Government convenes all Party meet on CSAT exam issue

Government convenes all Party meet on CSAT exam issue

 Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
 

23-November-2014 19:57 IST

    Government convenes all Party meet on CSAT exam issue

    Parties to submit their views on five issues in two weeks
    Parties appreciate government’s approach on the sensitive issue


The Government today discussed the issues concerning the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) with leaders of various parties in both the Houses of Parliament. The meeting was convened by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu in pursuance of the assurance given by the Government during the last Budget session of Parliament. Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely, Minister of State in PMO Dr.Jitendra Singh, Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs –Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi besides leaders of 26 parties represented in both the Houses of Parliament.


Shri Rajnath Singh and Shri Venkaiah Naidu said that the CSAT issue is a sensitive one and the Government would like to have the benefit of considered views of all parties.

A detailed presentation was made by Secretary (DoPT) on the origin and evolution of the civil services examination over the years being conducted every year by the Union Public Services Commission. Dr.Jitendra Singh sought the views of different parties on five proposals. This followed expression of views by leaders of various parties, who said they need to consult their party colleagues in the sensitive matter.

Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu informed the leaders that they will be circulated a detailed note in the matter in three days and suggested that may furnish their views in two weeks on the following five issues:

1.On continuation of English Language Comprehension Skills in Paper – II

2. Reduced weightage of analytical component

3. To make Paper-II qualifying

4.Revert back to Optional Paper

5. Any other alternative.

Several leader complimented the Government for its approach in the sensitive matter.

Source: PIB

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Stepping up of notional full pension to Armed Forces absorbees – Revision of 43% and 45% commuted portion of pension of pre 2006

Stepping up of notional full pension to Armed Forces absorbees – Revision of 43% and 45% commuted portion of pension of pre 2006

Revision of 43 % and 45% commuted portion of pension of pre 2006 Armed Forces absorbees who had drawn lump sum payment on absorption in Public Sector Undertaking/ Autonomous bodies – Stepping up of notional full pension with effect from 24.9.2012

Desa Blog published the orders on its blog yesterday and we here produce the same for your convenience…

Revision of Commutation Portion of Pension of Pre-2006 Retirees

No 1(1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

New Delhi Dated 16 October, 2014

To.
The Chief of Army Staff
The Chief of Naval Staff
The Chief of Air Staff

Subject: Revision of 43 % and 45% commuted portion of pension of pre 2006 Armed Forces absorbees who had drawn lump sum payment on absorption in Public Sector Undertaking/ Autonomous bodies – Stepping up of notional full pension with effect from 24.9.2012 reg.

Sir,
The undersigned is directed to refer this Ministry’s letter No I(4)/07/D(Pen/Policy) dated 1 21.8.2009 amended vide letter No 1(4)/2007-D(Pen/Policy) dated 9.2.2011 regarding revision of restored amount of commuted portion of pension as well as notional full pension with effect from 1.1.2006 in respect of pre 2006 Armed Forces Personnel absorbees who had drawn lump sum payment on absorption in Public Sector Undertakings/ Autonomous Bodies and have become entitled for restoration of 45% of pension in the case of PBOR and 43% of pension in the case of Commissioned officers. The payment of dearness relief and additional pension to old pensioners are regulated on the basis of the notional full pension.

2. A Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary was constituted. by the Government to consider various issues of Armed Forces. The said Committee had recommended to determine minimum guaranteed pension at fifty percent of the minimum of the fitment tables for the rank in the revised pay structure introduced under Sixth CPC. In case of JCO/OR, the Committee had recommended to determine revised pension equal to fifty percent of the highest of Notional pay in the revised pay structure of Sixth CPC corresponding to the maximum of pay scales of Fifth CPC across the three Services for the rank & group. Accordingly, the President is pleased to decide that with effect from 24th September 2012, the notional full pension of the commissioned officers absorbee pensioners determined in terms of this Ministry’s above said letter dated 21.8.2009 shall be stepped up to fifty percent of the minimum of the fitment tables for the rank in the revised pay band as indicated under fitment tables annexed with SAI 2/S/2008 as amended (for regular commissioned officers), SAI 4/S/2008 as amended (for commissioned officers belonging to AMC/ADC/RVC and were in receipt of NPA) and equivalent instructions for Navy & Air Force, plus the Grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised scale from which the pensioner had retired/discharged including Military Service Pay where applicable. The President is also. pleased to decide that with effect from 24th September 2012, the notional full pension of the JCO/OR absorbee pensioners determined in terms of this Ministry’s above said letter dated 21.8.2009, shall also be stepped up to fifty percent of the notional maximum of the fitment tables for the rank and group in the revised pay band as indicated under fitment tables annexed with SAI 1/S/2008 as amended and equivalent instructions for Navy & Air Force, plus the Grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised scale from which the pensioner had discharged including Military Service Pay and ’X’ Group pay where applicable. The amount so determined shall be reduced prorata where the Armed Forces absorbee had less than the maximum required service to earn full pension. While determining revised full pension in terms of these orders, weightage in qualifying service shall not be allowed, as heretofore.

3. No arrears of dearness relief and additional pension on notional full pension would be payable for the period prior to 24.9.2012. Cases in which the pension of the Armed Forces absorbee pensioners drawing notional full pension in terms of this Ministry’s letter dated 21.8.2009, happens to be more than the notional full pension determined in terms of these orders, such absorbee pensioners shall continue to draw the beneficial award. However, if a Armed Forces absorbee pensioner to whom the benefits under these orders accrue has died/dies before receiving the payment on account of arrears, the life time arrears (LTA) will be disposed of as per the extant orders.

