Tuesday 28 February 2017

No Deputation allowance after 5th year of Deputation – DOPT

Date : 1.3.2017

No Deputation allowance after 5th year of Deputation – DOPT

No Deputation allowance after 5th year of Deputation  – DoPT OM on Admissibility of Deputation (Duty) Allowance while on deputation

DoPT OM clarifies that as per Para 8.3.2 of the O.M. dated 17th June 2010, Deputation allowance is only up to the fifth year of deputation
No. 2/6/2016-Estt.(Pay-II)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 23rd February 2017
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Admissibility of Deputation (Duty) Allowance while on deputation – regarding.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. of even number dated 17th February 2016 vide which powers were delegated to Ministries / Departments / borrowing organisations to extend deputation tenures up to a period not exceeding 7 years at a stretch, in respect of cases covered by the O.M. dated 17th June 2010.
2. The matter regarding the admissibility of Deputation (Duty) Allowance in view of the change in maximum number of years of deputation tenure as provided above has been examined in this Department.
3. As per Para 8.3.2 of the OM No. 6/8/2009-Estt.(Pay-II) dated 17th June 2010, where the extension is granted up to the fifth year, the official concerned will continue to be allowed Deputation (Duty) Allowance, if he/she has opted to draw deputation (duty) allowance.
4. This Department’s O.M. No. 2/6/2016-Estt.(Pay-II) dated 17th February 2016 delegates powers to Ministries / Departments / borrowing organisations, to extend deputation tenures up to a period of 7 years in a stretch, in respect of cases covered by the O.M. dated 17th June 2010. However, there has been no modification of the Para 8.3.2. of the O.M. dated 17th June 2010 by the O.M. dated 17th February 2016. The new O.M. dated 17th February 2016 provides vide Para 4 that all other terms and conditions issued vide OM No. 6/8/2009-Estt.(Pay-II) dated 17th June 2010 will remain unchanged
5. Thus, admissibility of Deputation (Duty) Allowance would be only as per Para 8.3.2 of the O.M. dated 17th June 2010, i.e. only up to the fifth year, if the deputationist has opted to draw Deputation (Duty) Allowance.
(A.K. Jain)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Bunching of stages in the Revised pay structure in the grade of Assistant Section Officers – DoPT Orders

Date : 1.3.2017

Bunching of stages in the Revised pay structure in the grade of Assistant Section Officers – DoPT Orders

F.No.7/1/2017-CS-1(A)(Pt.)
Government of India
Department of Personnel & Training

2nd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi-3
Dated 27.02.2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Bunching of stages in the Revised pay structure in the grade of Assistant Section Officers – Reg.

DoP&T has been receiving many references from various Ministries/ Departments seeking clarification on the issue of grant of bunching to Assistant Section Officers of Central Secretariat Service in terms of Department of Expenditure’s O.M. dated 07.09.16.

It has also been noticed that there have been divergent views on the matter that while some Ministries/ Departments have given the benefit on their own, some other Ministries/ Departments have sought clarifications on various issues they are facing while giving the benefit of bunching in terms of DoE’s O.M. dated 07.09.16.

3. The matter has been taken up for further clarifications with Establishment Division/ Department of Expenditure briefly on the following issues:

i. While the Seventh Pay Commission had not prescribed different modes of pay fixation for Direct Recruit (DR) and Promotee ASOs, there have been two different modes of pay fixation for DR and Promotees prior to implementation of Seventh pay Commission. Due to differential methods of pay fixation, required differential of 3% is not calculable based on seniority alone as the other relevant facts of being DR/ Promotee comes into play here.

ii) The manner of different pay fixation for DR ASO and promotee Assistants has been challenged in various court cases (viz. OA No.2147/2015, OA No. 150/2016, OA No. 1015/2013 and OA No.476/2015 etc.)

4. It has already been decided to consult Department of Expenditure through Establishment (Pay) in the matter and same is under examination. Therefore, to ensure uniform implementation of Department of Expenditure’s instruction, all the Ministries/ Departments are advised to wait for further instructions with regard to grant of bunching benefits to ASOs of CSS and also if orders have already been issued by any Ministry/Department, the same may not be given effect till further instructions.

