Government approves ex-gratia compensation for more than one lakh FCI employees in case of death due to COVID-19

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Government approves ex-gratia compensation for more than one lakh FCI employees in case of death due to COVID-19

10 APR 2020

The Government has approved the proposal for grant of ex-gratia monetary compensation to 1,08,714 workers and officers of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) including 80,000 labour who are working 24x7 to supply food grains across the country amidst the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic.
Presently, families of FCI employees are entitled to compensation in the event of death due to terrorist attack, bomb blast, mob attack or natural disaster, but the Regular and Contractual Labour of FCI are not covered under its provisions. Keeping this in view, the Government has decided to provide ex-gratia monetary compensation to all employees and labour of FCI who are working tirelessly despite the threat of infection due to Coronavirus COVID-19.

Under its provisions, during the six month period from March 24, 2020 to 23 September, 2020 if anybody dies due to COVID-19 infection while on duty with FCI, the Regular FCI Labour will get an ex-gratia of Rupees 15 lakh, Contractual Labour will be entitled to Rs.10 lakh, Category 1 Officers Rs.35 lakh, Category 2 - Rs.30 lakh and Category 3 & 4 workers Rs.25 lakh.

Announcing this, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan said the Government is committed to provide all possible security to our Corona-warriors engaged in providing essentials and services to the common man during these times of crisis.

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CBSE Class VI to XI training courses for the period 2020 to 2021

CBSE Class VI to XI training courses for the period 2020 to 2021

CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION
(An Autonomous Organisation under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India)

CBSE/Dir/Sk. Ed.//2020

Date: 07.04.2020
Circular No.: Acad-25/2020

To
The Heads of all Institutions
Affiliated to CBSE

Subject: Introduction of Skill courses from classes VI to XI from the session 2020-21
Greeting from CBSE!

1. As you are aware the draft New Education Policy 2019 has clearly stated that there should be “no hard separation” between curricular, co- curricular and extra-curricular or academic and vocational / physical education / art, The updating of the NCF in the near future will make it possible for the Board to remove such separations. However, for the present, it is felt that mainstreaming all forms of learning and skills will integrates not just the hands-on skilling component but also the theoretical knowledge, attitudes and mindsets, and soft skills that are required for particular occupations, through a broad-based education that is necessary for students to be able to take on and thrive in a fast-changing world. This will contribute to the economic goals of individuals and the nation in multiple ways, developing the capacities and dispositions of individuals for economic independence, including employment and entrepreneurship.
2. To make the new generation more creative, innovative and physically fit, and to keep pace with the global developments and requirements at workplace, CBSE is introducing three new subjects namely ‘Design-thinking’, ‘Physical Activity Trainer’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence’ at Class XI from the Session 2020-2021. While Thinking is a skill that all humans possess, the 21stcentury requirement is of Critical Thinking and Problem Design Thinking is a systematic process of thinking that opens up the horizons of creativity and enables even the most conditioned thinkers to bring about new and innovative solutions to the problems at hand. Artificial Intelligence is also a simulation by machines of the unlimited thinking capacity of humans. Physical Activity is a must if the body and mind are to be kept healthy. With this view in mind, the course on Physical Activity Trainer has been prepared. It will not only help in developing the skill of a trainer, but will also become a life skill as it will imbibe the idea of keeping fit for life.
3. Beside these new programmes, Board is already offering 17 Skill subjects at Secondary level and 37 Skill Subjects at Senior Secondary level to upgrade the skills and proficiency of the young generation and also to provide them awareness to explore various career The list of Skill subjects may be seen at Annexure-II & III. More than 8 lakhs students are presently studying skill subjects at secondary and senior secondary level in 8543 CBSE schools.
4. At Secondary Level, a Skill subject may be offered as additional sixth subject along with the existing five compulsory subjects. As per existing CBSE policy, if any student fails in any one of the three elective subjects (i.e. Science, Mathematics and Social Science), then it will be replaced by the Skill subject (offered as a 6th subject) and result of Class X will be computed based on best five subjects. However, if a candidate desires to reappear in the failed subject, he/she may appear along with the compartment examination.
5. Similarly, at Senior Secondary level, Board would appreciate, if your esteemed school offers at least one or more Skill Based subject out of the 40 subjects on offer as elective This can position the students to explore new avenues and acquire pre-professional skill to face the challenges of life in future.
6. Therefore, schools are requested to consider choosing any one or more Skill courses for the students of Classes IX & XI from the enclosed list (refer Annexure II & III) and start offering the same from the academic session 2020-21 The scheme of studies for secondary and senior secondary level is enclosed at Annexure-IV & V, respectively.
7. To keep pace with the objective of “no hard separation” mentioned in para 1 above, CBSE has decided to offer students the flexibility of making a vocational choice of a short duration module, of 12 hours for each module, at a stage in their early academic career (either at Class VI, VII or VIII). In this way they will be able to spend relevant time period pursuing this choice as per convenience of school, while benefitting from access to courses that are broader based (detailed at Annexure–I). This would give them the necessary orientation early on, so that they are able to make a choice at a later stage to pursue Skill courses at Secondary and Senior secondary level, or choose a higher vocational In essence this flexibility will keep multiple career possibilities open for each student, instead of the current situation of rigidity once the first choice is made.
8. At Middle level (Classes VI to VIII), one Skill Module of 12 hours duration could be offered as an option to the students for single academic session as per convenience of Schools/students are free to opt Skill Module either at class VI or class VII or class VIII. Therefore, schools are requested to consider choosing any one or more Skill courses for the students of Classes VI to VIII from the enclosed list (refer Annexure I) and start offering the same from the academic session 2020-21 onwards. The Board will provide necessary support and guidance towards training and capacity building of teachers and other aspects for the successful implementation of all Skill subjects from time to time.
9. This year the applications for willingness are being taken online as follows:
   1. For starting Skill courses at Middle level e. in classes VI to VIII, the schools may apply using the link: Application Form to introduce Skill Courses in Middle School (Class 6-8)
   2. For starting Skill courses at Secondary level e. in classes IX & X, the schools may apply using the link: APPLICATION FORM TO OFFER SKILL COURSES AT SECONDARY LEVEL FROM SESSION 2020-2021 ONWARDS
   3. For starting Skill courses at Senior Secondary level e. in class XI, the schools may apply using the Application Form at Annexure-VI
10. The applications of willingness for the session 2020-21 along with the relevant annexures, using the link, along with demand draft of requisite fee (only for Senior secondary level) in favour of ‘Secretary, CBSE’ payable at Delhi should be sent to the office of undersigned by 31st May
11. Similarly, if school desires to offer the Skill course from the session 2021-22 at Senior Secondary level, the schools must apply online through affiliation portal (cbseaff.nic.in) as per the schedule
12. For any further query, the school may contact Joint Secretary, Department of Skill Education, CBSE, ‘Shiksha Sadan’, 17 Rouse Avenue, New Delhi-110002 through email at cbse@gmail.com, or jsse.cbse@gmail.com.

