Army officers revised pay structure Opportunity for revision

Army officers revised pay structure Opportunity for revision

1. GoI, MoD vide letter No. 1(29)/2017/D(Pay/Services) dated 06/08/2019 has extended the provisions of Para 3 and 4 of MoF, Department of Expenditure OM No. 4-23/17- IC/E-III dated 12/12/2018 to Defence Personnel regarding exercising of option to come over to the revised pay structure.
2. Army Officers who have already exercised their option to come over to the revised pay structure as notified by the Pay Rules/Regulations 2017, shall be permitted to revise their initial option in terms of Rules 5 and 6 thereof.
3. The revised option shall be exercised within a period of one hundred and eighty days from the date of issue of MoD orders i.e. upto 01/02/2020. The option exercised in terms of these orders shall be final and shall not be liable to any further change under any circumstances. All other terms and conditions laid down in the said Rules 5 and 6 of Pay Rules/Regulations 2017 shall continue to be applicable.
4. Army Officers who have already exercised their option to come over to the revised pay structure from 01/01/2016 itself or in whose case the revised pay structure took effect from 01/01/2016 and who re-exercise their option under these orders to come over to the revised pay structure from a date subsequent to 01/01/2016 as per Rule 5 of the Pay Rules/Regulations, the arrears on account of revised pay already drawn by them from 01/01/2016 upto the date from which they opt to come over to the revised pay structure shall be recovered.

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DoPT - Exemption from payment of examination fee and application fee in respect of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities

DoPT Orders 2019

Exemption from payment of examination fee and application fee in respect of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities

No.36035/2/2017 -Estt.(Res)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

North Block, New Delhi
Dated: August 23, 2019

Subject: Exemption from payment of examination fee and application fee in respect of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities. -reg.

The undersigned is directed to say that in a w.P. (Civil) No. 521/2008 with Civil Appeal No. 5389/2016, the Hon'ble Supreme Court, vide Judgment, dated 30.06.2016, inter alia, declared the Office Memorandum No. 36035/3/2004 - Estt.(Res) dated 29.12.2005, as illegal and inconsistence with the Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. This OM, among other, contained a provision for exemption from payment of application fee and examination fee in respect of Persons with Disabilities.

Thereafter, with the enactment of 'THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2016' and issue of notification titled 'THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES RULES, 2017', this Department has issued an Office Memorandum No. 36035/2/2017-Estt. (Res), dated 15.01.2018, regarding reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, in the posts and services of the Central Government. The said Office Memorandum dated 15.01.2018, however, does not contain any provision for exemption from payment of examination and application fee in respect of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.

The issue has been deliberated upon at length in the Department and it has, now, been decided that the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities shall continue to be exempted from payment of application fee and examination fee, prescribed in respect of competitive examinations held by the Staff Selection Commission, the Union Public Service Commission, etc. for recruitment to various posts. This exemption shall be available only to such persons who would otherwise be eligible for appointment to the post on the basis of standards of medical fitness prescribed for that post (including any concession specifically extended to the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) and who enclose with the application form, necessary certificate from a competent authority in support of their claim of disability.

(Debabrata Das)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Ph. 23093307

To,
(i) All Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India.
(ii) Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Jeevan Deep Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi.
(iii) Department of Public Enterprises, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.
(iv) Railway Board, Rail Bhavan, Delhi.
(v) Union Public Service Commission/Supreme Court of India/ Election Commission of India/ Lok Sabha Secretariat / Rajya Sabha Secretariat / Cabinet Secretariat! Central Vigilance Commission/ President's Secretariat / Prime Minister's Office/ Planning Commission.
(vi) Staff Selection Commission, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi.
(vii) Office of the Chief Commissioner for Disabilities, Sarojini House, 6, Bhagwan Das Road,New Delhi -110001.
(viii) Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, 10, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi.
(ix) All Officers and Sections in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and all attached/subordinate offices of this Ministry.
(x) Hindi Section for providing a Hindi translation.
Copy to: Director, NIC, DOPT - with the request to immediately place this OM on the website of this Department ("what's new" tab) for information of all concerned.

Source: DoPT Orders 2019

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Ordnance Factories strike called off - Defence

Defence

Ministry of Defence
Ordnance Factories strike called off

24 AUG 2019

Continuing the process of dialogue which had started from 14 August 2019, the fourth meeting was held yesterday with the office bearers of AIDEF, INDWF, BPMS and CDRA under the Chairmanship of Secretary, DDP. While reaffirming that the proposed corporatisation of OFB is under examination of the Government, Secretary, DDP patiently listened to the concerns expressed by the Employees Federations regarding how the benefits/interests of employees in terms of wages, health facilities and other service matters may be affected due to corporatisation of OFB. The Employees Federations inter-alia suggested that their views should be considered while preparing the roadmap for increasing the turnover of the proposed entity from the current levels. After detailed deliberations, it was agreed to recommend to the Government, the setting up of a High Level Official Committee to interact with Employees Federations to examine their concerns and other aspects of the proposed new entity. The Federations on their part have agreed to withdraw the ongoing strike and continue with the process of dialogue. With this, employees will now be resuming their duties with effect from Monday, 26th August, 2019.

