7th Pay Commission: Transport Allowance not to be hiked

7th Pay Commission: Transport Allowance not to be hiked

New Delhi: The Transport Allowance for central government employees will not be hiked and remain the same as 6th Pay Commission recommendations including Dearness Allowance(DA).

The Finance Ministry today informed about the report of the 'Committee on Allowances', headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa and said no hike in Transport Allowance (TPTA) for central government employees in its report. The committee accepted the 7th Pay Commission recommendation in this regard, which was announced earlier.

The Pay Commission has revised the Transport allowance (TPTA), which is given below:

 The existing Transport allowance table for A1/A cities and other places is under:

The Pay Commission made report, assuming that the rate of Dearness Allowance 125 percent at the time of implementation of the pay commission recommendation, i.e. on January 1 next year.

Accordingly, the employees will not get any hike in Transport allowance on the time of implementation of the pay commission recommendation as the existing Transport allowance figure automatically reached the Pay Commission revised Transport allowance figure after adding 125 percent DA.

"In partial modification, the committee has further decided that the current HRA slab, which is 30 per cent of basic pay, for metros would continue," according to the sources.

However, the 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 Sixth Pay Commission.

The government has given higher basic pay with arrears, effective from January 1, 2016 in August 2016 to its employees on the recommendations of the 7th pay commission but referred hike in allowances to the Committee on Allowances.

Usually, once the recommendations of the pay commission are approved, the increase in basic pay is followed by an increase in allowances.

The hike in allowances, most probably to implement from the month of April and the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley may announce it after ending the model code of conduct on March 8.

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Retirement fund body EPFO launches one page EPF claim withdrawal form

Retirement fund body EPFO launches one page EPF claim withdrawal form

Highlights:
1. For EPF subscribers whose Universal Account Number (UAN) is linked to their Aadhaar and bank account number, they can approach the EPFO directly for claims, bypassing the employers

2. In case of full withdrawal from EPF accounts, subscribers are required to mention only their names, registered mobile number, UAN, Aadhaar number, date of joining and leaving the company

3. For partial withdrawals from EPF accounts, subscribers are not required to submit extra documents
With an aim to provide withdrawal ease to its EPF subscribers, retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation(EPFO) has started a simplified one page claim withdrawal form, The Hindustan Times reported.

Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) allows withdrawal if subscriber is unemployed for at least two months or partial withdrawals for events such as medical emergencies, children’s education or buying a house, cited report on Monday.

For EPF subscribers whose Universal Account Number (UAN) is linked to their Aadhaar and bank account number, they can approach the EPFO directly for claims, bypassing the employers, it said.

Earlier, EPF subscribers had to fill up form 19 for complete withdrawal, form 10C for pension fund scheme certificate to retain membership of Employees’ Pension Scheme or to claim withdrawals, and form 31 for partial withdrawals.

Now, with the EPFO's introduction of the new form called the composite claim form all forms have been merged into one. It has launched two types of EPF withdrawal forms- Aadhaar and non-Aadhaar forms.
The Aadhaar-based composite form is meant for individuals who have activated their UAN and linked it with their Aadhaar and bank account number, and whose details are embedded in the UAN portal, the news report said.

According to the report, in case of full withdrawal from EPF accounts, subscribers are need to mention only their names, registered mobile number, UAN, Aadhaar number, date of joining and leaving the company.
Moreover, for partial withdrawals, there is no longer need of extra documents. Subscribers have to mark the purpose for which they need the money and how much. Sign the form, attach a cancelled cheque and then the subscribers can go ahead.

The non-Aadhaar form needs details of EPF subscribers such as date of birth, father's name and bank account details. It has to be signed by subscribers and their employers.

The report citing the new form further stated that for partial withdrawals subscribers do not have to submit proof.

For instance, if partial withdrawal was for a wedding (of self or children), EPF subscriber had to give supporting documents such as the wedding invitation card. In the new form, subscriber's signature is enough. But there is a disclaimer at the bottom which states that if the funds are used for any other purpose, the subscriber is liable to return the money with penal interest.

But if partial withdrawal is for a medical emergency, subscriber still need to submit proof like medical certificate and certificate by the employer that employees' state insurance (ESIC) facility is not available to the member, it added.

EPFO plans to launch an online facility from May this year for withdrawals, but this can only be used by individuals with Aadhaar and bank account-linked UAN, cited the report.

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3rd pay panel for CPSEs suggests min Rs 30,000 for executives

3rd pay panel for CPSEs suggests min Rs 30,000 for executives

New Delhi: The third pay revision committee for central public sector enterprises has recommended minimum pay of Rs 30,000 per month for executives and a maximum of Rs 3.7 lakh for CMDs.

As per the recommendations, the minimum monthly salary of below Board level executives will increase from Rs 12,600 to Rs 30,000.

However, in case of CMDs, the maximum monthly salary for Schedule A CPSEs will go up from Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 3.7 lakh.

In case of Schedule B, C and D CPSEs, the maximum monthly salary will be Rs 3.2 lakh, Rs 2.9 lakh and Rs 2.8 lakh, respectively.

The recommendations of the Justice Satish Chandra committee, which are to come into effect from January 1, 2017, will be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval.

Depending upon profits, the PSUs are categorised into different schedules, with highest being Schedule A. There are currently 64 Schedule A, 68 Schedule B, 45 Schedule C and 4 Schedule D CPSEs in the country.
The committee has recommended that the rate of House Rental Allowance (HRA) will be revised to 27 per cent, 18 per cent and 9 per cent when industrial dearness allowance (IDA) crosses 50 per cent, and further revised to 30 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent when IDA crosses 100 per cent.

The panel recommended no change in the IDA pattern and the 100 per cent DA neutralisation shall continue to be applicable.

Revised IDA from January 1, 2017, shall be linked to All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI) (2001=100) series with the base of AICPI as on January 1, 2017 as per the quarterly average of AICPI of September, October and November 2016.

The committee has also suggested that the annual increment be retained at 3 per cent of Basic Pay.
It has further recommended that increment on promotion shall continue to be at par with the annual increment rate (3 per cent of Basic Pay).

The panel has recommended no change in the retirement age for CPSE employees.

Besides, it said that ESOP being a concept beneficial for both CPSEs and its employees, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) should elaborate the mechanism in consultation with concerned authorities to enable introduction of ESOP in listed CPSEs with empowerment to the Board or Administrative Ministry to approve the same.

It will be in lieu of part of performance related pay.

Profit making CPSEs, which can bear the cost of VRS with their own surplus resources, are allowed to implement VRS policy by allowing compensation/ex-gratia on the revised pay scales proposed to be effective from January 1, 2017.

The committee has also recommended a modified performance related pay but said that the overall profit distribution should be linked to 5 per cent of the annual profit accruing from core business activity.

PTI

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Admissibility of Deputation (Duty) Allowance while on deputation

Admissibility of Deputation (Duty) Allowance while on 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

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7th CPC Allowance Committee Report Submitted to the Government or not?

Was the 7th CPC Allowance Committee Report submitted to the government as early as February 22?

7th CPC Allowance Committee Report Submitted to the Government or not?

Was the 7th CPC Allowance Committee Report submitted to the government as early as February 22?
A high-level committee, under the chairmanship of Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa was constituted by the Central Government to review the Seventh Pay Commission’s recommendations regarding the allowances being given to the Central Government employees. According to information, the committee had already submitted its report on February 22.

Irrespective of who possesses the report now - the committee or the government - what is more intriguing is the recommendations that it contains.

One could see that the 7th Pay Commission suggested either rationalization or simplification at many places. An example is the Pay Matrix Table, which has now brought the entire Pay Structure of more than 35 lakh employees under one Table. Although there are some anomalies, the system has dramatically simplified the process of annual increment calculation and also pay fixation on Promotion or MACP.