5. This issues with the approval of competent authority.

sd/-
(K.Srimvasan)
Under Secretary to the Government of India


Authority: http://dopt.gov.in/

Acceptance of articles with volumetruc weight

Date : 28.2.2017

Acceptance of articles with volumetruc weight


Monday 27 February 2017

Directorate Letter - Providing clerical assistant to sub -divisional head

Date : 28.2.2017

Directorate Letter - Providing clerical assistant to sub -divisional head


7th Pay Commission: Announcement for higher allowances after Assembly election results

Date : 27.2.2017

7th Pay Commission: Announcement for higher allowances after Assembly election results

New Delhi, February 25: Almost eight months have been passed now and the Central government employees are waiting to receive higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations in their paychecks. Some reports suggest that the government is likely to make an announcement on higher allowances after assembly elections results of five states which will be declared on March 11.
In June 2016, the union government approved the recommendations made by the high-powered committee on 7th Pay Commission and promised to pay higher basic pay with arrears, effective from January 1, 2016. But the hike in allowances other than the Dearness Allowances (DA) is yet to materialise.

The recommendations made by the 7th Pay Commission was wrapped up in June 2016, but more than 53 lakh central government employees are not given any assurances, as they are still waiting for payments owed them ie: higher allowances.

Some reports suggest that the delays are because the ‘Committee on Allowances’ headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa had recommended to abolish 51 allowances and subsuming 37 other allowances out of 196 allowances.

Earlier the Committee on Allowances were initially given a time of four months to submit its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. In October 2016, Ashok Lavasa was quoted by some media organisation saying he was ready with the report.

However the committee was given an extension till February 22, 2017, to submit its report in the backdrop of demonetisation and the government said that the cash crunch was the reason behind the delay in announcing the higher allowances.

Once the Assembly elections are over in five states, the government is likely to clear the nod to revise allowances. Some reports suggest that the revised allowances are expected to be effective from April 1, which marks the beginning of the new financial year.

According to The Sen Times report, which quoted a source said that the report on Committee on Allowances states the current HRA slab is 30 per cent of the basic pay for metros. An announcement on the same is expected soon.

On the other side, the 7th Pay Commission had recommended reducing the house rent allowance (HRA) to 24 per cent of basic pay as against the 30 per cent of basic pay employees were drawing under the 6th Pay Commission.

Sunday 26 February 2017

Sources Confirmed Allowance Committee Report Submitted

Date : 26.2.2017

Sources Confirmed Allowance Committee Report Submitted

One of the NJCA leader, On Condition of Anonymity, told that the committee constituted to examine the allowance has finalised its reports and submitted it to the Government on 22nd February 2017.

On asking whether the NJCA knew the details of the committee report, he said that they were not provided with the committee report. But the committee has informed them that their demand on allowance would be considered favourably.

Hence it is expected the HRA will be retained in old rates (Sixth CPC rates) from the beginning itself and will be paid in 7th CPC Pay Scale when revised allowances come into effect. However, the news of revised allowances would be implemented with effect from 1.4.2017 is not reliable. NJCA will not accept this and clearly said that it should be implemented with effect from 1.1.2016 retrospectively.

X cities- 30%
Y cities- 20%
Z cities- 10%hra

Transport Allowance may be split into two elements as CCA and TA as it was paid in fifth CPC. The Rates will be delinked from DA and will Be Fixed in slab rates.

The Government will announce its decision over the committee report after the last phase of state elections ie after 8th March 2017.

India Post Bank is likely to tap World War-era tech to garner business

India Post Bank is likely to tap World War-era tech to garner business


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NEW DELHI: It is back to basics for India PostPayments Bank (IPPB). It is tapping into World War-era phone-based technology and its vast network of postman to target a customer base of around 850 million, which either have no access to telephony or still depend on feature phones. 


“Banks and payments banks are two different things.Over 90% households have access to bank accounts. So, we are targeting remittances and bill payments,“ said an officer at the bank, which launched operations a month ago, offering 5.5% interest on deposits. 

Unlike full-fledged banks, payments banks can accept deposits up to Rs 1lakh and have to mandatorily park 75% of funds in government bonds.They are not allowed to offer loans either. 

With its network of over 1.5 post offices, IPPB is seen to be a major competitor for banks, especially in rural areas and small towns. The bank, floated by India Post, is running behind schedule as it is yet to tie up with a technology vendor for its banking services. But it is still targeting 2 crore customers in the first year with business of around Rs 450 crore.By the fifth year, the bank hopes to have eight crore customers with a business of Rs 2,500 crore. 


A key focus area for IPPB is one billion bills that are paid every month, with the average ticket size being Rs 300. This is where Giro -an electronic fund transfer tool used in Europe and Japan -will come in handy . Apart from helping customers settle bills, a worker in a city can add his wife or mother as a beneficiary and transfer funds into their accounts by issuing instructions to a call centre. The wife or the mother will then use Aadhaar based authentication to withdraw funds either at a post office or ask a postman to deliver cash at home, for which a small fee may be levied. 

