Latest news with #GARC
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
GARC suggests 9.30am-5.10pm timing for govt offices
Gandhinagar : Submitting its second report to the state govt on Friday, the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC) recommended that work hours at all govt offices, except educational institutions, should be from 9.30am to 5.10pm. "To improve efficiency and maintain work-life balance , the report recommends setting official working hours for all govt offices and institutions, including regional offices, from 9.30am to 5.10pm," the document, presented to chief minister Bhupendra Patel by GARC chairman Hasmukh Adhia, states. It focuses on 10 citizen-centric recommendations aimed at achieving 'Govt at Your Doorstep' through digital technology. GARC has recommended creating user-friendly govt websites for a better citizen experience and has suggested evaluating all govt websites by Aug 2025 to ensure quality, accessibility, and security, following guidelines issued by the Centre. It also recommended that the citizens charter be made more effective. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Among the recommendations is "implementing single sign-on for all govt services to ensure efficient interoperability, allowing citizens to access any govt scheme or program from one place". The report says this will eliminate the need for repeatedly entering demographic and identification information for various benefits. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Another significant recommendation includes a tech-enabled verification of govt certificates. "To ensure transparency and accountability, the govt will develop a tech-enabled QR-based method to verify the authenticity of official certificates, licenses, approvals, and other documents issued by the govt," the report said. The report also said that the existing online grievance redressal platform, SWAGAT, will be expanded to integrate citizen-centric services. "This unified platform will provide multiple channels for citizens to register their complaints, such as email, WhatsApp, phone calls, online portals etc," the report says. After GARC called for suggestions from govt employees and citizens, it received over 2,150 responses and recommendations from employees of various state govt departments and the public, an official statement said on Friday.
Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Start work at 9.30 am, make websites user-friendly': Admin reforms commission's suggestions to Gujarat govt
Starting the day an hour early, getting rid of clutter in offices, making government websites more user-friendly, and taking the 'government to the doorstep' through social media are among the recommendations in the second report of the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC) made public on Friday. Chaired by retired bureaucrat and former Union Finance Secretary Dr Hasmukh Adhia, the GARC presented the second report, featuring 10 key recommendations, to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The first report was presented in February following which the commission got 2,150 responses and suggestions from government officials and the public. Sources in the Gujarat government said the commission, which is expected to be in force for 22 months, might submit 'one report per month to ensure implementation'. In the latest report, the commission has recommended that all government offices except educational institutions begin at 9.30 am and close at 5.10 pm, instead of the current 10.30 am to 6.10 pm, to 'reduce commute stress, align with public schedules and boost productivity and focus'. Current office timings of Gujarat government align with states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and West Bengal (10.15 am), as per the report, while rest of the states begin their workdays early. Government websites The GARC has recommended improving the quality, accessibility and security of government websites and mobile applications, ensuring that all the websites are evaluated by August 2025 to align with Guidelines for Indian Government Websites and Apps (GIGW 3.0). It has also suggested protocols rooted in the Kaizen philosophy to get rid of clutter like old furniture and aged office vehicles. The report cites studies by the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA), which indicate a rise in e-services 'from 872 in 2019 to 1400 in 2021 (a 60% increase), with citizen satisfaction at 74%'. The GARC notes how states like Karnataka (Seva Sindhu, 2,089 services), Jammu & Kashmir (e-UNNAT, 1,164 services), Kerala (e-Sevanam, 938 services), Assam (Sewa Setu, 731 services) and Odisha (Odisha One, 404 services) were among the states providing 100% of their services through a Single Unified Service Delivery Portals. The commission notes that while Gujarat already has more than 894 services online (as of February, 2025), 'it needs to leap forward in enhancing user experience by improving interoperability, streamlining process, incorporating user-centric design and bridging the digital divide'. According to the report, 'There are issues of people not being able to fetch the correct, relevant information, websites not being up to date, broken links on the websites, expired security certifications leading to blocking of websites by firewalls, etc. It is also a concern that the government websites become a mere repository of PDF documents, making them non-searchable and non-navigable'. The commission suggests the need to revamp all websites, especially the ones that use the domain with 'a simplified and standard procedure for designing, hosting and maintaining government websites'. Commending the Gujarat government's 'Mari Yojna' portal, the GARC notes how it aligns with the principles of Single Sign-On (SSO) and recommends eliminating the need for citizens to repeatedly enter the same demographic and identity information