChatGPT.
“The combination of Beckn protocol and AI can unlock a whole new world of possibilities,”Sujith Nair, co-creator of the Beckn Protocol, told ET. “An AI and Beckn-aware open network digital public infrastructure can accelerate innovations that remove friction of digital access and natural language barriers, making ecommerce democratic and accessible to a wider population including small businesses."
FIDE, formerly Beckn Foundation, is the genesis co-author of the Beckn Protocol.
At a recent Beckn community meetup, Ravi Prakash, co-creator of Beckn Protocol, and Mayur Virendra, head of technology strategy and innovation at FIDE, demonstrated how a Beckn-enabled AI chatbot could perform an entire exchange —from initiation to execution of an ecommerce order —on an open network.
The AI agent could also perform inter-network transactions, seamlessly switching between multiple open networks, (for example, from a retail network to an open energy network) using Beckn ’s inherent interoperability.
At the Beckn Bengaluru Meetup 1.0, Virendra entered a query for personal finance books in the chatbot. ‘Talking to open.network.becknprotocol.io ’read the interface as BecknGPT looked for options on personal finance books and returned with three books that could be purchased. On selecting the desired book, one entered the name and address, upon which a cash-on-delivery order was placed for the book.
A similar query on charging stations gave options of all the nearest charging stations one could visit during the demo.
Nair said this is an effort by FIDE and a few members of Beckn Open Collective, the open community of Beckn, to let developers imagine many more such possibilities with Beckn and AI.
“Networks can be based on healthcare, retail, agriculture, EV charging or education but one single AI agent acting as a buyer app can automatically know which network to look for,”he said.
Prakash said that for the demo, FIDE set up a dummy network simulating ONDC.
“BecknGPT acts like how a buyer app acts on ONDC,”Prakash said. Apps like Paytm, pincode and magicpin are customer-facing apps, which act as buyer apps on ONDC. Seller apps are merchant-facing apps where vendors can be onboarded. Prakash explained that it is a chat-based interface where the AI agent has been configured to understand Beckn.
“The AI agent could find networks built on Beckn Protocol like ONDC and the Unified Energy Interface,”he said.
So, when it did a search for books, it fired the query on a ONDC-like network, which was broadcast to multiple seller platforms. The sellers on these seller platforms gave back a response on relevant options. This, in turn, was relayed to the user.
Prakash clarified that this was not a product launch and that developers can build on this. He said that this is a one-of-a-kind AI assistant that can search through product catalogues on multiple networks.
[Excerpt from Economic Times “FIDE Unveils BecknGPT, an AI Agent Combining ChatGPT and Beckn Protocol ”Dated 28/05/24]

What standard does BecknGPT 's technology rely on?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy (FIDE), which is the genesis co-author of the Beckn Protocol, that powers ecommerce networks like the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has unveiled a multi-network AI agent that can carry out commercial transactions on the user 's behalf.
The AI agent, Beckn Generative Pre-trained Transformer or BecknGPT, is an open-source demonstration app over Open AI ’s ChatGPT.
“The combination of Beckn protocol and AI can unlock a whole new world of possibilities,”Sujith Nair, co-creator of the Beckn Protocol, told ET. “An AI and Beckn-aware open network digital public infrastructure can accelerate innovations that remove friction of digital access and natural language barriers, making ecommerce democratic and accessible to a wider population including small businesses."
FIDE, formerly Beckn Foundation, is the genesis co-author of the Beckn Protocol.
At a recent Beckn community meetup, Ravi Prakash, co-creator of Beckn Protocol, and Mayur Virendra, head of technology strategy and innovation at FIDE, demonstrated how a Beckn-enabled AI chatbot could perform an entire exchange —from initiation to execution of an ecommerce order —on an open network.
The AI agent could also perform inter-network transactions, seamlessly switching between multiple open networks, (for example, from a retail network to an open energy network) using Beckn ’s inherent interoperability.