At present 196 different kinds of allowances are being given to the Central Government employees. Some modifications have been recommended in these too as part of the rationalization and simplification drive. The Seventh Pay Commission has recommended the abolition of 52 allowances. And another 36 allowances have been abolished as separate identities, but subsumed either in an existing allowance or in newly proposed allowances.

The Commission said that the entire range of allowances is administered in broadly four ways. Fully DA indexed Allowances, Partially or Semi DA indexed Allowances, No DA indexation Allowances and Percentage based Allowances. House Rent Allowance is being under the category of Percentage based Allowances. The Commission also said that the compensation towards the housing needs of Central Government employees is covered in many ways. The Commission finally suggested that the percentage based allowances by a factor of 0.8, the Commission recommends that HRA should be rationalized to 24 percent, 16 percent and 8 percent of the Basic Pay for Class X, Y and Z cities respectively.

The big irritation, or rather disappointment to the Central Government employees was the recommendation to reduce the percentage of House Rent Allowance (HRA).

All trade unions have expressed their harsh opposition to the proposed cuts in HRA. The Central Government employees’ Federations also expressed their disappointment through various protest. Finally the Central Government accepted to constitute a high level committee to examine the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission regarding Allowances.

Now, sources claim that the committee has already submitted its report to the government.

The government can announce its final decision on the recommendations of the committee any day. But, many believe that there could be a delay in the announcements due to the state elections that are being held in various parts of the country and the election commission’s guidelines that are being enforced now.
Unconfirmed reports say that the committee has recommended the percentage rates of HRA as per 6th CPC and changes in the method of calculating Transport Allowances also.

The biggest mystery however is - will these recommendations be given retrospective effect and will arrears be given?

Three dates are currently being suggested - January 1, 2016; August 1, 2016; and April 1, 2017.
Only the Central Government has all the answers right now.

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7th Pay Commission: Higher allowances announcement soon

7th Pay Commission: Higher allowances announcement soon

New Delhi: Central government employees are waiting almost seven months to receive higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations in their paychecks. Senior Finance Ministry sources say the government is expected to make the announcement of higher allowances after five states assembly polls.
The central government employees received higher basic pay in August 2016 with arrears, effective from January 1, 2016 on the recommendations of the 7th pay commission but the hike in allowances other than dearness allowance has yet to materialize.

The 7th Pay Commission recommendations have wrapped up, in June last year, but the central government employees still waiting for payments owed them i.e higher allowances.

The delays are because the allowances other than dearness allowance referred to the ‘Committee on Allowances’ headed by the Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa for examination as the pay commission had recommended of abolishing 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances.

The Committee on Allowances was initially given a time of four months to submit its report to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

In October last year, Ashok Lavasa was quoted by some media outlets as saying he was ready with the report.

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

According to some reports, the government is likely to give its nod to the revised allowances once the Assembly elections in five states are over. The revised allowances are expected to be effective from April 1, which marks the beginning of the new financial year.

The sources said the Committee on Allowances report states the current HRA slab, which is 30 per cent of basic pay, for metros. An announcement on the same is expected soon.

However, the 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 Sixth Pay Commission.

TST

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Cabinet Decision on 7th CPC Allowances only after 11th March 2017

Cabinet Decision on 7th CPC Allowances only after 11th March 2017

"Retention of the rates of HRA and date of effect of allowances should be from 1st January 2016 and revision of rates of Transport allowances, OTA and NDA apart from retention of many of the allowances - COC Karnataka".

Allowances

Comrades,
The media is debating that the allowances committee headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa Finance Secretary has submitted its report to the Hon’ble Finance Minister Arun Jaitleyji on 22nd or not. Comrades as you aware that this committee period has expired on 22nd February 2017, the question is that even if it has submitted its report to the Hon’ble Finance Minister Arun Jaitleyji it is confidential document all media creation on the HRA rates are not be believed, the actual truth will be known only after the assembly elections results of five states which will be declared on March 11.

The past experience is that even if the committee decides positively the union cabinet had turn down the recommendations of the committee, hence speculation is not correct, only after the union cabinet approves the recommendations of the committee, the new orders is issued.

The main demands of the CG employees is retention of the rates of HRA and date of effect of allowances should be from 1st January 2016 and revision of rates of Transport allowances, OTA and NDA apart from retention of many of the allowances.

Comrades instead of speculation it would be better we focus on the 16th March 2017 strike, which would put pressure on the Central Government to yield to our charter of demands.

Comradely yours
(P.S.Prasad)
General Secretary

Source: http://karnatakacoc.blogspot.in/

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Sources Confirmed Allowance Committee Report Submitted

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 finalized 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 favorably.

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%

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 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.

Source: http://govtstaffnews.in/

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whether Government has any proposal to extend same benefits to paramilitary forces at par with army?

'Benefits to paramilitary forces at par with army' issue raised in Parliament :

whether Government has any proposal to extend same benefits to paramilitary forces at par with army?

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-710
ANSWERED ON-08.02.2017

Benefits to paramilitary forces at par with army
710 . Shri A. Vijayakumar
(a) whether Government has any proposal to extend same benefits to paramilitary forces at par with army;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is any such pending demand by paramilitary forces; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (d): The proposals from Central Armed Police Force for grant of benefits at par with Army include, inter-alia, Risk & Hardship Allowance, Para Military Service Pay, Discontinuation of New Pension Scheme etc. The CAPF personnel are entitled for pension and other pensionary benefits as per Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules 1972, which are different from the pension rules applicable to Ex-servicemen. The 7th CPC has not recommended grant of Para Military Service Pay to the CAPFs. The 7th CPC has recommended a common regime of Risk and Hardship Allowance for Army and CAPFs which is under consideration of the Committee on Allowances.

Authority: www.rajyasabha.nic.in

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Gratuity payment ceiling to double to Rs 20 lakh; Unions support government decision

Gratuity payment ceiling to double to Rs 20 lakh; Unions support government decision

The employees of organised sector can now be allowed to withdraw up to Rs 20 lakh from their gratuity fund. In a meeting between the labour ministry and representatives from states, employees and employers on Thursday, the decision reached to the consensus.

The central trade unions have also agreed on doubling gratuity amount ceiling as an interim measure in a tripartite meeting on the proposed amendment to Payment of Gratuity Act conducted today by the Labour Ministry.

The unions demanded the removal of conditions asking to have at least 10 employees in an establishment and minimum five years of service for payment of gratuity.

"While accepting the maximum payment limit of Rs 20 lakh as an interim measure, the unions demanded that the ceilings/ limit with respect to number of employees and years of service should be removed," the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said in a statement.

It said, "The central trade unions have been urging the government that the ceiling in the amount of gratuity should be removed."

At present, as per the Payment of Gratuity Act, an employee is required to do minimum service of five years to become eligible for gratuity amount. Moreover, the Act applies to those establishments where the number of employees is not less than 10.

The statement said the application of amended provision regarding maximum amount should be made effective from January 1, 2016 as done in the case of central government employees.
Besides that rate of 15 days wages for each completed year of service be raised to 30 days wages, the unions demanded.

The proposed amendment to the Payment of Gratuity Act as circulated by the government along with the letter dated February 15, 2017 only deals with enhancing the ceiling of maximum amount under Section 4(3) of the Act from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, the unions said.

They pointed out during the meeting that the proposed amendment is being brought to bring the maximum ceiling amount to Rs 20 lakh in line with recommendation of 7th Central Pay Commission as accepted by the government.

The relevant amendment for central government employees was notified on July 25, 2016 and the enhanced amount ceiling was made effective from January 1, 2016.

The unions are of the view that the delay of 8 months for employees covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act should not result in adversely affecting the interest of the concerned employees.

