![Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh releasing the Modi Govt 2.0 Book on DoPT, at North block, New Delhi on Friday. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh releasing the Modi Govt 2.0 Book on DoPT, at North block, New Delhi on Friday.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/page3-1-5.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 5 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances,Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh released today Modi Government 2.0 Book on Department of Personnel & Training (DoP&T), highlighting some of the important initiatives and accomplishments of the first year of the second term of the Modi Government.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the opening page of the Book is titled, ‘Aarambh’ and true to this title, the year 2019-20 was marked with number of new beginnings, the most important of which was the first ever experiment of interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi by 425 trainee officers from 21 All India Services at the Statue of Unity portraying Sardar Patel at Kevadia, Gujarat. These officers were part of the common foundation course of 21 Servoces through the Civil Services Examination, which was reconstituted this year, he said.
Referring to DoPT as an organ of the Government which lays down norms, practices and precedences for other Ministries, Departments and States to follow, Dr Jitendra Singh expressed satisfaction that living up to this responsibility, even during the Corona pandemic, DoPT set new standards of functioning which were not only widely hailed but also emulated. For example, the DoPT’s iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training Programme) incorporated an exclusive course on Corona awareness and Corona warriors’ training for which within a few weeks over 23 lakh officers registered themselves.
The agencies working under the aegis of DoPT like, for instance, Kendriya Bhandar promptly came out to provide essential supplies of PPE kits, sanitizers and other items in the early days of pandemic when there were some reports of initial shortage of these items in certain parts of the country.
One of the most important initiatives this year, said Dr Jitendra Singh, was the exercise to set up National Recruitment Agency (NRA) which will conduct computer based online Common Eligibility Test (CET) for recruitment to non-gazetted posts with examination centres in every district. This, he said, will ease the difficulties faced by aspirants for government jobs, particularly those from poor and unprivileged sections.
This was also the year, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled, when the Modi government fulfilled its commitment to provide the Lokpal with its own address and office accommodation.
Among those who attended the ceremony were DoPT Secretary Chandramouli and Additional Secretary Rashmi Choudhary, while the other officers connected through video conference.