4. The other terms and conditions prescribed vide this Ministry’s above mentioned letter dated 21.8.2009 as amended, which are not affected by the provisions of this letter, shall remain unchanged. Pension Sanctioning Authorities shall revise notional full pension of absorbee pensioners’ suo moto by issue of revised Pension Payment orders, where the restored pension has already been revised in terms of this Ministry’s above said letter dated 21.8.2009.

7. These orders issue with the concurrence of MoD (Finance/Pension) vide their ID No 31(08)/09/Fin/Pen dated 17.07.2014

Hindi version of this order will follow.

Yours faithfully

[Prem Parkash]
Under Secretary (Pension/Policy)

Source: www.desanavy.wordpress.com
[http://desanavy.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/revision-of-commutation-portion-of-pension-of-pre-2006-retirees/]

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Income Tax exemption limit may raise further – Finance Minister

Income Tax exemption may raise further – Finance Minister

May raise tax exemption limit further: Arun Jaitley

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said that he does not favour burdening the salaried and middle-class with more taxes but would go after the evaders in widening the net.

In fact, he would encourage more money being put in the pockets of tax payers that will lead to spending and collection of more indirect taxes.

“This widening of the tax base. What does it mean? I pay the same indirect tax as my attendant. Our volume of consumption may be different. So everybody is paying indirect taxes.

"And literally almost half your taxes are indirect taxes today. He pays excise, he pays customs duty, he pays service tax. Now as far as income tax is concerned, to bring those who evade tax is widening the tax net, I am all for it," the minister said in an interaction with PTI journalists at PTI headquarters.

He was replying to a question on whether his budget would look at widening the tax base to maximise revenue.

Jaitley, who will be presenting his first full fledged budget in February, said that in his last budget he had increased the tax exemption limit from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh and would even raise it further if he had more money.

"After all what are we talking about Rs 2.5 lakh today means, taking all the deductions which we have given, somebody up to Rs 3.5-4 lakh does not have to pay tax. So we have reached the situation broadly.

"One earning Rs 35,000-40,000 per month, if the person puts some money for savings, (he) won't have to pay tax. But people falling in this bracket say that they don't save anything with salary of Rs 35,000-40,000 (with) the present cost of living, the transport cost, the fees of children and so on," Jaitley said.

Therefore, the minister said, he was against reducing the exemptions to widen the tax net. "Then that's not my approach," he added.

"So I am quite willing, if I had my way and I had more money in my pocket, I would like to expand. But today the revenue position is challenging. Last time I gave several concessions, which were actually beyond my means.

"But it's all fine to bring those who evade tax under the tax net. But to bring this vulnerable section into the tax net, that can't be the policy today. In fact if you put additional money in their pockets and allow them to spend, then I collect correspondingly more indirect taxes so I will rather encourage more economic activity."

On black money within the country, he said: "It is huge quantity and more easily traceable. Because you go to real estate, you go to land, you go to mining, you go to jewellery, you go to luxury goods, you will find the domestic (black money). You go to educational institutions, you will find it there. Therefore to trace out the buyers and the recipients is also easy." 

Source: TOI

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Acceptance of Digital Life Certificate based on Aadhaar Biometric Authentication as a valid life certificate

Acceptance of Digital Life Certificate based on Aadhaar Biometric Authentication as a valid life certificate

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Central Pension Accounting Office
Trikoot II, Bhikaji Cama Place
New Delhi 110 066

CPAO/Tech/Amdt.-Sch.Book/2014-15/720

dated: 14.11.2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Reference is invited to Correction Slip No.12 dated-10.11.2014 issued to facilitate acceptance of digital life certificate based on Aadhaar Biometric Authentication. The detailed process off getting digital life certificate issued for pensioners to be followed by banks and pensioners is hereby enclosed for necessary guidance.

2 This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

Encl: 1. Correction Slip No.22 dated-10.11.2014 [see below]

2. Process of digital life certificate issued for Pensioners.

sd/-
(Vijay Singh)
Sr. Accounts Officer (Tech)

To.
Heads of CPPC of all banks
Heads of Government Business Division of all banks

Correction Slip -22

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Central Pension Accounting Office
Trikoot II. Bhikaji Cama Place
New Delhi 110066

CPAO/Tech/Amdt-Sch.Book/2014-15

dated: 10.11.2014

Amendment to the Scheme for Payment of Pensions to Central Government Civil Pensioners by Authorized Banks (Fourth Edition. 3rd December, 2004)

Correction Slip -22

Addition under Part 15.2 as S.No. (xiii)
(xiii) A life Certificate issued online by a Government Agency as a result of Aadhaar Biometric Authentication will also be accepted as a valid certificate. This document may be accessed through a Website (to be notified separately) by the Pension Disbursing Agency without insisting either on personal appearance of the pensioner or Life certificate by the competent authority referred above.

sd/-
(Vijay Singh)
Sr. Accounts Officer (Tech)

Authority- Approval of Controller General of Accounts in file No. 1(7) /CPAO Scheme Booklet/ 4th Edition/2005/TA on date 10.11.2014.

Click here to view the original orders

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