The employers as well as state representatives also agreed to the proposal of raising the amount of gratuity to Rs 20 lakh, it said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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PFRDA eyes training 64,500 employees to create mass awareness on NPS, APY

PFRDA eyes training 64,500 employees to create mass awareness on NPS, APY

NEW DELHI: Pension regulator PFRDA has appointed IL&FS Skill Development Corporation to train 64,500 government employees and other stakeholders on various aspects of flagship schemes NPS and APY.

The training institute has been appointed to create mass awareness and impart training on National Pension System (NPS) and Atal Pension Yojna (APY) to the employees of Points of Presence, APY service providers, and corporates of North-West zone.

Nodal officers of central and state governments and those at state autonomous bodies too would be trained, said Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

"It is intended to have at least 50-60 participants in each session of 3-4 hours duration and conduct approximately 1,610 training sessions and train 64,500 participants in the NW zone over the next 12 months," PFRDA said while notifying the training institute.

Participants from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli would be imparted training on various aspects of the two flagship social security programmes.

As on January 17, the overall number of NPS and APY subscribers stood at 1.42 crore, with Asset Under Management (AUM) of Rs 1.61 lakh crore. APY, which guarantees a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 - Rs 5,000, has about 43 lakh subscribers.

As on January 17, the overall number of NPS and APY subscribers stood at 1.42 crore, with Asset Under Management (AUM) of Rs 1.61 lakh crore. APY, which guarantees a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 - Rs 5,000, has about 43 lakh subscribers.

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Gratuity payment ceiling to double to Rs 20 lakh; Unions support government decision

Gratuity payment ceiling to double to Rs 20 lakh; Unions support government decision

The employees of organised sector can now be allowed to withdraw up to Rs 20 lakh from their gratuity fund. In a meeting between the labour ministry and representatives from states, employees and employers on Thursday, the decision reached to the consensus.

The central trade unions have also agreed on doubling gratuity amount ceiling as an interim measure in a tripartite meeting on the proposed amendment to Payment of Gratuity Act conducted today by the Labour Ministry.

The unions demanded the removal of conditions asking to have at least 10 employees in an establishment and minimum five years of service for payment of gratuity.

"While accepting the maximum payment limit of Rs 20 lakh as an interim measure, the unions demanded that the ceilings/ limit with respect to number of employees and years of service should be removed," the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said in a statement.

It said, "The central trade unions have been urging the government that the ceiling in the amount of gratuity should be removed."

At present, as per the Payment of Gratuity Act, an employee is required to do minimum service of five years to become eligible for gratuity amount. Moreover, the Act applies to those establishments where the number of employees is not less than 10.

The statement said the application of amended provision regarding maximum amount should be made effective from January 1, 2016 as done in the case of central government employees.
Besides that rate of 15 days wages for each completed year of service be raised to 30 days wages, the unions demanded.

The proposed amendment to the Payment of Gratuity Act as circulated by the government along with the letter dated February 15, 2017 only deals with enhancing the ceiling of maximum amount under Section 4(3) of the Act from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, the unions said.

They pointed out during the meeting that the proposed amendment is being brought to bring the maximum ceiling amount to Rs 20 lakh in line with recommendation of 7th Central Pay Commission as accepted by the government.

The relevant amendment for central government employees was notified on July 25, 2016 and the enhanced amount ceiling was made effective from January 1, 2016.

The unions are of the view that the delay of 8 months for employees covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act should not result in adversely affecting the interest of the concerned employees.

The employers as well as state representatives also agreed to the proposal of raising the amount of gratuity to Rs 20 lakh, it said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Revised Subscription Rates of RELHS as per Pay Matrix of 7th CPC

Revised Subscription Rates of RELHS as per Pay Matrix of 7th CPC

The Railway Board has decided to revise the subscription raes of Railway Employees Liberalized Health Scheme (RELHS)as per the Pay Matrix Level recommended by the 7th Pay Commission.

Following the subscription calculation method of CGHS for Central Government Employees and Pensioners, the Railway Board has now decided and published the revised subscription rates for all the group of Railway employees through its official portal.

On 9th January, 2017 the Health Ministry published the new rates of monthly subscription for availing the CGHS facility. The Central Government Pensioners have an option to get their CGHS Pensioners Card by either making CGHS contribution on an annual basis (12 Months) or by making contribution for 10 years for life time validity.

The rate of contribution to join RELHS shall be last month's basic pay drawn or the subscription rate indicated in the above table at different levels as per the 7th Pay Commission whichever is lower.

Pay Matrix Level	Subscription Rate to Join RELHS (in Rs.)
Level 1 (Grade Pay 1800)	30,000
Level 2 (Grade Pay 1900)	30,000
Level 3 (Grade Pay 2000)	30,000
Level 4 (Grade Pay 2400)	30,000
Level 5 (Grade Pay 2800)	30,000
Level 6 (Grade Pay 4200)	54,000
Level 7 (Grade Pay 4600)	78,000
Level 8 (Grade Pay 4800)	78,000
Level 9 (Grade Pay 5400)	78,000
Level 10 (Grade Pay 5400)	78,000
Level 11 (Grade Pay 6600)	78,000
Level 12 and Above	1,20,000

The revised rate of subscription as above shall be applicable to those railway employees who shall be retiring and joining RELHS on or after the date of issue of this letter(23.2.2017). Those who have already retired and are not member of RELHS shall be governed by the rules which were prevalent at the time of their retirement

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To check overstay, Centre cuts deputation allowance of bureaucrats

To check overstay, Centre cuts deputation allowance of bureaucrats

Bureaucrats on central deputation abroad and within the country will not get deputation allowance beyond five years of such tenure

Norms allow a maximum of seven-year, in break-up of five plus two years in usual cases, central deputation term for officers to work outside their state cadre or abroad.

The admissibility of deputation (duty) allowance would be up to the fifth year, if the deputationist has opted to draw such monetary benefit, an order issued recently by the Personnel Ministry said.

The decision has been taken to check overstay of central deputation period by officers including those in Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others, officials said.
The move comes after the government noticed a few cases where officers central deputation tenure was being extended, mainly while they were working abroad, by ministries concerned beyond the maximum period of seven years citing "exigencies", they said.

The Personnel Ministry has already issued a directive to warn officers that they may lose their job for overstaying on foreign posting.

In case of deputation within the same station, the allowance will be paid at the rate of 5 per cent of basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs 2,000 per month; and in other cases, it will be payable at the rate of 10 per cent of the employee's basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs 4,000 per month.

PTI

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NFIR: Comprehensive transfer policy - exemption from 5 years condition

NFIR: Comprehensive transfer policy - exemption from 5 years condition

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI - 110055

Affiliated to :
Indian NationalTrade Union Congress (INTUC)
lnternational Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)

Dated: 23/02/2017

No. II/14/Part VII
Shri Suresh Prabhu,
Honoble Minister for Railways,
Rail Mantrlaya,
Rail Bhavan,
New Delhi

Respected Sir,
Sub: Comprehensive transfer policy - exemption from 5 years condition-reg.
Ref: (i) Railway Board's letter No. E(NG)I-2005/TR/20 dated,10/02/2016.
(ii) NFIR's letter No. II/14/Part VII dated 21st Feb 2017.

At the outset, NFIR thanks the Railway Ministry for granting exemption from 5 years minimum service condition to consider the request transfers in the following situations vide Railway Board's letter dated 10/02/2016.

(a) Transfers sought on mutual exchange basis,
(b) Transfers sought on spouse ground,
(c) Railway servants who are care-givers to a disabled child and
(d) Physically handicapped Railway servants.

The Federation brings to your kind notice that the Defence Forces Personnel after having served for safeguarding the Nation's Borders for decades, have retired and thereafter they are being recruited through Railway Recruitment Boards/Railway Recruitment Cells in the Railways. These Personnel during their service in the Defence Forces were far away from their families for decades. After recruitment in Railwals also, they are away from their family members and children due to their postings at different places. Consequently, they are facing lot of hardships in managing two establishments. Their case therefore, deserves to be considered by relaxing 5 years minimum service condition, so that they can seek transfer nearer to their place of residence and can peacefully perform their duties while leading family life.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Hon'ble MR to kindly accord approval for relaxing minimum 5 years service condition in the case of former Defence Forces Personnel re-employed in Railways also to enable them to go on transfer nearer to their places and join their families. A copy of Federation's letter dated 21st Feb 2017 on the subject, already sent to Railway Board is also enclosed.