PIB

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CBDT issues clarification on eligibility of small Start-ups to avail tax holiday

Ministry of Finance
CBDT issues clarification on eligibility of small Start-ups to avail tax holiday

22 AUG 2019

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has clarified today that small start-ups with turnover upto Rs. 25 crore will continue to get the promised tax holiday as specified in Section 80-IAC of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the ‘Act’), which provides deduction for 100 per cent of income of an eligible start-up for 3 years out of 7 years from the year of its incorporation.

CBDT further clarified that all the start-ups recognised by DPIIT which fulfilled the conditions specified in the DPIIT notification did not automatically become eligible for deduction under Section 80-IAC of the Act. A start-up has to fulfil the conditions specified in Section 80-IAC for claiming this deduction. Therefore, the turnover limit for small start-ups claiming deduction is to be determined by the provisions of Section 80-IAC of theAct and not from the DPIIT notification.
CBDT dispelled the confusion created by some media report claiming discrepancy that the I-T law was yet to reflect DPIIT’s higher turnover threshold of Rs. 100 crore. CBDT said thatthere was no contradiction in DPIIT’s notification dated 19.02.2019 and Section 80-IAC of the I.T. Act, 1961 because in para 3 of the said notification, it has clearly been mentioned that a start-up shall be eligible to apply for the certificate from the Inter-Ministerial Board of Certification for claiming deduction under Section 80-IAC of the Act, only if the start-up fulfils the conditions specified in sub-clause (i) and sub-clause (ii) of the Explanation of Section 80-IAC. Therefore, the turnover limit for eligibility for deduction under section 80-IAC of the Act, as per the DPIIT’s notification is also Rs. 25 crore.
It is further stated that Section 80-IAC contains a detailed definition of the eligible start-up which, interalia, provides that a start-up which is engaged in the eligible business shall be eligible for deduction, if (i) it is incorporated on or after 1st April 2016, (ii) its turnover does not exceed Rs. 25 crore in the year of deduction, and (iii) it holds a certificate from the Inter-Ministerial Board of Certification.

It was explained that this was the major reason as to why there was a wide difference between the number of start-ups recognised by the DPIIT and the start-ups eligible for deduction under section 80-IAC of the Act. It is pertinent to state that Section 80-IAC was inserted vide Finance Act, 2016 as an exception to the Government’s stated policy of phasing out profit-linked deduction for promoting small start-ups during their initial year of operation. Since the intention was to support the small start-ups, the turnover limit of Rs. 25 crore was considered reasonable for granting profit linking deduction.

PIB

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LTC - Review of charges realised by Indian Railways for verification of PNR details

LTC

Review of charges realised by Indian Railways for verification of PNR details

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.2016/TG-I/ 20/P/LTC
New Delhi, Dated 18.07.2019

The Principal Chief Commercial Managers,
All zonal Railways.

(COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR NO. 34 of 2019)

Sub: Review of charges realised by Indian Railways for verification of PNR details.

Ref: Letter nos. 2006/TG-I/ 20/P/ LTC dated 10.01.2007, 2006/TG-I/ 20/P/LTC dated 31.08.2010 (CC No. 40 of 2010), 2006/TG­-I/ 20/P/ LTC Pt. dated 13.12.2011 (CC No. 65 of 2011)
In supersession of above referred instructions regarding levy of charges for verification of PNR details etc., Competent Authority have now decided to adopt the following procedure for furnishing information regarding verification of journey details:

(i) Individuals seeking information for self travel under RTI Act or otherwise: It should be provided as per provisions of RTI Act subject to submission of identity proof bearing name and date of birth i.e. Aadhar/PAN card etc. to confirm that the person seeking information is one and the same as one of the passengers on the PNR.

(ii) Individuals seeking information for travel of other person under RTI Act or otherwise: Action should be taken as per relevant provisions of RTI Act and information should not be provided unless consent of third party is available.In case of requests not received under RTI Act, no information shall be provided.

(iii) Government Departments seeking information for their employees for the purpose of reimbursement of travel expenditure: It should be provided on realisation of nominal fee of Rs.50/- per PNR only on receipt of official request from the concerned Department.

(iv) Government Investigating Agencies/ Courts seeking information in connection with investigation/ Court Case: Status quo may be maintained and information shall be provided free of charge on receipt of official request of the Agency.

