Government proposes to increase the minimum pension for EPF pensioners?

Government proposes to increase the minimum pension for EPF pensioners?

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO: 23
ANSWERED ON: 24.06.2019

EPF Pension

N.K. Premachandran
Will the Minister of

LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-
(a)whether the Government has received report from the Committee appointed for study of the issues of EPF pensioners and if so, the details thereof;
(b)the details of the recommendations of the said Committee;
(c)whether the Government has initiated action for implementation of the recommendations of the said Committee and if so, the details thereof;
(d)whether the Government proposes to increase the minimum pension for EPF pensioners and if so, the details thereof; and
(e)whether the Government also proposes to stop the realisation of amount from the pension on account of commutation of pension after realising the commuted amount and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

---

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 23 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.06.2019 BY
SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN REGARDING EPF PENSION.

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The Committee appointed for Evaluation and Review of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, headed by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment has submitted the report on 21st December, 2018. The report inter-alia has given observations/ recommendations on the following issues:

• Increase of Minimum Monthly Member Pension
• Period over which the Average Pensionable Salary is calculated
• Restoration of commuted value of pension
• Re-introduction of the provision for commutation of pension
• Restoration of the provision of Return of Capital
• Linking the monthly pension with cost of living index
• Issues of payment of pension on higher/actual wages to employees of exempted establishments.

As far as pension on higher wages is concerned, the issue is sub-judice.

(c): The consultation process on the recommendations/observations on the Committee’s report has been initiated with Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Central Board of Trustees (CBT). CBT is a tripartite body representing trade unions, employers besides representatives of Central and State Governments.

(d): The decision on increase of minimum pension for EPF is dependent on the outcome of the consultation process and has impact on Budgetary resources of the Government as the Committee has recommended that increase in pension has to come from the Budgetary resources.

(e): No decision has been taken to restore the commuted value of pension, as it has implications on sustainability of the funds under Employees’ Pension Scheme, maintained by EPFO.

Source: LOK SABHA

Read More

Periodic Review of Central Government Employees under FR 56(j)/(l) and Rule 48 of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972

DoPT Orders 2019

Periodic Review of Central Government Employees under FR 56(j)/(l) and Rule 48 of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972

No.25013/3/2019-Estt.A-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-IV Desk

North Block, New Delhi
New Delhi, 20th June, 2019

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject :- Strengthening of administration - Periodic review of Central Government Employees under Fundamental Rule (FR) 56(j) / (l) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M No.25013 /1/2013- Estt.A dated 21.3.2014, OM No.25013/1/2013- Estt.A-IV dated 11.9.2015, 11.03.2016 and 10.8.2017 for periodic review of Central Government Employees for strengthening of administration under Fundamental Rule (FR) 56(j)/(I) and Rule 48 of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972.

The detailed guidelines on the above subject are already in public domain at http://dopt.gov.in under Notifications --> OM & Orders --> Establishment ---> Premature Retirement.

All Ministries/ Departments are requested to undertake the periodic reviews in letter and spirit, including in public sector undertakings (PSUs) / Banks and Autonomous institutions, under their administrative control. Department of Public Enterprises will also compile and countercheck with all concerned Ministries/ Departments.

The Ministries/ Departments should ensure that the prescribed procedure like forming of opinion to retire a Government employee prematurely in public interest is strictly adhered to, and that the decision is not an arbitrary one, and is not based on collateral grounds as per the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in case of UOI & Col. J.N.Sinha [1571 SCR (1) 791].

All the Ministries/ Departments shall furnish a report to DoP&T in the format given below by 15th day of each month starting from 15th July, 2019. Department of Public Enterprises are requested to also compile and counter check the data with all concerned administrative Ministries/ Departments in respect of PSUs before furnishing the report to DoP&T.

Number of employees to be reviewed under FR 56 (j) group-wise (A/B/C) - 1
Number of employees reviewed under FR 56 (j) group-wise (A/B/C) - 2
Number of employees reviewed and against whom FR 56 (j) invoked/ recommended group-wise (A/B/C) - 3 Number of employees retired prematurely under FR 56 (j) group-wise (A/B/C) - 4

(Surya Narayan Jha)
Under secretary to the Government of India

To
The Secretaries of All Ministries/ Departments
(as per the standard list)

Source: DoPT

Read More

Leave encashment to officers appointed on contract in various posts under Central Government - DoPT Orders 2019

DoPT Orders 2019

Leave encashment to officers appointed on contract in various posts under Central Government

No. 14028/1/ 2019-Estt. (L)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training

Date: 20th June, 2019

Office Memorandum

Subject: Leave encashment to officers appointed on contract in various posts under Government - regarding

The undersigned is directed to say that the leave terms of the officers appointed on contract in various posts under the Government are governed by DoPT' s OM No.12016/ 3/84-Estt.(L) dated 12.04.1985 which was subsequently amended vide OMs No. 12016/1/ 90-Estt. (L) dated 05.07.1990, No.12016/ 2/ 99-Estt(L) dated 12.07.1999 and No.12016/ 5/ 2009-Estt.(L) dated 31.01.2011.