Yours sincerly,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

DA,/As above
Source: NFIR

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TamilNadu Teachers Eligibility Test 2017 : Notification and Syllabus

TamilNadu Teachers Eligibility Test 2017 : Notification and Syllabus

GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU
TEACHERS RECRUITMENT BOARD

TAMILNADU TEACHERS ELIGIBILITY TEST (TNTET) - 2017

Date : 24-02-2017

Applications are invited for Teacher Eligibility Test, Paper I and Paper II for the year 2017 from the eligible candidates in Tamil Nadu. One of the essential qualifications for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in any of the schools referred to clause (n) of section 2 of the RTE Act is that he/she should pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) which will be conducted by the appropriate Government.

The State Government has designated the Teachers Recruitment Board as the Nodal Agency for conducting Teacher Eligibility Test and recruitment of Teachers as per G.O. (Ms) No. 181, School Education (C2) Department, Dated 15.11.2011.

1. Schedule of Dates:

Sale of Application	06.03.2017 to 22.03.2017	9 am to 5 pm
Last Date for Receipt of Application Form	23.03.2017	by 5 pm
Written Examination:Paper I Paper II	29.04.201730.04.2017	10 am to 1 pm10 am to 1 pm

2. Eligibility to Write TET Paper I:
Candidates should possess the following prescribed qualifications to write the Teacher Eligibility Test Paper I.
a. Candidates who have passed Higher Secondary Course (10+2 Pattern) and Diploma in Teacher Education / Diploma in Elementary Education (Regarding the Candidates who have passed D.T.Ed., from States other than Tamil Nadu, their certificate should be evaluated before Certificate Verification) from a Recognized Teacher Training Institute / DIET and seeking an appointment as Secondary Grade Teacher for classes I to V (except Visually Impaired Candidates) can write Paper I.

b. Candidates appearing for the Final Year Examination of D.E.Ed. during the current Academic Year (2016–2017) are also permitted to appear for Paper I in the Teacher Eligibility Test. Such Candidates should successfully complete the course in the current Academic Year (2016-2017) itself and should produce D.E.Ed., Certificate during Certificate Verification; otherwise they shall not be considered for the current year Government recruitment process. However they will be issued with TET certificate after producing D.E.Ed., Diploma Certificate.

c. Visually impaired candidates are not eligible to write Paper I.

3. Eligibility to Write TET Paper II:
Candidates should possess the following prescribed qualifications to write the Teacher Eligibility Test Paper
II:

a. Candidates who have passed a Bachelor's Degree (B.A. /B.Sc. / B.Litt.) with Tamil, English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, History and Geography as major subjects in their Degree course or a Degree with any one of the equivalent subjects (Regarding equivalent subjects, Government orders issued prior to the date of this notification alone will be considered) from a Recognized University under 10+2+3 Pattern and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (B.Ed.) from a Recognized University and seeking an appointment as Graduate Teacher can write Paper II. The candidates with B.Lit., (Tamil) degree should possess either B.Ed. or D.T.Ed. or TPT.

b. Candidates appearing for the Final Year Examination of B.Ed. during the current Academic Year (2016 - 2017) are also permitted to appear for Paper II in Teacher Eligibility Test. Such Candidates should successfully complete the course in the current Academic Year (2016-2017) itself and should produce B.Ed., Certificate during Certificate Verification; otherwise they shall not be considered for the current year Government recruitment process. However they will be issued with TET certificate after producing B.Ed., Degree Certificate.

Note: For further details refer Prospectus and TRB's official website www.trb.tn.nic.in

CHAIRMAN

Authority: http://trb.tn.nic.in

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UGC Pay Review Committee Recommendations for University and College teachers - 20% Pay Hike, Performance linked Promotion etc.

UGC Pay Review Committee Recommendations for University and College teachers - 20% Pay Hike, Performance linked Promotion etc.

New Delhi, Feb. 22: The UGC today recommended a 20 per cent pay hike for university and college teachers.

A performance-linked promotion system has been suggested with stress on research. The retirement age will remain unchanged at 65.

The recommendations, made by a five-member committee, have to be accepted by the HRD ministry. If approved, the hike will be the first such revision in more than a decade and cover nearly 30,000 teachers in central universities and over four lakh in state varsities and colleges.

The panel has suggested that the new salaries be paid with retrospective effect from January 2016. The UGC cleared the report without changes.

According to the recommendations, a teacher's starting package will be revised by a multiplier of 2.72, applied to the basic salary and another component called academic grade pay (AGP).

For instance, a directly recruited professor who gets around Rs 43,000 as basic salary, Rs 10,000 as AGP and dearness allowance now will be entitled to a basic salary of Rs 1.44 lakh which would subsume the present dearness allowance.

The Seventh Pay Commission, whose report was accepted last year for civil servants and other central staff, had used the 2.72 multiplier.

The last revision for teachers in 2006 had put their package higher than that of civil servants at the entry level. Teachers may continue to retain the edge even under the revised structure, sources said.

Furqan Qamar, the secretary-general of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), said university and college salaries had been kept higher to attract talent.

On promotions, the current determinants are indicators like teaching and research output. The UGC panel, headed by Prof. V.S. Chauhan, has suggested that more stress be laid on quality research, such as papers published in reputable journals, the sources said.

The UGC has forwarded to all central universities a finance ministry order suggesting the Centre will bear no more than 70 per cent of the additional expenses arising out of the revised pay. This order covers autonomous institutions, including central universities.

The higher education regulator has asked the 40-odd central universities to specify how much internal resources they can generate, indicating the possibility of a hike in tuition fees.

The new pay proposals are not binding on state universities, which have to fund the higher salaries from their own resources. But they have usually adopted such suggestions in the past.

The Union HRD ministry has set up a separate committee for salary revision of teachers in technical institutions like the IITs and the IIMs.

Read at: The Telegraph

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Clarification on Benchmark for Promotion

Clarification on Benchmark for Promotion

No.20-45/2016-SPB-II
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
Personnel Division

Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi - 110 001
Dated the 1st February, 2017

To
All Chief Postmaster(s) General

Subject: Clarification on Benchmark for Promotion

Sir,
I am directed to refer to subject cited above and to say that the modalities of the benchmark to be taken for promotion after implementation of 7th Pay Commission Report has been examined in consultation with Department of Personnel & Training (DOPT). DoPT has stated that the modalities of the benchmark are being examined in consultation with UPSC and Department of Legal Affairs. In this regard, all Circles are, hereby, requested to follow instructions contained in DOPT's OM No.35034/7/97-Estt(D) dated 8.02.2002 untill further clarification is uploaded/issued by DOPT on its website or issued by DoP. A copy of DOPT's ID No.1211382/2016/CR dated 8.12.2016 is enclosed.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Satya Narayana Dash)
Assistant Director General (SPN)

Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/

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Recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission- bunching of stages in the revised pay structured under Central Civil Services ( Revised Pay ) Rules, 2016

Recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission- bunching of stages in the revised pay structured under Central Civil Services ( Revised Pay ) Rules, 2016

OM No.A-60015/1/2016/MF.CGA(A)/NGE/7th CPC/601 Dated 23rd February, 2017

No.A-20015/1/2016/MF.CGA(A)/NGE/7th CPC/601

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Controller General of Accounts

Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan,
E Block, GPO Complex, INA
New Delhi-110023

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.

sd/-
(Sandeep Malhotra)
Sr.Accounts Officer

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Disbursement of salary for the month of February 2017 on 27th February 2017 on account of nation-wide bank strike on 28th February 2017

Disbursement of salary for the month of February 2017 on 27th February 2017 on account of nation-wide bank strike on 28th February 2017.