IPPB  is also in talks with the rural development ministry for accessing details of NREGA beneficiaries and pensioners getting funds under the National Social Assistance Programme.Again, idea is to make the payments Aadhaar-based to minimise leakages.

Central Government Issues Notification On Associate Banks and Merger With SBI - AIBEA

Date : 26.2.2017

Central Government Issues Notification On Associate Banks and Merger With SBI - AIBEA


Government issues Gazette Notification On closure of Associate Banks and Merger with SBI w.e.f. 1st April, 2017.

CIRCULAR No. 28/5/2017/5 
23-2-2017
TO ALL UNITS AND MEMBERS:
Dear Comrades,

Government issues Gazette Notification
On closure of Associate Banks and
Merger with SBI w.e.f. 1st April, 2017.
Protecting our members in the Associate Banks – need of the hour
Clarion call from AIBEA’s All India SBI Emp. Association

Our units and members are aware of our prolonged and principled opposition to the process of consolidation and merger of Associate Banks with SBI. There have been innumerable struggles and strike actions on this issue in the last more than a decade. Especially, when there were attempts to close the remaining 5 Associate Banks for merger with SBI, there have been very intensified agitations and progrmames. Our units and members in the Associate Banks have also led many struggles including number of strike actions.

There have been nationwide campaign on this issue because the move to close down the Associate Banks was totally unwarranted, rather there was a genuine need to delink these Banks from SBI and make them autonomous. For a long time, these Banks have been subjugated to the total whims of SBI and hence the real growth of the Associate Banks was in fact thwarted. Many Banks which were smaller in size than these Associate Bank have grown much bigger now. But our demand for delinking Associate Banks from SBI was deliberately ignored and played down by the successive Governments.

However, in the name of Banking sector reforms, privatisation and consolidation have continued to be their agenda and as a part of it, the Associate Banks have been their target. Making SBI a global player has been their fanciful idea notwithstanding the fact that it is neither prudent nor required for Indian situation. Ignoring all our viewpoints, opposition of various political parties, etc. the Government has gone ahead with their decision and after giving final Cabinet clearance few days ago, have now notified the merger with SBI w.e.f. 1st April, 2017.

With this development and reality, the need has now arisen to take all efforts to protect the interests of our membership in the Associate Banks. AIBEA’s union in SBI: Our units are aware that already we have our union in SBI viz. ALL INDIA STATE BANK OF INDIA EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION.

It has been decided that all our units and members in SBT, SBM, SBBJ, SBH and SBP will be affiliated to this union and thus we will have a stronger AISBIEA with nearly 50,000 members all over the country under the banner of AIBEA. It will be the biggest bankwise Union under the banner of AIBEA.

AISBIEA is shortly meeting to decide on all further steps to consolidate our organisation in the changed scenario after the merger with SBI and to take all steps to protect the interests of our members in the Associate Banks so that no injustice will be done to our members in any manner consequent to the merger.

With greetings,
Yours comradely,
C.H. VENKATACHALAM
GENERAL SECRETARY


Saturday 25 February 2017

Promotion and Postings of JAG to SAG Officers of Indian Postal Service , Group -A

Date : 25.2.2017.

Promotion and Postings of JAG to SAG Officers of Indian Postal Service , Group -A





Finance Minister Speech on IPPB

Date : 25.2.2017

Finance Minister Speech on IPPB

CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO

The Government simplifies maintenance of registers under various Labour Laws

Date : 25.2.2017

The Government simplifies maintenance of registers under various Labour Laws 

Government reduces 56 labour registers to only 5 for 5.85 crore establishments
The Government has simplified the maintenance of Labour registers of about 5.85 crore establishments in agriculture and non- agriculture sectors. These registers are related to details of employees, their salaries, loans/recoveries, attendance etc. This exercise will drastically reduce the number of registers being maintained by these establishments from 56 to only 5 by doing away with overlapping/redundant fields. This will help these establishments to save cost and efforts and ensure better compliance of Labour Laws.

Under various Central Labour Acts, there is a requirement of maintenance of registers depending upon the threshold of the number of employees by the establishments in agriculture and non-agriculture sectors. As per the Sixth Economic Census of Central Statistical Office conducted during 2013-2014, India has about 5.85 Crore establishments in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors combined. Out of this, 4.54 Crore establishments are in non-agricultural sector. While reviewing the requirement of filing various returns / registers/forms provided under 9 Central Acts, there were several overlapping/ redundant fields that could be rationalized.