Para 2 of the OM dated 12.04.1985 prescribed the limit of encashment of earned leave upto a maximum period of 180 days during the contract period of such officers which was amended vide OMs dated 05.07.1990 and 12.07.1999 thereby increasing the maximum permissible encashment limit of earned leave upto 240 days and 300 days respectively. Para 3 of the above OM dated 12.04.1985 prescribed that the total earned leave for which encashment may be allowed together with the earned leave or full pay lave or which encashment had been allowed in previous appointments, if any, under the Government is not more than 180 days which was subsequently increased to 240 days and 300 days vide OMs dated 05.07.1990 and 12.07.1999 respectively.

It has been observed that many times the Government appoints officers on contract for a specified period in public interest keeping in view their professional or scientific/ technical expertise and this restriction of 300 days may act as a disincentive especially for those who have highly specialized professional or scientific/ technical skills to join the government in various posts on contract basis for a specified period.

Now, it has been decided in consultation with Department of Expenditure that the officers who are appointed on contract in various posts under the Central Government will be allowed encashment of earned leave at their credit on the date of termination of contract, subject to the condition that for each completed year of service put in by him in the post in such contract appointment, not more than 10 days benefit of earned leave encashment shall be permissible. While calculating the encashment of leave in such a contract appointment, the number of days of leave for which encashment had been allowed in previous appointment, if any, under the Government shall not be taken into account. The relevant provisions relating to earned leave encashment as contained in para 2 and 3 of DoPT's OM No.12016/ 3/84-Estt.(L) dated 12.04.1985 as amended vide OMs dated 05.07.1990, 12.07.1999 and 31.01.2011 stand further amended accordingly.

The above amendments will be effective with effect from the date of issue of this OM.

(Sandeep Saxena)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: DoPT

Read More

DoPT Orders 2019 - CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES CULTURAL AND SPORTS BOARD - Inter-Ministry Tournaments 2019-20

DoPT Orders 2019

Tentative Calendar for Inter-Ministry Tournaments for the year 2019-20 - CCSCSB

CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES CULTURAL AND SPORTS BOARD

S.No.	Disciplines	Tentative	Date Venue
1	Athletics	27-30, November, 2019	Vinay Marg Sports Complex, New Delhi
2	Badminton	6-17 January, 2020	AIIMS/Tyagraj Stadium, New Delhi
3	Basketball	12-13 December, 2019	Vinay Marg Sports Complex, New Delhi
4	Carrom	16-24 September, 2019	Raja bazaar Community Centre, New Delhi
5	Chess	14-23 October, 2019	Raja bazaar Community Centre, New Delhi
6	Cricket	2nd Week of October, 2019	Vinay Marg Sports Complex, New Delhi
7	Football	1st October, 2019 onward	Vinay Marg Sports Complex, New Delhi
8	Hockey	3rd Week of November, 2019	Vinay Marg Sports Complex, New Delhi
9	Kabaddi	26-27 September, 2019	Vinay Marg Sports Complex, New Delhi
10	Lawn Tennis	3rd Week of December, 2019	R.K. Puram , Sec-13, New Delhi
11	Power lifting & Weight Lifting	3-5 December, 2019	Raja bazaar Community Centre, New Delhi
12	Swimming	29-30 July, 2019	Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi
13	Shooting ball	27-29 November, 2019	Vinay Marg Sports Complex, New Delhi
14	Table Tennis	16-27 September, 2019	Nirman Bhawan T.T. Hall, New Delhi
15	Volley ball	13-15 November, 2019	Vinay Marg Sports Complex, New Delhi
16	Best physique	6th December, 2019	Raja bazaar Community Centre, New Delhi
17	Wrestling	28-29, November, 2019	Guru Munniram Akhara/ Rajiv Gandhi Stadium , New Delhi
18	Music & Dance & Short Play	2ndWeek of November, 2019	CSOI, New Delhi

Source: DoPT

Read More

Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 - Relaxation to travel by air to visit North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar

DoPT Orders 2019

Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 -Relaxation to travel by air to visit North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar - clarification reg

No. 31011/3/2018-Estt. (A-IV)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, public Grievances and Pensions
Department of personnel and Training
Establishment A-IV Desk

North Block, New Delhi-110001
Dated: June 20,2019

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 -Relaxation to travel by air to visit North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar - clarification reg

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. of even no. dated 20.09.2018 regarding the relaxation to travel by air on LTC to visit North-East Region (NER), Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) and to say that as per para 2(v) of the aforesaid O.M., Government employees non-entitled to travel by air are allowed air travel in Economy class subject to maximum fare limit of LTC-80 fare in the following sectors:

a) Between Kolkata/ Guwahati and any place in NER.
b) Between Kolkata/ Chennai/ Visakhapatnam and Port Brair.
c) Between Delhi/ Amritsar and any place in J&K.