2. Authority to provide information and to take charges: Concerned Zonal Railways shall decide on the authority to provide information under this policy and to realise charges.

Sd/-
(Shelly Srivastava}
Director Passenger Marketing
Railway Board

Source: Indian Railways

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Indian Navy Personnel Serving Retirement And Pension Officers

Indian Navy Personnel Serving Retirement And Pension Officers

Pensionary Benefits

Introduction
Based on the recommendations of the Vth Pay Commission, the Government has abolished the standard pension of the rank. The normal retiring pension is purely based on two factors i.e. Qualifying Service and Average Monthly Emoluments.

Type of Benefits
If the minimum qualifying service required has been completed officers are eligible for

• Retiring Pension
• Retirement Gratuity

Minimum Qualifying Service
In case officers have not rendered the minimum qualifying service for pension, then they are entitled to

• Retiring Gratuity
• Retirement Gratuity

4. Qualifying Service
It shall mean the actual qualifying service rendered plus a weightage (in years) appropriate to the last rank held (as given subsequently below). The minimum qualifying service (without weightage) to be eligible for retiring pension is 20 years (15 years in case of a late entrant). The maximum qualifying service including weightage reckonable for pensionary benefits is 33 years.

5. Counting of Other Service
Full pre-commissioned service rendered under the Central Government whether in a Civil Department or in the Armed Forces shall be taken in account while working out the Qualifying service for pensionary benefits and determining the minimum Qualifying service for retiring pension.

6. Calculation of Fraction of Year for Qualifying Service
To calculate the length of the Qualifying service, fraction of a year equal to 3 months and above but less than 6 months shall be treated as a completed one half year and reckoned as Qualifying service.

7. Weightage
The object of the weightage for calculating the Retiring Pension is to give the benefit of entitlement to Retiring pension as close as possible to 50% of reckonable emoluments which is the maximum admissible after 33 years of service. The weightage allowed is as follows

Rank	Weightage
Sub Lt/Lt	9 years
Lt Cdr	8 years
Cdr	7 years
Capt (TS)	7 years
Captain (with less than 3 years and 10 months service)	7 years
Captain (with 3 years and 10 months and more service)	5 years
Admiral/ Vice Admiral/ Rear Admiral	3 years

8. Reckonable Emoluments
For the purpose of working out the Retiring Pension the term Reckonable Emoluments means the average of the Pay. Dearness Pay, Non-practising Allowance and the Rank pay and Stagnation Pay, if any, drawn during the 10 months immediately preceding the date of retirement.

9. Quantum of Retiring Pension

• The retiring pension is calculated at 50% of average emoluments. The amount so determined is the retiring pension for 33 years of reckonable qualifying service. For lesser period of reckonable qualifying service, this amount is proportionately reduced. The minimum pension shall not be less than Rupee 1,275/- per month wef 01 Jan 1996.
• Further with effect from 01 Apr 2004, since 50% of Dearness Allowance converted into Dearness Pay is counted for retirement benefits, pension/family pension shall be calculated at 50% and 30% respectively of the pay plus Dearness Pay subject to minimum of Rupee 1,913/- and maximum of 50% and 30% respectively of the highest pay plus Dearness Pay in the Government. The highest pay in the Govt wef 01 Jan 96 is Rupee 30,000/-. The highest pension, as of now, comes to Rupee 22,500/- (i.e. basic pension Rupee 15,000/- + dearness pay Rupee 7,500/- = total pension Rupee 22,500/-).

10. Protection of Retiring Pension
Retiring Pension in the rank of Cdr, Commodore (Captain with 3 years and 10 months , or more service) and Rear Admiral shall in NO CASE be less than the pension admissible to the officer as a Lt Cdr, Captain (with less than 3 years and 10 months service) or as a Commodore, as the case may be, had the officer not been promoted to the higher rank.

11. Retirement/Retiring Gratuity
Please see the details in Chapter IV on Gratuity.

12. Pension Disbursing Authorities
The officers may claim the pension through Govt. Treasury/Pension Payment Masters/ Defence Pension Disbursing Officers. They may also draw the pension through Public Sector Banks, if they so desire. With effect from 09 Jul 05, pensioners can operate the joint account of pension with his/her spouse.

