Merger of loss making MTNL with BSNL: Rajya Sabha Q&A

Merger of loss making MTNL with BSNL: Rajya Sabha Q&A

 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF  COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO  1108

ANSWERED ON  18.07.2014

Merger of loss making MTNL with BSNL

1108 SHRI ANIL DESAI

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to satate:-
(a) whether it is a fact that both MTNL and BSNL are making losses;

(b) if so, the profit/loss status of these PSUs during the last three years;

(c) whether there is any proposal for merger of these two PSUs, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether views of workers' unions of these PSUs are also taken into consideration to obviate any financial loss to them; and

(e) whether the merger envisages profits to these companies?

    ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) & (b) Yes, Sir, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited have been making losses. Details of their profit/losses during the last three years are given below:
(In Rs. Crores)

Year            BSNL          MTNL
2011-12      (-) 8,851     (-) 4110
2012-13      (-) 7,884     (-) 5321
2013-14     (-) 7,085 *     7825**

* Unaudited and provisional
** MTNL has shown a profit of Rs. 7825 crore mainly due to write back of provisions on account of pensionary liabilities and spectrum amortization costs after decisions of Government taken for revival of MTNL.

(c) to (e) Government is in the process of revival and revitalization of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) through various short term, medium term and long term measures.

The long-term measures, including merger of BSNL and MTNL, would attempt to position these PSUs to emerge as market leaders in the converged telecommunication market. For an in-depth study on the implications of merger of the two PSUs, three groups have been constituted to study issues of human resources integration, technology integration and corporate integration.

Views of unions on merger would be taken into consideration before a decision is taken in best public interest and that of two companies.

Source: Rajya Sabha

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Income Tax Department Launches New and Improved Online Calculator

Income Tax Department Launches New and Improved Online Calculator

The Income Tax Department has launched an easy-to-use online calculator on its website. User can calculate his/her income tax based on the income and complete the tax formalities, including paying the tax, online.
Information and details regarding the tax amount to be paid have been sent to the email id of all taxpayers. Based on this, taxpayers can calculate the amount of tax they will have to pay for their various incomes and fill up the online form appropriately.

The online calculator helps in calculating taxes from bonuses and incentives, income from assets like house, capital gains, business, profits from trade, and agricultural income.

Launching of the online calculator is part of the Government’s efforts to encourage and simplify tax payment processes.

Tax Calculator as per Union Budget 2014-2015.

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Government to take disciplinary action and cancel future LTC benefits for fake LTC claims

Government to take disciplinary action and cancel future LTC benefits for fake LTC claims

Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh while replying to a question at Lok Sabha via written reply informed that any government employee found guilty in preferring a fraudulent LTC claim may be imposed penalty and barred from getting travel allowance for next two or three years.
The minister said “in case of Leave Travel Concession (LTC) if any fraudulent claim is made, the irregularities are looked into in terms of the CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988 and disciplinary proceedings are initiated against the government servant on the charge of preferring a fraudulent claim,”

The minister added “if found guilty, the government servant shall not be allowed the next two or more sets of LTC in addition to the sets already withheld during the pendency of the disciplinary proceedings,”.
The Department of Personnel and Training ( DoPT) had received a letter from Central Vigilance Commissioner addressed to Cabinet Secretary regarding irregularities and misuse in availing LTC by the public servants in the central government, its public enterprises and public sector banks, in violation of the guidelines, he said, adding that the matter was being investigated by CBI.

Source:  Central Government News

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Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance-lok sabha Q&A

 Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance

It has been informed by the Department of Personnel and raining that the annual ceiling limit for reimbursement of Children Education Allowance (CEA) is Rs. 18,000/- per child. The Hostel subsidy shall be Rs. 4,500/- per month per child. The annual ceiling for reimbursement of CEA for disabled children of Government employees if Rs. 36,000/- per annum per child and the rates of Hostel subsidy for disabled children of Government employees is Rs. 9,000/- per child per month. These revisions are applicable with effect from 1st January, 2014. The reimbursement is admissible for children studying in institutions affiliated to any Board or recognized institution, whether in receipt of Government aid or not, recognized by the Central or State Government or Union Territory Administration or by University or a recognized educational authority having jurisdiction over the area where the institution is situated. No change is proposed to be made in the same.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Finance, Shri Arun Jaitley in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Source : PIB

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Retirement Age Becomes the Centre of Attention Once Again!

Retirement Age Becomes the Centre of Attention Once Again!

For the second time this year, there is sensational news about the retirement age of Central Government employees!

Will the retirement age of Central Government employees be extended by another two years, from 60 to 62? This is one of the hottest topics of discussion among Central Government employees these days.

The reason for this excitement is the reply given by the Minister concerned to the question raised by Raja Mohan Reddy in the Parliament. With the change of government, the question was asked in order to find out the state of mind of the new Government.

The Minister’s reply is given below:

Whether there is any proposal under the consideration of the Government to raise the retirement age of Central Government employees..?

No, there is no proposal to increase the age of retirement of central government employees from existing 60 to 62 years, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, and in Prime Minister’s Office, said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on 16.7.2014.

Central Government had raised the retirement age of its employees to 60 from 58 years in 1998.

Source: CGEN.in

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7cpc: About Seventh Central Pay Commission

7cpc: About Seventh Central Pay Commission

In a resolution dated 28th February, 2014, Government of India has appointed the Seventh Central Pay Commission comprising Justice Shri Ashok Kumar Mathur as Chairman, Shri Vivek Rae as full time Member, Dr. Ratin Roy as part time Member and Smt. Meena Agarwal as Secretary. The Commission is headquartered in Delhi and has been given 18 months from date of its constitution to make its recommendations. To this end the Commission will set up its team of Officers, Advisers, Institutional Consultants and Experts and call for required information and documents from Ministries and Departments of Government of India and various Service associations.

The dates of appointment and submission of recommendations of the previous six central pay commissions are as under-

Central Pay Commissions	Date of Appointment	Date of Submission of Report
First Pay Commission	May, 1946	May, 1947
Second Pay Commission	August, 1957	August, 1959
Third Pay Commission	April, 1970	March, 1973
Fourth Pay Commission	June, 1983	Three Reports submitted in June, 1986; December, 1986 and May, 1987 respectively
Fifth Pay Commission	April, 1994	January, 1997
Sixth Pay Commission	October, 2006	March, 2008

Source: www.7cpc.in
[http://www.7cpc.in/2014/07/7cpc-about-seventh-central-pay.html]

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