Journey for these non-entitled.employees from their Headquarters up to Kolkata/ Guwahati/ Chennai/ Visakhapatnam/ Delhi/ Amritsar is to be undertaken as per their entitlement.

2. In this regard, several references / RTI applications are received in this Department seeking clarification regarding settlement of LTC claims where a non-entitled Government employee directly travels by air from his Headquarters to the destination in North-East Region (NER), Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) as opposed to their entitlement.

3. The matter has been examined in this- Department in consultation with Department of Expenditure. It has been decided that cases of direct air travel by a non-entitled Government on LTC from his Headquarters !o special dispensation the place oi visit in NER/ J&K / A&N under the special dispensation scheme of travel by air as under:

"Entitled class rail fare from the.Headquarters/ place of posting to the nearest relevant railhead (ie. Kolkata/ Guwahati/ Delhi/ Amritsar/ Chennai/ Visakhapatnam) based on the place of visit (in NER / J&K/ A&N) + LTC-80 Economy class air fare from the same railhead to the place of visit in NER / J&K / A&N ); or the actual air fare from the Headquarters to the place of visit, whichever is less."

4. In their application to the staff serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, this order issues after consultation with Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

(Surya Narayan Jha)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

To
The Secretaries
All Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India.
(As per the standard list)

Source: DoPT

Read More

Restoration of ‘Rations in Kind’ for Officers of The Defence Services Posted in Peace

Restoration of ‘Rations in Kind’ - PIB

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

18-June-2019

Restoration of ‘Rations in Kind’ for Officers of The Defence Services Posted in Peace

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, today announced the restoration of the ‘ration in kind’ for the officers of the three Armed Forces posted in peace areas.

Now all officers of the Armed Forces including those in peace stations will be getting ration. A lot of effort from all levels in the Defence Ministry and the Armed Forces has resulted in this restoration.

PIB

Read More

DoPT - Instructions for the cases where the reporting / reviewing / accepting authority demits office or retires before the due dates prescribed for the PAR year 2018-19 for all AIS officers, vide DOPT's letter dated 26.4.2019

Instructions for the cases where the reporting / reviewing / accepting authority demits office or retires before the due dates prescribed for the PAR year 2018-19 for all AIS officers, vide DOPT's letter dated 26.4.2019

DoPT Orders 2019

By Speed Post/ Spl Messenger

F. No. 11059/01/2019-AIS-III
Ministry of Personnel, PG and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi-11 0001
Dated the 20th June, 2019

To,
The Chief Secretaries of States / UTs

Subject: Instructions for the cases where the reporting / reviewing / accepting authority demits office or retires before the due dates prescribed for the PAR year 2018-19 for all AIS officers, vide DOPT's letter dated 26.4.2019- reg.

I am directed to refer to the subject noted above and to state that vide letter dated 26.04.19 (copy enclosed), this Department, had extended the cut off dates prescribed for online generation, filling of self-appraisal, reporting, reviewing and acceptance of PAR for the year 2018-19 through SPARROW portal for all levels of AIS officers , in relaxation of Rule 4A(1) of AIS (PAR) Rules.

Vide para 3 of the letter dated 26.04.2019 , it was stated that instructions for cases, where the reporting / reviewing / accepting authority demits office or retires before the due date. as amended , shall be issued separately

In view of the timelines for writing PARs having been extended in relaxation of Rule 4A(1) of AIS (PAR) Rules, the corresponding restrictions under Rule 7A of the said Rules, on the duration within which a reporting / reviewing/ accepting authority who has demitted office or retired from service may record their remarks, have also accordingly been considered to be modified appropriately for the PAR year 2018-19 .

Therefore, it has been decided that in relaxation of Rule 7A of the said rules, the timelines specified in the modified schedule for the PAR year 2018-19 , circulated vide letter dated 26.04.2019, shall apply to the reporting / reviewing / accepting authorities who demit office or retire from service prior to the respective cut off dates and they shall be allowed to record their remarks till the respective cut off dates.

However, for the authorities demitting office or retiring in September, 2019 or thereafter, the Rule 7A read with 2nd proviso to Rule 5(1) of AIS (PAR) Rules shall continue to be applicable.

Encl: as stated.

(Vasanthi V Babu)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Annexure

[Reference F.No. 11059/ 01/ 2019-AIS-III dated 25th April 2019]

Revised timelines for recording PAR at all stages for all level of AIS officers (for the year 2018-19)

Read More