(Dr. Biswajit Saha)
Director (Training and Skill Education)

Encl: (i)

• Annexure-I: List of Skill Courses at Middle Level – Classes VI/VII/VIII
• Annexure-II: List of Skill Courses at Secondary level – Classes IX – X
• Annexure-III: List of Skill Courses at Secondary level – Classes XI – XII
• Annexure-IV: Scheme of Studies at Secondary level – Classes IX – X
• Annexure-V: Scheme of Studies at Secondary level – Classes XI – XII
• Annexure-V: Application Form to offer Skill Courses in Class XI

LIST OF SKILL COURSES OFFERED AT MIDDLE LEVEL (FOR CLASSES VI / VII / VIII)

MARKS DISTRIBUTION

S No	COURSE NAME	Duration	Theory	Practical
1	Artificial Intelligence	12 hours	15	35
2	Beauty & Wellness	12 hours	15	35
3	Design Thinking	12 hours	15	35
4	Financial Literacy	12 hours	15	35
5	Handicrafts	12 hours	15	35
6	Information Technology	12 hours	15	35
7	Marketing/ Commercial Application	12 hours	15	35
8	Mass Media	12 hours	15	35
9	Travel & Tourism	12 hours	15	35

Please note that NO FEE is to be paid by the school to the Board for starting Skill courses at Middle level i.e. in classes VI/ VII/ VIII.