F.No.S-11012/2/3(17)/RBI/2015/RBD/74-124
Government of India
Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure
Controller General of Accounts
Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan,
E-Block, GPO Complex, INA. New Delhi-110023
Tel: 24665384, Fax: 24649365 E-mail: sao-rbd@nic.in

Dated 23rd February 2017

Office Memorandum

Subject: Disbursement of salary for the month of February 2017 on 27th February 2017 on account of nation-wide bank strike on 28th February 2017.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has given a nationwide strike call on 28th February, 2017. Banks are likely to remain closed on that day and even files for the e-payment of salary for the month of February 2017 which is due for 28th February, 2017 may not get processed resulting in salary of Central Government employees not being disbursed on 28th February 2017.

There being banks holidays on account of Maha Shivaratri (24th February, 2017) at many places, 4th Saturday (25th February, 2017) and Sunday (26th February, 2017), Hence, salary e-payment files processed on PFMS/COMPACT should be uploaded today i.e. 23rd February, 2017 with NPB of 27th February, 2017. If such files have already been uploaded with NPB of 28th February, 2017 the same also would need to be changed to facilitate payment of salaries on 27th February, 2017.

All Ministries/Departments are requested to take necessary action to upload their salary payments e-files latest by 23rd February, 2017 with NPB of 27th February, 2017 so that salary to the Central Government employees are paid in time.

All accredited banks are also requested to follow the above directions and release the salary for the month of February 2017 on 27th February 2017.

(Neeraj Kumar Sharma)
Dy.Controller General of Accounts(RBD)

 Authority: http://cga.nic.in/

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Introduction of SPARROW for CSS officers - completion of various tasks

Introduction of SPARROW for CSS officers - completion of various tasks

No. 22/10/2015/CS-I(APAR)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of personnel & Training
CS-I(APAR)

2nd Floor, Loknayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated the 22nd February, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Introduction of SPARROW for CSS officers - completion of various tasks- reg .

The undersigned is directed to say that 'SPARROW' has been introduced for recording on-line APARs for Deputy Secretary and above level officers in CSS and equivalent levels in CSSS from the financial year 2015-16.

2. The time-limits for performing various activities on the 'SPARROW' system were extended vide this Department's Office memorandum of even number dated 27th May, 2016. The window for 'SPARROW' CSS was closed on 31st December, 2016. A number of Ministries/Departments requested for reopening of this window for completion of various tasks in the system. Therefore, the window for 'SPARROW' (CSS) has been re-opened on the request of these departments to facilitate the nodal officers to take action in the 'SPARROW' system as per the extended date-line.

3. However, it is clarified that the dates extended beyond 1 sl January,2017 are for taking necessary action for dealing with representations, disposal of representations and similar actions on the part of the nodal officers. Dates for recording of APARs would be same as contained in the Office Memorandum dated 27th May, 2016.

4. It is also reiterated that as per instructions of this Department, APARs of CSS officers are required to be uploaded on CSCMS. Hard copy of the APARs generated on SPARROW will be kept in CS-I Division/CS-II Division. It would not be practicably possible for these Divisions to download all the APARs from 'SPARROW' and then keep them in the relevant APAR folders including their uploading in the CSCMS system.
5. It is, therefore, requested that Ministries/Departments may ensure following action at their end for efficient management of APARs generated in the 'SPARROW' system :

i) To complete the task required at their end in the SPARROW system before the aforesaid date.
ii) To download the APARs generated online on 'SPARROW' and to upload PDF files in CSCMS.
iii) The PDF files so downloaded from SPARROW may be sent to this Department for custody.

6. In addition the details of hard copies of APARs (other than on-line mode), giving justification for not recording the APAR through 'SPARROW' may be sent to this department.

(Chandra Shekhar)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

To
All Ministries/Departments for (CSS) & (CSSS)
Copy to DS (CS-II) for information.

Source: DoPT Order 2017

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Implementation of 7th CPC Recommendations to TamilNadu State Government Employees

Implementation of 7th CPC Recommendations to TamilNadu State Government Employees

Implementation of 7th CPC Recommendations to TN State Employees : The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to constitute a 5 Member Committee of Higher Officials to implement the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission. The committee will submit the report within four months (30th June).

Following the implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission to the employees working under Central Government, the Tamilnadu Chief Minister has today decided to constitute a 5 Member Secretary level committee formed to implement the recommendations of 7th CPC to State Govt Employees, Teachers and employees of Localbodies.

Recognised State Government Employees Unions are requested to send the proposal of pay structure and all other demands to the committee.

The committee will examine, review and recommend changes that are desirable and feasible regarding the principles that should govern the emoluments structure including pay, allowances, pension and other facilities/benefits.

Click to view the Press Release

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7th Pay Commission: Increased salaries attracting young India to apply for Government Jobs

7th Pay Commission: Increased salaries attracting young India to apply for Government Jobs
Increased salary prospects due to 7th Pay Commission is attracting young talent in India towards the Government Jobs

Government Jobs in India have long attracted people from every walk of life. While the basic call of a government job in India was the stability associated with it, many had chosen to walk the path of the treacherous private sector. The biggest call of the private sector was indeed the higher pay packages and the chances of a life style of many aspired for. That, however, is changing. All thanks to the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The increased starting packages have over the past year increased the interest of young Indians towards Government Jobs. For the first time in India, Government Jobs mean more than just a stable job. It means increased salaries with benefits, suggests reports.

Numbers are evident. Only last year when Indian Railways released the notification for recruitment in the Non Technical Popular Category, a mind boggling 92 lakh people applied for 18000 jobs. Such was the increased numbers that Railway Recruitment Board had to introduce another level in the recruitment process to bring it down to considerate numbers. Around 3 lakh candidates had then appeared in the second stage of which results are expected anytime. Similar is the case in case of Banking. While Banking has always attracted a steady, it is thanks to the increased salaries for Clerks and Probationary Officers that more and more candidates are applying for the exam.

The trend continues. State Bank of India Probationary Exam was announced recently for 2,313 posts. Given the trend of last year, SBI is expecting applications from around 20 lakh candidates. With a starting salary that could go as high as 12 lakhs, the interests for the jobs are bound to be phenomenal.

The applications are still on and close on March 6, 2017. It is not just at the level of graduates though. For Staff Selection Commission, the number of candidates applying for CHSL or the Combined Higher Secondary Level has also seen a two fold increase.

The numbers are promising, if any. It can be simply argued that India constantly needs good talent and energetic work force to manage its increasing institutional pressure. A stable and high paying job is sure to retain the best of the country towards developing the national assets and human capital. Engineers, doctors and professionals from all spheres are required in the various governmental departments. The changing face of the work force, the stricter guidelines and the stronger applications all hint towards a better and reformed public sector. The 7th pay commission has seemed to help and provide an impetus towards the building of the nation.

Source: India

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7th Pay Commission: Talks On Allowance Today, Report Likely Soon

7th Pay Commission: Talks On Allowance Today, Report Likely Soon

The government had in June accepted the recommendation of Justice AK Mathur-headed Seventh Pay Commission in respect of the hike in basic pay and pension but its suggestions relating to allowances were referred to the committee.

The panel headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa to review Seventh Pay Commission allowances is expected to soon submit its report to the government. Shiv Gopal Mishra, the convenor of National Joint Council of Action (NJCA), a joint body of unions representing central government employees, said talks in this matter are in the final leg. The employee union body will be meeting the panel members today on the issue of Housing Rent Allowance or HRA related to Seventh Pay Commission.