An intention notification was issued on 4th November, 2016 for reducing the number of registers/data fields and the same was widely circulated to concerned Ministries / Departments, State Govts., other stakeholders besides placing the same in public domain. In effect, all previous registers envisaged under various Acts / Rules have been omitted and replaced with only 5 common Registers. Such an exercise has reduced number of data fields in 5 registers to only 144 from the then existing 933 fields in 56 registers.

Ministry of Labour & Employment has also simultaneously undertaken to develop a software for these 5 common Registers. After development of the software, the same will be put on the Shram Suvidha Portal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment for free download with an aim to facilitate maintenance of those registers in a digitized form.

The Labour Laws under which these registers are maintained include:

(i) The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996

(ii) The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970

(iii) The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976

(iv) The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979

(v) The Mines Act, 1952

(vi) The Minimum Wages Act, 1948

(vii) The Payment of Wages Act, 1936

(viii) The Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1976

(ix) The Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1955 

PIB

Two city post offices to go solar

Date : 25.2.2017

Two city post offices to go solar

The postal department is all set to do its bit for the environment with a few post offices likely to go solar soon. acilities in the city which have their own premises — in Anna Nagar and Besant Nagar — will be fitted with solar power units this fiscal. 


Work is on to provide solar panels for these buildings and soon, these post offices will take their first steps towards energy self-sufficiency. 
Post offices in Kalasapakkam in the Tiruvannamalai division and Gingee and Bahour in the Puducherry division were recently provided with solar power units at a total cost of ₹11 lakh. They have managed to tide over power shortage and also reduce electricity bills by up to 25%. 

Officials of the Postal Department said the move to shift to renewable energy had also improved functioning . The installation of solar power units ensured that erratic power supply did not hamper counter services in the post offices, officials said. 

A sum of ₹6 lakh had been allotted for the installation of the solar power units in the two post offices. These offices would be equipped to function exclusively on solar power, said an official. 

However, staff members in the post offices noted that large offices with many counters would need more solar power units of higher capacity to be self-sufficient. The Postal Department plans to expand the project to more post offices in a phased manner. Funds for the project would be sought from the Postal Directorate, officials said. 
Source : http://www.thehindu.com

Friday 24 February 2017

AAO 2012 EXAM SUPPLEMENTARY RESULTS DECLARED

Date : 25.2.2017

AAO 2012 EXAM SUPPLEMENTARY RESULTS DECLARED









Action Taken Statement of Standing Committee and National Anomaly Committee after 6th CPC

Date : 25.2.2017

Action Taken Statement of Standing Committee and National Anomaly Committee after 6th CPC

F.No. 11/1/20156-JCA
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 21st February, 2017

To
Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary,
National Council Staff-Side(JCM), 
13-C, Ferozshah Road,
New Delhi.

Subject:- 
1. Standing Committee meeting held on 25.10.2016- ATS reg.
2. ATS in respect of NAC meetings held after 6th CPC

Sir,
1. I am directed to refer to the discussion held in the Standing Committee meeting on 25.10.2016 under the Chairmanship of Secretary(P) in DOPT, and to send herewith a copy of an Action Taken Statement (ATS) in respect of 19 items on which discussion was held in that meeting. The information in respect of the other items also discussed in the same meeting will be sent upon receipt of the ATS from other Ministries/Departments which is still awaited.

2.Additionally, as discussed in the same meeting, a copy of the ATS on the itemsdiscussed in the first 4 meetings of the National Anomaly Committee (NAC) during the 6kh CPC regime, and as circulated with the O.M. no. 11/1/2015-JCA dated 19.06.2015 is also being sent herewith once again for your perusal.

As regards the ATS of the two NAC meeting held on 29.05.2015 and 09.06.2015 they are being Seperately.

3.Holding the next meeting of the Standing Committee is also under consideration.It is, therefore, requested that new agenda items which the Staff-Side consider for discussion in the next meeting may be sent to the DOPT urgently.

Yours faithfully,

(D.K.Sengupta)
Deputy Secretary(JCA)

Tax-free gratuity ceiling for pvt sector employees to be doubled to Rs 20 lakh

Date : 25.2.2017


Tax-free gratuity ceiling for pvt sector employees to be doubled to Rs 20 lakh


Private-sector employees will soon be able to withdraw up to Rs 20 lakh in tax-free gratuity after the Centre decided to amend a law and double the amount, bringing them at par with central government staff. 

Currently, private sector employees can get tax exemption up to Rs 10 lakh in gratuity after five years of continuous employment. 

A tripartite meeting between the labour ministry, trade unions and employee bodies decided on Thursday that a bill to amend the Payment of Gratuities Act will be brought in the second half of the Budget session of Parliament. 