At the Beckn Bengaluru Meetup 1.0, Virendra entered a query for personal finance books in the chatbot. ‘Talking to open.network.becknprotocol.io ’read the interface as BecknGPT looked for options on personal finance books and returned with three books that could be purchased. On selecting the desired book, one entered the name and address, upon which a cash-on-delivery order was placed for the book.
A similar query on charging stations gave options of all the nearest charging stations one could visit during the demo.
Nair said this is an effort by FIDE and a few members of Beckn Open Collective, the open community of Beckn, to let developers imagine many more such possibilities with Beckn and AI.
“Networks can be based on healthcare, retail, agriculture, EV charging or education but one single AI agent acting as a buyer app can automatically know which network to look for,”he said.
Prakash said that for the demo, FIDE set up a dummy network simulating ONDC.
“BecknGPT acts like how a buyer app acts on ONDC,”Prakash said. Apps like Paytm, pincode and magicpin are customer-facing apps, which act as buyer apps on ONDC. Seller apps are merchant-facing apps where vendors can be onboarded. Prakash explained that it is a chat-based interface where the AI agent has been configured to understand Beckn.
“The AI agent could find networks built on Beckn Protocol like ONDC and the Unified Energy Interface,”he said.
So, when it did a search for books, it fired the query on a ONDC-like network, which was broadcast to multiple seller platforms. The sellers on these seller platforms gave back a response on relevant options. This, in turn, was relayed to the user.
Prakash clarified that this was not a product launch and that developers can build on this. He said that this is a one-of-a-kind AI assistant that can search through product catalogues on multiple networks.
[Excerpt from Economic Times “FIDE Unveils BecknGPT, an AI Agent Combining ChatGPT and Beckn Protocol ”Dated 28/05/24]

What is one of the main goals of BecknGPT in the context of e-commerce?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy (FIDE), which is the genesis co-author of the Beckn Protocol, that powers ecommerce networks like the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has unveiled a multi-network AI agent that can carry out commercial transactions on the user 's behalf.
The AI agent, Beckn Generative Pre-trained Transformer or BecknGPT, is an open-source demonstration app over Open AI ’s ChatGPT.
“The combination of Beckn protocol and AI can unlock a whole new world of possibilities,”Sujith Nair, co-creator of the Beckn Protocol, told ET. “An AI and Beckn-aware open network digital public infrastructure can accelerate innovations that remove friction of digital access and natural language barriers, making ecommerce democratic and accessible to a wider population including small businesses."
FIDE, formerly Beckn Foundation, is the genesis co-author of the Beckn Protocol.
At a recent Beckn community meetup, Ravi Prakash, co-creator of Beckn Protocol, and Mayur Virendra, head of technology strategy and innovation at FIDE, demonstrated how a Beckn-enabled AI chatbot could perform an entire exchange —from initiation to execution of an ecommerce order —on an open network.
The AI agent could also perform inter-network transactions, seamlessly switching between multiple open networks, (for example, from a retail network to an open energy network) using Beckn ’s inherent interoperability.
At the Beckn Bengaluru Meetup 1.0, Virendra entered a query for personal finance books in the chatbot. ‘Talking to open.network.becknprotocol.io ’read the interface as BecknGPT looked for options on personal finance books and returned with three books that could be purchased. On selecting the desired book, one entered the name and address, upon which a cash-on-delivery order was placed for the book.
A similar query on charging stations gave options of all the nearest charging stations one could visit during the demo.
Nair said this is an effort by FIDE and a few members of Beckn Open Collective, the open community of Beckn, to let developers imagine many more such possibilities with Beckn and AI.
“Networks can be based on healthcare, retail, agriculture, EV charging or education but one single AI agent acting as a buyer app can automatically know which network to look for,”he said.
Prakash said that for the demo, FIDE set up a dummy network simulating ONDC.