The government had in June accepted the recommendation of Justice AK Mathur-headed Seventh Pay Commission in respect of the hike in basic pay and pension but its suggestions relating to allowances were referred to the committee. The Seventh Pay Commission had examined a total of 196 existing allowances and, by way of rationalisation, recommended abolition of 51 allowances and subsuming of 37 allowances.
The committee on allowances was initially given a time of four months to submit its report to the finance minister. Till a final decision is taken, all existing allowances are being paid at the Sixth Pay Commission rates.
The Seventh Pay Commission had recommended that HRA be paid at the rate of 24 per cent, 16 per cent and 8 per cent of the new Basic Pay, depending on type of cities.

The Seventh Pay Commission had also recommended that the rate of HRA be revised to 27 per cent, 18 per cent and 9 per cent respectively when DA crosses 50 per cent, and further revised to 30 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent when DA crosses 100 per cent.

Typically, in case of housing allowance, arrears are not paid.

Allowances form a significant chunk of government employees' salary. Some analysts had earlier said that implementation of the housing allowance portion of the Seventh Pay Commission as well as GST or Goods and Services Tax could push up average inflation.

"At worst, if the government is under pressure, this allowance can be pushed to the next year, as was done in the previous pay commissions. The housing allowance does not attract arrears," HSBC Securities had said in an earlier report.

The Cabinet had also decided to constitute two separate committees to suggest measures for streamlining the implementation of National Pension System (NPS) and to look into anomalies likely to arise out of implementation of the Commission's Report.

Source: NDTV

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How to claim Family Pension with Form 14

How to claim Family Pension with Form 14

How to apply for granting family pension on the death of Government servant/ pensioner/ family pensioner.

What should a family member (eligible for the grant of family pension) do to get the family Pension?

Normally, family pension to spouse is sanctioned and authorized at the time pension is authorized in favour of retiring government servant and indicated in the pension payment order and is to be drawn after the death of the pensioner. However, in cases where Govt. servant expired while in service, the widow or widower has to apply in Form 14 (of CCS Pension Rules) to the Head of Office concerned who will sanction and authorize the family pension through its Pay & Accounts Officer. Where the deceased Govt. servant is survived only by a child or children, the guardian (in case of minor child/children) or such child or children may submit a claim in Form 14 to the Head of 0ffice for sanction and authorization of family pension. For getting family pension, the deceased pensioner’s family should apply in Form no.14 along with a copy of the death certificate of the deceased Pensioner to:

(1) The pension disbursing authority if, the amount of family pension is already indicated in the Pension Payment 0rder.

(II) The Head of Office for sanction of family pension in all other cases.

lf the pensioner has Joint Account with the spouse on either or survivor basis the spouse has to submit the death certificate of the pensioner along with simple application only to activate the family pension.

Authority: www.cpao.nic.in

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Government launches free anti-virus for PC, mobile phones

Government launches free anti-virus for PC, mobile phones

New Delhi: The IT Ministry today launched botnet cleaning and anti-malware analysis centre for Rs 90 crore to provide free anti-virus to computers and mobile phones for removing malicious softwares "I would like ISPs (Internet Service Provider) to encourage their consumers to come on board, there is a free service available. Come and use it in the event some malware has sneaked in to the system," IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at the launch of Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre.

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In) will collect data of infected systems and send it to ISPs and banks. These ISPs and banks will identify the user and provide them the link of the centre, launched in name of Cyber Swachhta Kendra.

The user will be able to download anti-virus or anti-malware tools to disinfect their devices.

"The project has budget outlay of Rs 90 crore spread over period of 5 years," CertIn Director General Sanjay Bahl said.

As of now 58 ISPs and 13 banks have come on board to use this system.

The ministry also launched M-Kavach for security and anti-theft solution for mobile phones, USB Pratirodh to ensure only authorised person is able to access pen drive and AppSamvid for identifying genuine applications at the time of installations on computers.

The minister directed Cert-In to also set up National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) by June.
The government has approved Rs 900 crore for NCCC which will monitor and handle cyber attacks on Indian internet space in real time.

"Safety and security is integral. As the Prime Minister said cyber threat is akin to bloodless war. I don’t have slightest doubt cyber security is not only going to be big area of Digital Swachh Bharat but also going to be big area of digital growth, digital employment and digital commerce," Prasad said.

To encourage startups in the field of cyber security, the minister announced that government has reduced testing fee for their product by half.

At present Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC), a division under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, charges testing fee in the range of Rs 8-10 lakh per case but startups in the field of cyber security will need to pay only around 4-5 lakhs.

To strengthen cyber security ecosystem in the country, Prasad said that CERTs will be set up at state level as well and 10 more STQC testing facilities will set up.

PTI

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Setting up of Anomaly Committee to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commissions recommendations.

Modification in the definition of anomaly - DoPT Orders 
Setting up of Anomaly Committee to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commissions recommendations.

 No.11/2/2016-JCA
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment JCA Section

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 20th February, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Setting up of Anomaly Committee to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission's recommendations.

The undersigned is directed to refer to DoPT’s OM of even number dated 16/8/2016 and to incorporate the following modification in the definition of anomaly:

"Where the Official Side and the Staff Side are of the opinion that the vertical and horizontal relativities have been disturbed as a result of the 7th Central Pay Commission to give rise to anomalous situation."

2. With the incorporation of the above para in the O.M., the definition of anomaly will read as follows:
(1) Definition of Anomaly
Anomaly will include the following cases;

a) Where the Official Side and the Staff Side are of the opinion that any recommendation is in contravention of the principle or the policy enunciated by the Sixth Central Pay Commission itself without the Commission assigning any reason;

b) Where the maximum of the Level in the Pay Matrix corresponding to the applicable Grade Pay in the Pay Band under the pre-revised structure as notified vide CCS(RP Rules 2016, is less than the amount an employee is entitled to be fixed at, as per the formula for fixation of pay contained in the said Rules;

c) Where the Official side and the Staff Side are of the opinion that the vertical and horizontal relativities have been disturbed as a result of the 7th Central Pay Commission to give rise to anomalous situation.

3. The rest of the content of the O.M. dated 16.08.2016 shall remain unchanged.

sd/-
(D.K.Sengupta)
Deputy Secretary (JCA)

Click to view the order
Authority: http://dopt.gov.in/

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7th Pay Commission : Committee on Allowances likely to submit report today - HRA Revision expected

7th Pay Commission : Committee on Allowances likely to submit report today - HRA Revision expected

After much debate and protest by government employees on some of recommendations made by the 7th Pay Commission on allowances, the government had formed a committee to review the same.

Government employees have been waiting to hear from the central government on allowances since the cabinet cleared the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission in June last year.

The Committee on Allowances, headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, is expected to present its review report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today.

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 Sixth Pay Commission.
According to some reports, the Committee on Allowances has recommended the current HRA slab, which is 30 per cent of basic pay, for metros. An announcement on the same is expected soon.

Allowances form a significant chunk of government employees’ salary, and therefore when the pay commission recommended slashing some while merging others, protests erupted.

The 7th Pay Commission recommended abolishing 53 of the current 196 allowances meant for employees while merging a few others.

The pay commission’s recommendation of a 14.27 per cent hike in basic pay is the lowest in 70 years. A further reduction in allowances meant earning the ire of nearly 50 lakh Central government employees.
Though the report may be submitted today, “A decision is likely to be announced after the State assembly elections get over,” said a senior official. The entire exercise of State polls will get completed by March 11.
Sources indicated that the committee has recommended higher house rent allowance could be increased to offset the higher cost of living.

However, the revised structure for allowances is likely to be implemented from April 1, to ensure that it does not have any impact on the government's finances this fiscal.

An official said the impact of the higher allowances has already been factored in the Union Budget 2017-18, which has increased the allocation for allowances (other than travel expenses) by seven per cent.