Annexure-II

LIST OF SKILL COURSES OFFERED AT SECONDARY LEVEL (FOR IX & X)

MARKS DISTRIBUTION

1	401	Retail	Store Operations Assistant	50	50
2	402	Information Technology	Domestic IT Executive/ Operator	50	50
3	403	Security	Unarmed Security Guard	50	50
4	404	Automotive	Automotive Service Technician	50	50
5	405	Introduction To Financial Markets	Business Correspondent	50	50
6	406	Introduction To Tourism	Assistant Tour Guide	50	50
7	407	Beauty & Wellness	Assistant Beauty Therapist	50	50
8	408	Agriculture	Solanaceous Crop Cultivator	50	50
9	409	Food Production	Assistant Chef (reg.)	50	50
10	410	Front Office Operations	Front Office Executive	50	50
11	411	Banking & Insurance	Field Executive	50	50
12	412	Marketing & Sales	Marketing Assistant	50	50
13	413	Health Care	General Duty Assistant	50	50
14	414	Apparel	Hand Embroider	50	50
15	415	Multi Media	Texture Artist	50	50
16	416	Multi Skill Foundation course	Multi Skill Assistant	50	50
17	417	Artificial Intelligence		50	50
18	418	Physical Activity Trainer (New)		50	50

Please note that NO FEE is to be paid by the school to the Board for starting Skill courses at Secondary level i.e. in classes IX & X.

Annexure-III

LIST OF SKILL ELECTIVES OFFERED AT SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL (FOR XI & XII)

1.	801	Retail	Sales Associate	60	40
2.	802	Information Technology	IT Helpdesk Assistant	60	40
3.	803	Web Application	Web Developer	60	40
4.	804	Automotive	Automotive Service Technician	60	40
5.	805	Financial Markets Management	Equity Dealer/Mutual Fund Agent	60	40
6.	806	Tourism	Tour Guide	60	40
7.	807	Beauty & Wellness	Beauty Therapist	60	40
8.	808	Agriculture	Agriculture Extension Worker	70	30
9.	809	Food Production	Trainee Commie	60	40
10.	810	Front Office Operations	Counter Sales Executive	60	40
11.	811	Banking	Sales Executive (Banking product)	60	40
12.	812	Marketing	Marketing Executive	60	40
13.	813	Health Care	General Duty Assistant	60	40
14.	814	Insurance	Sales Executive (Insurance)	60	40
15.	816	Horticulture	Floricultur / Entrepreneur	60	40
16.	817	Typography & Computer Application	Executive Assistant	60	40
17.	818	Geospatial Technology	GIS Operator	60	40
18.	819	Electrical Technology	Field Technician-other home	60	40
19.	820	Electronic Technology	Installation Technician	60	40
20.	821	Multi-Media	Animator	50	50
21.	822	Taxation	Assistant Tax Consultant / GST Accounts Assistant	60	40
22.	823	Cost Accounting	Jr. Accountant	60	40
23.	824	Office Procedures & Practices	Executive Assistant	60	40
24.	825	Shorthand (English)	Stenographer	60	40
25.	826	Shorthand (Hindi)	Stenographer	60	40
26.	827	Air-conditioning & Refrigeration	Service Technician	60	40
27.	829	Textile Design	Design Assistant (Apparel / Textile)	60	40
28.	830	Design	Assistant Designer	50	50
29.	831	Salesmanship	Sales Executive	60	40
30.	833	Business Administration	Business Executive	70	30
31.	834	Food Nutrition & Dietetics	Assistant Dietician	70	30
32.	835	Mass Media Studies	Media Assistant	70	30
33.	836	Library & Information Science	Library Assistant	70	30
34.	837	Fashion Studies	Assistant Fashion Designer	70	30
35.	841	Yoga	Yoga Instructor	50	50
36.	842	Early Childhood Care & Education	Early Childhood Educator	50	50
37.	843	Artificial Intelligence (New)		50	50

NOTE:

• Applied Mathematics (840) cannot be offered as skill Elective at Class XI from the session 2020-21 as this subject will be offered as an Academic subject with modified syllabus with different subject code from the session 2020-21.
• Also, Skill Electives X-Ray Technician (Code no. 815), Music Production (Code no. 832), Applied Physics (Code no. 838) and Applied Chemistry (Code no. 839) have been discontinued w.e.f. session 2020-2021.
• However, candidates who had opted for these Skill Electives in session 2019-2020 in class XI or candidates due to appear for Compartment Examination in 2021 in these Electives shall appear in the Board Examinations-2021 accordingly.

