26 December 2022

• Essay
  • Good Governance Day
• Fact File
  • What is a ‘bomb cyclone’?

Revamped e-HRMS 2.0 Portal

• The portal was launched with a nationwide launch of “Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore” campaign during Good Governance Week.
• It is the first digital system in Govt. of India to provide end-to-end HR Services. 
• It will provide the various services – such as Transfers (Rotation/Mutual), Deputation, APAR, IPR, iGOT Trainings, Vigilance Status, Deputation Opportunities, Service Book and other basic HR Services like Leave, Tour, Reimbursements etc. in a digital mode to the employees.

Mobile Application of iGoTKarmayogi Portal by Karmayogi Bharat (SPV)

• Aim: To create professional, well trained and future ready civil service for India.
• On this app, learners can –

• Learn anytime, anywhere, on any device (even offline)
• Upskill themselves with variety of courses for their needs
• Learn directly from top institutes and experts
• Earn certificates and enrich their profile
• Be up-to-date with evolving technology, policy, etc.
• Identify their gaps & needs and upgrade their skills, attitudes and knowledge

e-Book on Major Reforms and Achievements of DoP&T from 2014 to 2022

• Launching of Assistant Secretary Deputation Programme for young IAS officers in Central Govt.
• Reservations expanded for Persons with disabilities in govt service.
• Discontinuation of interview in recruitment process to make it more transparent and objective.
• To enhance trust in citizens, self-attestation introduced for documentation.
• Reforms in Examination process conducted by Staff Selection Commission.
• To provide equal opportunities in public employment, creamy layer limit for OBCs enhanced.
• Special allowance for women employees with disabilities for child care.
• Children Education allowance doubled for Divyaang Children of Employees.
• 10% reservation in direct recruitment for EWS introduced.
• Liberalized regime for child care leave for women employees.
• Special Maternity leave for women employees.
• RTI Act strengthened to provide rules regarding tenure and service conditions of Chairperson and members of Central and State Commissions.
• Setting up of new benches of Central Administrative Tribunal.
• Strengthening of provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.
• Promoting Accountability among civil servants.
• Implementation of online performance appraisal system for government employees
• National Programme for Civil Service Capacity Building (Mission Karmayogi) – setting up of Capacity Building Commission and Karmayogi Bharat(SPv).
• Launch of ‘KarmayogiPrarambh’ - an online Capacity Building Module for newly recruited officials.
• Competency linked foundation Training Programme for ASOs by ISTM.
• More than 8000 promotions of Central Secretariat employees cleared in one go.

What is a ‘bomb cyclone’?

• Recently, conditions for a bomb cyclone had been met over the Great Lakes, where frigid Arctic air from the meandering polar vortex met very warm air to the east.
• Bomb cyclones are basically winter hurricanes, characterized by intense winter storms with high winds, heavy blizzards and sub-zero temperatures.
• They are created through a process known as “bombogenesis” or "explosive cyclogenesis."
• Bombogenesis –

• Rapidly strengthening low pressure system
• Pressure drops of by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.
• Low pressure leads to more intense impacts such as heavy snow, rain, high winds, blizzard and coastal flooding. 

• It occurs when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, such as air over warm ocean waters, which rapidly intensifies midlatitude cyclone, dropping at least 24 millibars over 24 hours.
• The phenomenon is very common in the Pacific Ocean region because there is enough water surface area for strengthening but it is rare on the Atlantic coastline.

Bomb cyclones vs hurricanes

• Though bomb cyclones share characteristics with hurricanes, they are not hurricanes – 

• Bomb cyclones have cold air and fronts: Cold air rapidly weakens hurricanes, while it is an essential ingredient for bomb cyclones.
• Bomb cyclones form during winter: Hurricanes form from late spring to early fall, while bomb cyclones form from late fall to early spring.
• Bomb cyclones form at higher latitudes: Hurricanes form in tropical waters, while bomb cyclones form over the northwestern Atlantic, northwestern Pacific and sometimes the Mediterranean Sea.