• 10 Jun 2022

'Sparrow-UP' Portal for PCS Officers of the State

Why in News?

• Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government has created the 'Sparrow-UP' portal to provide online details of their movable and immovable assets to PCS Officers of the state. Log-in and password have also been given to all the officials.

Key Points

• The Annual Confidential Entry (NCR) of these officers will also be given online now. Earlier, the state government had directed ministers and IAS officers to furnish details of their assets.
• It is worth mentioning that it is mandatory for IAS officers to give details of their assets in advance. This arrangement is already in place under the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India.
• IAS officers have to provide their property details online through the Sparrow software. On the lines of the system in force for IAS officers, the Uttar Pradesh Government has implemented this system for PCS officers also.
• Under this, all PCS officers of the state will have to give an account of their assets between January 1 and 21 every year. Failing to do so, departmental action will be taken.
• Each officer will also have to give his self-appraisal online for the previous financial year in April every year. The officers who do not give the details may have to bear the brunt of it. The annual entry of such people can be withheld. This may also affect increments and promotions.

Governor Launches New Website of Raj Bhavan

Why in News?

• On June 9, 2022, Bihar Governor Phagoo Chauhan launched the new website of Raj Bhavan, Bihar.

Key Points

• Designed on the basis of all the standards prescribed by the Government of India, this website is available in both Hindi and English languages.
• A number of new features have been added to this website developed by NIC, Raj Bhavan. Its response time and user interface are very easy compared to the previous website.
• Due to the availability of screen reader facility in it, divyangjans can also use it. This website can also be viewed by opening through mobile and tablet devices.
• Information related to His Excellency the Governor, date wise his speeches and messages and photos of various programs are available on this website.
• Apart from this, notifications, circulars, orders, press releases issued by the Governor's Secretariat, updated information related to universities and their Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, etc. are also available on this.

Medieval Quadrangular Well found in Badam in Hazaribagh

Why in News?

• Recently, a mid-day quadrangular well has been found at Badam under Badka village block of Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand. This well is located at a distance of 150 meters from the fort of Karanpura Raj.

Key Points

• Neeraj Mishra and Azhar Sabir of Archaeological Department, Ranchi visited the Badam Fort. He explained that all the ancient forts that have found wells are circular wells, but it is a quadrangular well. Its specialty can be known only after digging it.
• This well is believed to be from the time of Hemant Singh, the sixth king of the Karanpura raj. King Hemant Singh ruled for about 57 years (1604 to 1661).
• King Hemant Singh had made the Badam Fort very strong. For this, he called many artisans from Patna. The highest place of Badmahi (River Haraho) was chosen to build the fort. Its construction work was carried out in 1642 AD. completed in.
• The main gate of this fort, which is called Singh Darwaza, still exists in a dilapidated condition. It's two floors. A ladder was made to go to the upper floor. There were two rooms on both floors. Even on the summer days, there is a feeling of cold in its rooms.

Four Startups from Chhattisgarh Won Awards at India First Tech Startup Conclave

Why in News?

• Recently, startups from the state of Chhattisgarh have received the award for best startups in 4 categories at the India First Tech Startup Conclave, Bengaluru.

Key Points

• The conclave was organized in Bengaluru by the All India Council for Robotics and Automation on June 8 and 9 to encourage startup companies.
• In this conclave, startups from Chhattisgarh were awarded the best startup award to Smart Yatri Pvt Ltd in the immobility category, Greenfield EcoSolutions Private Limited in the women's category, Siddharth Agro Marketing and Logistics Pvt. Ltd. in the Agritech category and Prominant Innovation Lab Private Limited in the Blockchain Technology category.
• Apart from this, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University - Rabi was awarded as the Best Incubation Centre for Startup Incubation.
• In this conclave, Joint Director, Department of Commerce and Industry, Government of Chhattisgarh, Sanjay Gajghate gave detailed information about the startup ecosystem in the state of Chhattisgarh and various grants being provided by the department and to encourage investors to establish and invest in startups in the state. invited.
• It is worth mentioning that 12 startup companies from Chhattisgarh participated in this conclave.

Chhattisgarh First State to Issue Mental Health Helpline Number for Children Studying in Eklavya Vidyalaya

Why in News?

• Helpline number – 9343007820 has been launched on 9th June, 2022 in collaboration with Department of Primitive Castes and UNICEF for the overall development of children studying in Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

• This helpline number can be used by superintendents, teachers, parents and children and get help from expert counsellors.
• It may be mentioned that out of all the Eklavya Model Residential Schools operating in the country, Chhattisgarh is the only State where such a helpline number has been issued to address the problems of the children of Ekalavya Vidyalaya.
• This number was earlier started experimentally in some districts. Considering its success, it is now being released at the state level.
• Through this, children can be consulted by calling this helpline number if they show symptoms such as being sad and extremely calm, spending most of the time alone, feeling very scared or nervous, getting very angry or fighting, not going to school continuously, doing any kind of intoxication, hurting or harming themselves, etc.

Online Facility Running in Chhattisgarh Transport Department wins Innovation Award

Why in News?

• Recently, Innovation Award was given to the online facility running in the Chhattisgarh Transport Department at the Self-Reliant India Summit held in New Delhi.

Key Points

• The award was presented by U.P., Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, in a virtual function organized by ELETs in New Delhi. Singh provided.
• The ELETs group met Assistant Transport Commissioner Shailabh Sahu, Chhattisgarh Transport Department and presented this citation.
• The conference was attended by officials from transport and other departments across the country.
• Chhattisgarh Transport Department told in its presentation that under the 'Sarthi Yojana', 'Tunhar Sarkar Tuhar Dwar', so far more than 10 lakh RC and DL have been sent home through speed post. Due to this applicants do not need to come again to the transport office to get the card.
• Presently centralized new QR based system has been adopted for RC and DL under this scheme. As soon as the QR is scanned, all the information about the vehicle and driving license is immediately received by the enforcement officer.
• Medical certificate Form 1A is issued online after medical examination for driving license. Chhattisgarh is the first state to do so.
• Challans are being sent directly to the drivers through the e-challan app. A photo fitness app has been created for transparency in fitness. It has made it mandatory to take a photograph of the vehicle at the designated site near the transport office from the GO tag.

Plastic up to 75 Microns Banned in the State from July 1

Why in News?

• On June 9, 2022, Director, Directorate of Urban Development, Uttarakhand, Lalit Mohan Ryal said that under the instructions of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment, instructions have been issued to all the bodies to ban plastic up to 75 microns from July 1.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that in a letter sent by the Ministry of Forest and Environment to the Directorate of Urban Development on June 4, it has been said that after June 30, plastic up to 75 microns should be banned in the state.
• Under this, the Directorate has sent a letter to all the corporations, bodies asking them to revise the guidelines of the old 50 microns and issue a new notification.
• Lalit Mohan Rayal said that under the instructions, 13 bodies have issued notifications related to the ban. The directorate will launch a campaign to issue new notifications related to plastic bans in all other corporations of the state.
• From July 1, plasticized ear buds, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks, polystyrene decorative materials will be banned in the state.
• Apart from this, cutlery like plastic plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, plastic film wrapping sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packs, banners made of plastic less than 100 microns thick will be banned.
• It is worth noting that in the past, 50 micron plastic use has been banned across the state.