13. Illustration
An illustration showing the procedure for calculation of Retiring Pension is given at appendix H. For a near exact amount of pension and gratuity, officers are advised to browse the NPO website https://www.navpay.gov.in

Source: Indian Navy

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FAQ - Entitlement of Travel Allowance for Indian Navy Officers

FAQ

Entitlement of Travel Allowance for Indian Navy Officers

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What TA/DA is admissible for moves on permanent duty within Indian limit?
For self

• By road - one mileage allowance as given in Rule 61 TR.
• By rail - On warrant, travel on cash TA is not normally authorised as no public interest is thereby served.
• By Air - Captain, IN and above are entitled to travel by air or ACC I Class at their option. If travelling by ACC, warrant is to be issued for I Class and the extra charges for ACC are re-imbursed. However, Officers of the rank of Cdr may also Travel on their own discretion by air if the distance involved is more than 500 Kms and the journey cannot be performed overnight by a direct train or sleeper coach service.

For Family

• By Road - One mileage if two members accompanying the officer and one more mileage if more than two members accompany him as per rates given in Rule 61 TR.
• By Rail – On Warrant. However, if journey is performed on cash TA, one fare of the class in which traveled will be re-imbursed.
• By Air – Same as that of the Officers.

Composite Transfer Grant Married Single When transfer involves 1 months 80 % of basic pay change of station located at basic pay for a month a distance of 20 Kms or more (Govt. of India, Ministry of Defence letter No 12630/Q MovC/3198/D(Mov)/98 dated 28 Oct 1998).

Additional Journey to previous duty station. An additional fare/free warrant by the entitled class i.e. the class at the time of initial moves for both onward and return journey will be allowed for journey to previous duty station in case the officer has to leave his family behind due to non-availability of Govt. accommodation at the new duty station.

Transportation of private conveyance at public expenses

• All first grade officers are entitled for conveyance at public of one motor car or one motor cycle/scooter or one expenses horse on permanent transfer.
• As there is no provision in Military Tariff for booking of private cars on railway warrant, such vehicle to the extent authorised will be transported against cash payment.
• The car may be transported by passenger or goods train. In the case of goods train, the cost of packing and of transporting the car to and from the goods shed at the station of departure and arrival may also be allowed provided the total cost claimed will not exceed the freight by passenger train.
• When an officer transports his motor car by road under its own power between stations connected by rail he may draw an allowance at the rates for taxi approved by Director of Transport at the starting point limited to the expenditure on transportation by passenger train. If, however, the car is moved between stations connected by road only, (including those where the road journey is in continuation of the rail or steamer journey) he may draw an allowance at the rates for taxi approved by Director of Transport at the starting point.
• In case of the car transported by loading on a truck between stations connected by rail the officer may be allowed the actual expenditure on transportation limited to the rates for taxi approved by Director of Transport at the starting point or the freight charges by passenger train whichever is less. If however, the car is moved between stations not connected by rail, he may draw actual expenditure limited to the rates for taxi approved by Director of Transport at the starting point.
• If an officer owned a car at a station other than from which he is transferred, he may draw the cost of transportation of the car from that station to which he is transferred, limited to the cost of its conveyance from his old to the new duty station, provided it is conveyed within prescribed time limit of 6 months extendable to one year with the sanction of the competent authority. In the case of an officer who does not own a motor car at the time of his transfer from one station to another but purchases one to take it to the new duty station from some other place, the above expenses may be allowed with the sanction of the Government.
• Advance for the transportation of car may be drawn if the prior sanction of the competent authority is obtained.

2. What elements of pay are reckoned for calculating the entitlement of daily allowance?
Basic pay and rank pay where applicable, are treated as pay for determining the rate of daily allowance. In the case of Surgeons, non practicing allowance is also to be taken into account.

3. How is DA on Ty duty to be calculated?
DA for the entire absence from headquarters will be calculated as given below: - Full DA is to be granted for each completed calendar day of absence reckoned from mid night to mid night. For absence from headquarters for less than 24 hours the DA will be admissible at the following rates

• If the stay is up to six hours - Nil
• If stay is more than 6 hrs but does not exceed 12 hours - 70%.
• If the stay exceeds 12 hrs - full DA (Rule 114 TR) Note : In case the period of absence from Headquarters falls on two calendars days it is reckoned as two days and DA is calculated for each day as above. Similarly, DA for days of departure from and arrival at headquarters will be regulated accordingly.

4. From what point of time will absence entire the entire absence from HQs be counted for the purpose of grant of DA?
Journey by Rail - The from HQs will be reckoned with reference to the scheduled departure / arrival time of the train from / at the Railway Station. However, where the train is late by more than 15 minutes,. actual arrival times will be taken into account. Journeys by Bus - The entire absence will be reckoned with reference to the actual departure/arrival time from/at the bus stand. Journey by Air - The entire absence from HQs will be reckoned with reference to scheduled reporting/arrival time from/ at the airport. However, where the plane is late by more than 15 minutes actual arrival time will be taken into account. (Authority : Para 5(a) to Govt of India, Min of Def OM No B/89621/II/Q Mov C/4214/ D(Civ-ii) dated 16 May 75.)

Source: Indian Navy

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