Source: India Today

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Minutes of the meeting of the Sub - Committee-III to suggest measures for streamlining implementation of the National Pension System (NPS) held on 10.02.2017

Minutes of the meeting of the Sub - Committee-III to suggest measures for streamlining implementation of the National Pension System (NPS) held on 10.02.2017

Airfindia has published the Minutes of the meeting of the Sub - Committee-III

No. 57/1/2016-P&PW(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. and Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan
New Delhi, dated the 16th February, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Minutes of the meeting of the Sub - Committee-III to suggest measures for streamlining implementation of the National Pension System (NPS) held on 10.02.2017 -reg.

The minutes of the meeting of the Sub- Committee-III to suggest measures for streamlining implementation of the National Pension System (NPS) held under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary (Pension) with Staff side of JCM on 10.02.2017 at Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi is hereby forwarded for information and further necessary action.

(S. Chakrabarti)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee-III to suggest measures for streamlining implementation of the National Pension System with employees

Associations held on 10.02.2017 at Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi

A meeting of the Sub-Committee-III to suggest measures for streamlining the implementation of the National Pension System (NPS) was held under the Chairmanship of Ms. Vandana Sharma, Additional Secretary (Pension) with Staff Side of JCM on 10.02.2017 at 3.00 p.m.,at Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi. The following were present:

Official Side

1. Shri Harjit Singh, Director, Deptt. Of Pension & Pensioners Welfare.

2. Shri Sanjiv Kumar, Deputy Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training,

3. Shri Vivek Ashish, Under Secretary, Department of Expenditure,JCM (Staff Side)

4. Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra, Secretary, Staff Side (JCM),

5. Shri M.S. Raja, Member, National Council (JCM), All India Audit & Accounts Association

6. Shri C. Srikumar, General Secretary/HIDEF, Member National Council, JCM

7. Shri Guinan Singh, President, NFIR

8. Shri M. Raghavaiah, Leader(JCM Staff Side) & General Secretary, NFIR

9. Shri K.K. N. Kutty, President, Confederation of CG employees & Workers.

2. Additional Secretary (Pension) welcomed all the participants and briefed the Staff Side of JCM about the various issues allocated to the Sub-Committee-III. She invited suggestions from the participants on these issues.

3. The Staff Side handed over a communication dated 10.2.2017 containing their views on the various issues allocated to the Sub Committees. The Staff Side agreed that there is an urgent need to frame rules on the service matters of the NPS employees. Additional Secretary (Pension) assured the staff side that their views would be duly considered while framing rules in this regard.

4. Staff Side of the JCM emphasized that the Government employees should be excluded from the purview of NPS. In case, it was not possible to exempt the Government employees from the NPS, a minimum pension @ 50% of the last pay drawn or average emoluments of the last 10 months, whichever is more beneficial to the employees (along with dearness relief) may be ensured to all NPS employees on their retirement.

5. The Staff side was informed that in the event of invalidation / disability or death of the NPS employee, Pension / Family Pension as per the rates applicable under CCS (Pension) Rules is available to the NPS employees / their families. As regards the minimum guaranteed pension on retirement of the NPS employees, the views of the Staff Side of JCM would be conveyed to the Committee set up for streamlining implementation of the National Pension System.

6. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the chair.

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Anomalies arising out of the implementation of the seventh Central Pay Commission's recommendations

Anomalies arising out of the implementation of the seventh Central Pay Commission's recommendations

Centre expands ambit of panel examining 7th Pay Commission-related anomalies

New Delhi: The Centre has expanded the ambit of a panel looking into anomalies arising out of the implementation of the seventh Central Pay Commission's recommendations.

The work of the anomaly committee, which has representatives from both official and staff sides, is to act on representations received from the employees against the pay panel's recommendations.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has modified the definition of anomaly to include "Where the official side and the staff side are of the opinion that the vertical and horizontal relativities have been disturbed as a result of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) to give rise to anomalous situation," as per the Office Memorandun No.11/2/2016-JCA dated 20th February, 2017.

The inclusion of term "disturbance of vertical and horizontal relativities" (referred to as gaps in pay among various group of employees/officer working at the same level) will help in expanding the approach of the anomaly committee, a senior DoPT official said.

Now the anomaly will include cases where the official side and the staff side are of the opinion that any recommendation is in contravention of the principle or the policy enunciated by the seventh CPC itself without the Commission assigning any reason.

"It will also include cases where the maximum of the level in the pay matrix corresponding to the applicable grade pay in the pay band under the pre-revised structure is less than the amount an employee is entitled to be fixed at," the order said.

The DoPT had in August last year asked all central government departments to set up committees to look into various pay-related anomalies arising out of the pay panel’s recommendations.

The Centre has accepted most of the recommendations of the seventh CPC being implemented from January 1, 2016.

PTI

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7th Pay Commission: Government all set to clear revised allowances for central staff from April 1

7th Pay Commission: Government all set to clear revised allowances for central staff from April 1
The 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommended HRA of 24% of the basic pay for those cities with population over 5 million.

New Delhi, Feb 18: The Union Government is all set to clear revised allowances for the central government staff, precisely after a year of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission. As per reports, one year after the implementation of the new pay and pension scheme, as recommended by the 7th central pay commission, the central government employees might have something to rejoice about after the assembly elections in 5 states are over. Reportedly, the revised allowances are likely to be effective from April 1. (ALSO READ: Committee on Allowances likely to raise HRA to 30 per cent)

House rent allowances (HRA) accounts for about 60% of the total allowances bill, as The Financial Express stated and according to the revised allowance scheme, the employees, mostly in the metropolitan cities are expected to receive greater HRA than the 7th Pay Commission actually recommended. The 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommended HRA of 24% of the basic pay for those cities with a population over 5 million. But the revised HRA which is being looked at by the Finance Secretary-led panel is 30%. Notably, in the 6th Pay Commission, the HRA was at 30% as well for the cities with more than 5 million people. A draft of the cabinet note for implementation of the revised allowance is expected to be circulated soon.
As per reports, the financial implication of these revised allowances will be in line with the Central Pay Commission’s estimate of around Rs. 29,300 crores, which shall also include the railways, in the first year. The panel led by the Finance secretary is also reviewing the CPC’s recommendation regarding allowances. The pay panel has also recommended scrapping of 52 benefits while merging 36 already existing benefits.
Notably, there has been only an additional allocation of Rs. 4,500 crore in the Budget for allowances and it has been assumed that the Railways will bear Rs 7,600 crore of expenditure. But as per sources stated by FE, still, the additional allocation which will be required from the General Budget could be somewhere around Rs. 17,000 crores.

The Government has, reportedly, enough leg space, thanks to the demonetisation move and the extra taxes the people had to pay under the income disclosure schemes. But according to experts, the Budget assumptions were based on optimistic estimates of nominal GDP growth for financial year 17 (FY17) and thus for FY18.

Many have been complaining about the delay in the decision of allowances to the government employees, with some claiming the formation of the panel led by the Finance Secretary as a delaying tactic itself. But this has helped to boost the spending of the government in various programmes by around Rs. 36,000 crores in FY17.

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Draft Recruitment Rules for the Post of Multi Tasking Staff in Staff Selection Commission

Draft Recruitment Rules for the Post of Multi Tasking Staff in Staff Selection Commission.

Draft Recruitment Rules for the post of Multi Tasking Staff in Staff Selection Commission are attached herewith for perusal of all concerned.  Comments of stakeholders, if any, may please be sent to this Department on or before 15.03.2017 at the address Section Officer, Estt.(B.I), Department of Personnel & Training, Room No.215-C, North Block, New Delhi. A soft copy of the comments may also be sent to this Department at selvakumar.m13nic.in .
[ TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, PART II, SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION (i) ]
No.

Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
New Delhi, the

NOTIFICATION

G. S .R In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution and in accordance with DOPT O.M.No. AB.14017/6/2009- Estt.(RR) dated 30.4.2010 and in supersession of the Staff Selection Commission (Group 'D' posts) Recruitment Rules, 1978; Staff Selection Commission (Examination Work Attendant) Recruitment Rules, 1989 and Staff Selection Commission (Senior Gestetner Operator and Senior Peon) Recruitment Rules, 1996 notified on 31.05.1980, 09.10.1989 and 04.10.1996 respectively, the President hereby makes the following rules regulating the method of recruitment to the post of Multi Tasking Staff

(Group 'C') in the Staff Selection Commission, namely :-

1. Short title and commencement:-  These rules may be called the Staff Selection Commission Group 'C'
"Multi Tasking Staff' Recruitment Rules, 2017.
They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. Number of Posts, Classification and Scale of pay :- The number of posts, its classification and the Pay Level in Pay Matrix attached thereto shall be as specified in Column 2 to 4 of the Schedule annexed to these rules.

3. Method of recruitment, age limit and other Qualifications, etc.:- The method of recruitment to the said post, age limit, qualification and other matters relating to thereto shall be as specified in column 5 to 13 of the said Schedule;

4. Disqualification:- No person,
(a) Who has entered into or contracted a marriage with a person having a spouse living, or
(b) Who, having a spouse living, has entered into or contracted a marriage with any person,
shall be eligible for appointment to the said post. Provided that the Central Government may, if satisfied, that such marriage  is permissible under the personal law applicable to such person and the other party to the marriage and that there are other grounds for so doing, exempts any person from the operation of this rule.

5. Power to relax :- Where the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient to do so, it may, by order, and for reasons to be recorded in writing, relax any of the provisions of these rules with respect to any class or category of persons.

6. Saving:- Nothing in these rules shall affect reservations, relaxations of age limit and other concessions required to be provided for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Ex-Servicemen or any other special category of persons in accordance with the orders issued by
the Central Government from time to time in this regard.

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CGA Orders: One day Strike on 16th March 2017

CGA Orders: One day Strike on 16th March 2017

No.A-12017/1/2010/MF.CGA(A)/NGE/Assoc-Agi/1224
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Controller General of Accounts

Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan
E Block, GPO complex, INA
New Delhi-110023

Dated: 13th February, 2017

Subject: One Day Strike on 16th March, 2017.

Reference is invited to this office 0M of even no.502 dated 18th January, 2017. All India Civil Accounts Employees Association has intimated that the proposed One Day Strike on 15th February, 2017 has been to 16th March, 2017.

2. Attention is invited to the provisions of Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs) 0M No.25/23/66-Estt(A) dated 09.12.1966 (reproduced as G.l. decision No.2 below Rule 7 of CCS (Conduct) Rules, which inter-alia provides that under Rule 7 (ii) of rules ibid, a Government servant shall NOT resort to or in any way abet any form of strike in connection with any matter to his service or the service of any other Government employees. If any Government servant resorts to any action in violation of Rule 7 (ii) of CCS (Conduct) Rules, disciplinary action would have to be taken against him.

3. Attention is also invited to proviso to FR 17(I) according to which any employee(s) who is absent from duty without permission shall not be entitled to any pay and allowances during the period of absence. Further, unauthorized absence shall be deemed to cause an interruption or break in service Of the employee under FR 17(A).

4. In this regard, the following decisions of the Supreme Court may also be brought to the of the employees under your Ministry/Department. The Supreme Court has held in the Case Of T.K.Rangarajan Vs. Govt. of Tamil Nadu that no right exists with the Govt. employees to strike, whether fundamental, statutory or an equitable right. In All India Bank Employees Association Vs. National Industrial Tribunal & Ors„ (1962 (3) SCR 269) the Constitution Bench of the Suprerme Court specifically held that even very liberal interpretation of sub-clause (C) of Clause (1) of Article 19 of the Constitution cannot lead to the conclusion that the trade unions have a guaranteed right to strike, either as part of collective bargaing or otherwise. There is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike. The Supreme Court also agreed that going on strike is a grave misconduct under the Conduct Rules and that misconduct by Government Employees is required to be dealt with in accordance with law. Hence, once it is proved that an employee has committed the of going on a strike in any form, the Supreme Court has held in Bank of India vs. TS Kelawala [1990 (4) SLR 249] that he will have to face the consequences which may include deduction of wages and even dismissal from service.

5. In this context, it is clarified that strike means refusal of work or stoppage or slowing down of work by a group of employees acting in combination and includes:-

vii) mass abstention from work without permission which is wrongly described mass Casual Leave.
viii) refusal to work on overtime where such overtime work is necessary in public interest.
ix) resort to practice or conduct which is likely to result in or results in the cessation or substantial retardation of work in any organization. Such practice include what are ‘go-slow’, ‘sit-down’, “pen-down’, ‘stay-in’. ‘token’, ‘sympathetic’ or any other similar strike as also absence from work for participation in a ‘Bandh’ or similar movements.

6. Accordingly, Casual Leave or any other kind of leave, if applied for, should not be sanctioned to the officers and employees during the period of proposed One Day Strike on 16th March, 2017 and it should be ensured that the striking activities are not allowed inside and around the office premises. It may also be ensured that the employees, who intend to attend their office work despite the call for the strike, are not prevented from attending the office by the striking employees. Suitable contingency plan may be worked out for carrying out the various functions in field offices and Principal Accounts Offices.

7. The above instructions may be brought to the notice of staff working under your control. All the Pr. CCAs/CCAs/CAs are requested to deal with the cases in respect of employees, Who resort to action as above, in the light of above referred instructions.

8. This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

sd/-
(Sandeep Malhotra)
Sr. Accounts Officer

Click to view the order
Authority: www.cga.nic.in

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Grant of Advances- 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations-Amendment to rules on Computer Advance to Railway servants

Grant of Advances- 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations-Amendment to rules on Computer Advance to Railway servants

Government of India (Bharat Sarkar)
Ministry of Railways (Rail Mantralaya)
(Railway Board)

No.I/11-Part I
PC-VII No : 15/2017

RBE No. 10/2017
No. F(E) Spl./2016/ADV.4/1(7th CPC)

The General Managers and FA&CAOs
All Indian Railways & Production Units
(As per standard list)

Subject: Grant of Advances- Seventh Central Pay Commission recommendations-Amendment to rules on Computer Advance to Railway servants.

Consequent upon the decision taken by the Government on the recommendations of Seventh Central Pay Commission, the Ministry of Finance vide their OM No. 12(1)/E.II(A)/2016 dated 07.10.2016 have amended the eligibility criteria in the existing provisions relating to the grant of Personal Computer Advance.

2. Amendment conditions of grant of Computer Advance are as follows:

Advance	Quantum	Eligibility Criteria
Personal Computer Advance	ƻ50,000/- or actual price of PC, whichever is lower.	All Government Servants
The Computer Advance will be allowed maximum five times in the entire service.
The other terms and conditions governing the grant of Personal computer advance shall remain unchanged.

3. Further, Ministry of Finance in their ibid OM have also decided that the other interest bearing advances relating to Motor Car Advance and Motorcycle/Scooter/Moped Advance will stand discontinued.
4. The above mentioned OM of Ministry of Finance relating to grant of interest bearing advances will apply mutatis-mutandis to Railway employees also.

4.1 So far as the interest free advances are concerned, Bicycle and Warm clothing advances stands abolished for Railway employees also in terms of MoF’s decision.

4.2 Orders relating to other interest free advances will be issued separately by concerned Directorates.
5. Necessary Advance Correction Slip to the chapter XI of the Indian Railway Establishment Manual, Vol.I Revised Edition, 1989 will follow.

6. The revised orders are effective from 07.10.2016 i.e. the date of the issue of the aforesaid OM of the Ministry of Finance. Past cases where the advances have already been sanctioned under the provisions of earlier rules on the subject need not be reopened.

7. Please acknowledge receipt.

8. Hindi version will follow.

(A.C. Jain)
Dy. Director Finance (Estt.)
Railway Board

AIRF

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