02 Feb 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. UPI in France
2. World Wetlands Day 2024
3. Scheme for Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2023
4. GHAR Portal

1. UPI in France

Syllabus: GS-2, IR

Prelims: UPI in France, UPI

Mains: India – France relations

Context:

UPI was formally launched at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Details:

• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said that its international arm, the NPCI International Payments (NIPL) has partnered with the French e-commerce and proximity payments platform Lyra to enable the acceptance of UPI payments in Europe starting with the Eiffel Tower.
• With this, Indian tourists can purchase tickets at the Eiffel Tower using UPI.

Read more about the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the link.

2. World Wetlands Day 2024

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment & Ecology

Prelims: World Wetlands Day, Ramsar Convention

Mains: Significance of wetlands, their conservation

Context:

World Wetlands Day 2024 celebrated on 2 Feb 2024.

World Wetlands Day:

• The theme of World Wetland Day 2024 is ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’ which underscores the critical role wetlands play in enhancing our lives. 
  • It highlights how wetlands contribute to flood protection, clean water, biodiversity and recreational opportunities, all of which are essential for human health and prosperity.

Read more on World Wetlands Day in the linked article.

3. Scheme for Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2023

Syllabus: GS-2, Governance

Prelims: Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2023

Context:

Last Date for submission of nominations extended to February 12, 2024.

Details:

• The awards are designed to acknowledge, recognize, and reward exemplary work done by civil servants across the country. 
• For 2023, the Scheme for Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration has been revised to recognize the contribution of civil servants in the holistic development of districts under the following schemes:
  • Category 1: Holistic Development of Districts under 12 Priority Sector Programs, in this category 10 awards would be conferred.
  • Category 2: Innovations for Central Ministries/ Departments, States, Districts, under this category 6 awards would be conferred.
• Registration on the PM’s Awards web portal commenced on 3 January 2024 for registration and submission of nominations. The last date for submission of registrations was 31 January 2024, now it has been extended to February 12.
• The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2023 shall consist of a trophy, a scroll and an incentive of Rs. 20 lac to the awarded District/ Organization to be utilized for the implementation of projects/programs or bridging the resource gap in any area of public welfare.

4. GHAR Portal

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity, Governance; GS-1, Social Issues

Prelims: GHAR Portal, NCPCR

Mains: Child protection schemes in India

Context:

GHAR (GO Home and Re-Unite) Portal for Restoration and Repatriation of Child launched by NCPCR.

Details:

• The GHAR – GO Home and Re-Unite (Portal for Restoration and Repatriation of Child) portal has been developed and launched by NCPCR. 
• The GHAR portal has been developed to digitally monitor and track the restoration and repatriation of children as per the protocols under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and Rules thereof. 
• The following are the salient features of the portal:
  • Digital tracking and monitoring of children who are in the Juvenile Justice system and have to be repatriated to another Country/State/District.
  • Digital transfer of cases of children to the concerned Juvenile Justice Board/Child Welfare Committee of the State for speedy repatriation of children.
  • Where there is a requirement for a translator/interpreter/expert, a request to be made to the concerned State Government.
  • Child Welfare Committees and District Child Protection Officers can ensure proper restoration and rehabilitation of children by digitally monitoring the progress of the case of the child.
  • A checklist format will be provided in the forms so that the children who are hard to repatriate or children who are not getting their entitled compensation or other monetary benefits can be identified.
  • List of Government-implemented schemes is provided, so that at the time of restoration the Child Welfare Committees can link the child with the schemes to strengthen the family and ensure that the child remains with his/her family.

Also read: AIR Spotlight – A World for Children

Read previous PIB articles here.