FEE: Details of the fee for approval/ affiliation fees for offering skill courses at senior secondary level i.e. in classes XI & XII are as follows:

DESCRIPTION	FOR SESSION 2020 – 2021
Govt./ Aided schools / KVs / JNVs located in India	Rs. 2,000/- per subject
Govt./ Aided schools / KVs located overseas	Rs. 5,000/- per subject
Independent schools located in India	Rs. 5,000/- per subject
Independent schools located overseas	Rs. 20,000/- per subject

 Annexure-IV

SCHEME OF STUDIES

1. SCHEME OF STUDIES AT SECONDARY LEVEL (CLASS IX/X):

	NAME OF THE SUBJECT	MARKS
SUBJECT 1	Language 1	100
SUBJECT 2	Language 2	100
SUBJECT 3	Science	100
SUBJECT 4	Mathematics	100
SUBJECT 5	Social Science	100
SUBJECT 6 (ADDITIONAL)	Skill Subject *	100

NOTE:

• *If any student fails in any one of the three elective subjects (i.e. Science, Mathematics and Social Science), then it will be replaced by the Skill subject (offered as a 6th additional subject) and result of Class X Board Examination will be computed
• Under Co- Scholastic activities student opting Skill subject shall be exempted from work education or pre-Skill
• Further, if desired, Student may also opt language-3 as 7thoptional subject along with Skill subject as 6th additional
• Children With Special Needs (CWSN) may opt one language and any four subjects including skill subject .

 Annexure-V

SCHEME OF STUDIES

2. SCHEME OF STUDIES AT SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL (CLASS XI/XII):

SUBJECT	DESCRIPTION	MARKS
SUBJECT I	Language I: English or Hindi	100
SUBJECT II	Language II: Language other than Language I ORAn Academic Elective in lieu of Language II	100
SUBJECT III, IV & V	Two Academic Electives and one Skill Electives OROne Academic Elective and Two Skill Electives ORThree Skill Electives	100
SUBJECT VI Additional Subject (optional)	One language at elective level OROne subject from Academic Electives ORAny One subject from Skill Electives	100
SUBJECT VII & VIII(Subjects of Internal Assessment)	501 – General Foundation Course 502 – Physical and Health Education

NOTE:

• Out of the languages, one shall be English or Hindi, both English and Hindi can also be offered
• The same language can be offered only at one level e. Core/ Elective.
• The List of Skill Electives available is Subjects as prescribed under Skill Courses are to be opted. However, Scheme of Studies may be referred.
• Informatics Practice (065) cannot be taken with Information Technology (802), Typography & Computer Application (817) and Web Application (803).
• Business Studies (054) and Business Administrations (833) cannot be taken together.

Source: cbseacademic.nic.in

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EPFO settles 1.37 Lakh EPF withdrawal claims to fight Covid-19 in less than 10 days

Ministry of Labour & Employment
EPFO settles 1.37 Lakh EPF withdrawal claims to fight Covid-19 in less than 10 days

10 APR 2020

Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), an statutory body under Union Ministry of Labour & Employment has processed about 1.37 lakh claims across the country disbursing an amount of Rs. 279.65 crore under a new provision especially formulated by amending the EPF Scheme to help subscribers fight Covid-19. The remittances of the moneys has already started taking place. The system as it stands today is processing all applications which are fully KYC compliant within less than 72 hours. Members, who have applied for claims in some other category, can also file claim to fight pandemic and depending upon the KYC compliance condition of each member, every effort is being made to settle claims at the earliest.

The provision for a special withdrawal from the EPF Scheme to fight Covid-19 pandemic is part of the PMGKY scheme announced by the government and an urgent notification on the matter was made to introduce a para 68 L (3) of the EPF Scheme on 28th March 2020. Under this provision non- refundable withdrawal to the extent of the basic wages and dearness allowances for three months or up to 75% of the amount standing to member's credit in the EPF account, whichever is less, is provided. The member can apply for lesser amount also. This, being an advance, does not attract income tax deductions.

EPFO issues Directions for timely credit of monthly Pension to EPS Pensioners

Anticipating the huge surge in the demand, EPFO came out with acompletely new software which has been developed from scratch and a receipt module for on-line receipt of the claims was introduced within 24 hours and deployed on 29th March 2020. Further, the application was required to be in paperless form to curtail any physical movement in view of social distancing. It was decided to introduce a system of settling claims in auto mode directly by the system in respect of all such members whose KYC requirements was complete in all respects.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a serious threat and considering dire need of money in these trying times, it has been decided to process advance to fight COVID-19 pandemic on top priority.
Claims for availing advance to fight pandemic are filed online, necessitating every EPF account to be KYC complaint as pre-cursor. EPFO has relaxed date of birth correction criteria to ease KYC compliance enabling submission of claim to fight pandemic online. EPFO would accept the date of birth recorded in the Aadhaar card of a subscriber as a valid proof for rectification of the date of birth in PF records. All cases with variation in date of birth up to three years are now being accepted by EPFO.

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