to access different services. It also insists on a QR-based technology enabled system to verify the authenticity of official certificates, licences, approvals and other documents issued by the government. The GARC has recommended forming a taskforce for conducting a Government Process Re-engineering (GPR) of public services like birth & death certificates, driver's licence, vehicle registration, domicile certificate, income certificate, ration card, caste certificates, and getting utilities like electricity and water connection. The commission cites the example of Uttar Pradesh government's 'Nivesh Mitra' portal as an SSO, which acts as a central platform for businesses to apply for various clearances and approvals, reducing the need to interact with multiple government departments separately, and compares it to Gujarat government's inDEXTB (Industrial Extension Bureau), which is also a centralised platform for business related services. The commission suggests expanding the existing SWAGAT (State-Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology), the public grievance redressal mechanism launched in 2003 by the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, where citizens can register their grievances through email, WhatsApp and phone calls, 'making it more comprehensive and citizen-centric'. Given the frequent transfers in government jobs, the GARC has recommended a 'Knowledge Transfer Protocol' mandating all employees who are being transferred or retiring to submit a 'Knowledge Transfer Document' to their successors. It has directed every department, commissionerate, directorate, urban local bodies and field offices to develop a 'Know Your Department/Office' module within six months. Citing an August 2023 report by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which reflected 5.18 crore internet users in Gujarat (1.67 crore users reside in rural areas), the GARC has recommended an effective social media strategy for the state government. 'The government should aim to create a young, agile, and enthusiastic social media team under the initiative of the Connect Gujar@t Initiative. Such teams are required in all the departments to ensure a cohesive social media ecosystem and a uniform social media strategy for the government', the report states, adding that these teams work in coordination with the Chief Minister's Office and the Information Department. The other GARC members are Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi, and Member Secretary Hareet Shukla, who were also present with Dr Adhia to submit the report.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
US to deploy ‘hellscape' of drones in Taiwan Strait by 2025 to counter China
The US seems to be rapidly advancing with its ambitious 'Replicator' initiative. Under this program, the US aims to deploy swarms of lethal autonomous drones in the Taiwan Strait by August 2025. Interestingly, US officials have called this deployment an 'unmanned hellscape.' Captain Alex Campbell, the maritime portfolio director of the Defense Innovation Unit, confirmed the August 2025 target date at the recent West 2025 conference. 'It's not another [science and technology] project. It is meant to get to production, meant to field systems, in this case, in support of [US Indo-Pacific Command],' said Campbell, as reported by the US Naval Institute (USNI). These unmanned systems, deployed across air, surface, and underwater, will be networked to form a cohesive force. This strategy aims to create a powerful deterrent that China would be unwilling to risk a military operation against Taiwan. Eventually, the Navy's goal is to develop a hybrid fleet of manned and unmanned craft, and the underlying connective command and control and software decisions that are part of Replicator will inform the effort, noted USNI. The sheer number of drones, combined with their ability to coordinate and adapt, is intended to create a "hellscape" for any adversary. This emphasis on rapid deployment reflects the situation's urgency and the perceived need to counter China's growing military power. 'It's a lot of taking… a pretty wide and diverse set of systems and a wide and diverse set of software, and smashing them all together at a pace that is really more akin to commercial software tempos,' added Campbell. The Pentagon has already allocated approximately $1 billion to fund the initial phase of Replicator. The Navy has also established specialized units to operate and maintain these new drone systems. One such unit, Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3, known as the "Hell Hounds," recently received its first four Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Crafts (GARC). While the specifics of their missions remain classified, these vessels are expected to play a crucial role in the Replicator network. Beyond offensive capabilities, Replicator also focuses on defensive measures, specifically developing counter-drone technologies. This reflects the understanding that future conflicts will likely involve a complex interplay between offensive and defensive unmanned systems. The US and China are investing heavily in drone technology, leading to a potential arms race. The push to create an "unmanned hellscape" in the Taiwan Strait marks a bold gamble on the future of naval combat. The success of Replicator could significantly alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. Amid the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, the use and importance of drones have increased manifold. Subsequently, new developments have also been taking place in this sphere. Recently, Ukraine introduced a drone that can soar to 13,000 feet with a 90-mile range. With these specifications, the drone can operate beyond the reach of many enemy air defense systems. Meanwhile, a Chinese start-up aims to develop a supersonic drone capable of reaching four times the speed of sound.