“BecknGPT acts like how a buyer app acts on ONDC,”Prakash said. Apps like Paytm, pincode and magicpin are customer-facing apps, which act as buyer apps on ONDC. Seller apps are merchant-facing apps where vendors can be onboarded. Prakash explained that it is a chat-based interface where the AI agent has been configured to understand Beckn.
“The AI agent could find networks built on Beckn Protocol like ONDC and the Unified Energy Interface,”he said.
So, when it did a search for books, it fired the query on a ONDC-like network, which was broadcast to multiple seller platforms. The sellers on these seller platforms gave back a response on relevant options. This, in turn, was relayed to the user.
Prakash clarified that this was not a product launch and that developers can build on this. He said that this is a one-of-a-kind AI assistant that can search through product catalogues on multiple networks.
[Excerpt from Economic Times “FIDE Unveils BecknGPT, an AI Agent Combining ChatGPT and Beckn Protocol ”Dated 28/05/24]

What is the Beckn Protocol?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy (FIDE), which is the genesis co-author of the Beckn Protocol, that powers ecommerce networks like the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has unveiled a multi-network AI agent that can carry out commercial transactions on the user 's behalf.
The AI agent, Beckn Generative Pre-trained Transformer or BecknGPT, is an open-source demonstration app over Open AI ’s ChatGPT.
“The combination of Beckn protocol and AI can unlock a whole new world of possibilities,”Sujith Nair, co-creator of the Beckn Protocol, told ET. “An AI and Beckn-aware open network digital public infrastructure can accelerate innovations that remove friction of digital access and natural language barriers, making ecommerce democratic and accessible to a wider population including small businesses."
FIDE, formerly Beckn Foundation, is the genesis co-author of the Beckn Protocol.
At a recent Beckn community meetup, Ravi Prakash, co-creator of Beckn Protocol, and Mayur Virendra, head of technology strategy and innovation at FIDE, demonstrated how a Beckn-enabled AI chatbot could perform an entire exchange —from initiation to execution of an ecommerce order —on an open network.
The AI agent could also perform inter-network transactions, seamlessly switching between multiple open networks, (for example, from a retail network to an open energy network) using Beckn ’s inherent interoperability.
At the Beckn Bengaluru Meetup 1.0, Virendra entered a query for personal finance books in the chatbot. ‘Talking to open.network.becknprotocol.io ’read the interface as BecknGPT looked for options on personal finance books and returned with three books that could be purchased. On selecting the desired book, one entered the name and address, upon which a cash-on-delivery order was placed for the book.
A similar query on charging stations gave options of all the nearest charging stations one could visit during the demo.
Nair said this is an effort by FIDE and a few members of Beckn Open Collective, the open community of Beckn, to let developers imagine many more such possibilities with Beckn and AI.
“Networks can be based on healthcare, retail, agriculture, EV charging or education but one single AI agent acting as a buyer app can automatically know which network to look for,”he said.
Prakash said that for the demo, FIDE set up a dummy network simulating ONDC.
“BecknGPT acts like how a buyer app acts on ONDC,”Prakash said. Apps like Paytm, pincode and magicpin are customer-facing apps, which act as buyer apps on ONDC. Seller apps are merchant-facing apps where vendors can be onboarded. Prakash explained that it is a chat-based interface where the AI agent has been configured to understand Beckn.
“The AI agent could find networks built on Beckn Protocol like ONDC and the Unified Energy Interface,”he said.
So, when it did a search for books, it fired the query on a ONDC-like network, which was broadcast to multiple seller platforms. The sellers on these seller platforms gave back a response on relevant options. This, in turn, was relayed to the user.
Prakash clarified that this was not a product launch and that developers can build on this. He said that this is a one-of-a-kind AI assistant that can search through product catalogues on multiple networks.
[Excerpt from Economic Times “FIDE Unveils BecknGPT, an AI Agent Combining ChatGPT and Beckn Protocol ”Dated 28/05/24]

Which organization oversees the development and ensures the core values of the Beckn Protocol?