The Left-affiliated labour unions also demanded that employees get gratuity after one year of service, instead of the current cap of five years.

The move comes after the seventh pay commission’s recommendation allowing central government employees to earn tax-exempted gratuity up to Rs 20 lakh. 

At the meeting, labour minister also told the unions that the bill to amend the gratuity level may also have a mechanism to ensure automatic revision of gratuity ceiling as and when the pay commission suggests similar measures for central government employees. 

“It is a good move to bring the private sector at par with central government employees. This move will also partly offset the impact of inflation,” said Rahul Garg, leader of direct taxes at PwC India.

The trade unions also demanded that the new gratuity ceiling for tax benefits be applicable retrospectively from January 1, 2016. Sources however, told HT that the government was unlikely to enforce a retrospective amendment to the tax laws. 

The provision of tax exemption on gratuity falls under section 10 of the Income Tax Act and was last amended in 2010. For a change in gratuity provisions, both the Payment of Gratuity act and the Income Tax Act would have to be amended. 

Gratuity is calculated on the monthly basic salary added with dearness allowance. It is withdrawn upon termination of employment or retirement.

The amount paid is usually the salary multiplied with the numbers of years of service and 15/26 (salary*years of service*15/26) – the gratuity is calculated on 15 out of 26 working days.

For example, a person with 10 years experience would need a basic salary + dearness allowance of more than Rs 3.5 lakh a month to withdraw a gratuity of Rs 20 lakh at the end of her service.

This is why experts believe the new move won’t hit the government’s tax collections given that a gratuity earning of Rs 20 lakh would be limited to high-salaried individuals. In India, 24 lakh people declare an income of above Rs 10 lakh and only 1.72 lakh people earn over Rs 50 lakh. 

In 1997, the tax relief on gratuity was increased from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakhs. This was further increased to Rs 10 lakh in 2010.

Source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/

7th Pay Commission – Bunching of stages in the revised pay structure under Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016

Date : 25.2.2017

7th Pay Commission – Bunching of stages in the revised pay structure under Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016


No.A-60015/1/2016/MF.CGA(A)/NGE/7th CPC/6010
Government Of India
Ministry Of Finance
Department Of Expenditure
Controller General Of Accounts
Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan
E Block, GPO complex, INA
New Delhi – 110 023

Dated: 23rd February,2017
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission – Bunching of stages in the revised pay structure under Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016.

Consequent to the issue of implementation Cell, Department of Expenditure OM No.1-6/2016-IC dated 7th September,2016, a number of representations have been received from AAOs under this organization through their respective Min./Deptt. regarding fixation of pay by bunching of stages in comparison with Sh.Babu Balram Jee, AAO, CPWD, IBBZ-I, Malda M/o UD in terms of the OM ibid. With a view to facilitate the accounting organisations under CGA, the service Book of Sh. Babu Balram Jee, AAO duly audited has been obtained from the M/o UD. The Pay details of Sh.Babu Balram Jee, AAO are as follows:
1
Basic pay (Pay in the pay Band plus Grade Pay) in the pre revised structure on 1.1.2016:
Rs. 14900/-
(Rs.10100 + Rs.4800)
2
Revised Basic Pay on 1.1.2016 in terms of
Revised Pay Rules, 2016:
Rs. 47600/-
(1st Cell of 8th Level)
All respective accounting units of Ministries/Departments concerned may extend the benefit of bunching to eligible persons in adherence to the Department of Expenditure OM No.1-6/2016-IC dated 7th September, 2016. The statement of pay fixation under Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 of Sh.Babu Balram Jee, AAO is also enclosed.

This issues with the approval of the competent authority.
(Sandeep Malhotra)
Sr.Accounts Officer

Encl: As above.
Statement of Fixation of Pay under Central Civil Service (Revised Pay) Rule, 2016




GDS Committee report Latest News

Date : 24.2.2017

GDS Committee report Latest News  

DOP will call views of Federations/Union after March 15, 2017.

New AP Online DBT Portal for NeFMS payments

Date : 24.2.2017

New AP Online DBT Portal for NeFMS payments


All the NREGS accounts created in AP Online are migrated to Finacle server (CBS). If the account number is old one, payment can be made by selecting Non-NeFMS option in POTD. Now wage seeker may approach for payment in which there will be CBS account number. Payment can be made in POTD by selecting the NeFMS option. But transactions of such payments will not appear in the DBT Portal http://appost.aponline.gov.in/ but such transactions can be viewed in the new portal.


Same user name and password used for DBT portal can be used for the above site. Payments made in both new and old websites of AP Online to be totaled to tally with the payments made in POTD.

Click here to download the material regarding NeFMS payments in POTD.