Tuesday 28 February 2017

Acceptance of article with volumetric weight - Directorate Order

7th Pay Commission – Committee on Allowances submits HRA report to Government

The Committee on Allowances, headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa has submitted its report on Housing Rent Allowance (HRA) to the government, reports NDTV. The submission of report further paves the way for government to implement the hike in allowances as per the revised recommendations of 7th Pay Commission. The date of allowance hike is expected to be April 1. Centre is expected to make the announcement after the five-state elections conclude on March 8.


The 7th Pay Commission had recommended that HRA should be paid at the rate of 24 per cent, 16 per cent and 8 per cent of the new Basic Pay, depending on the type of cities while unions demanded HRA at 30, 20 and 10 per cent.  While employee union believes that if the government can’t raise the HRA then it can also not decrease it. The government is expected to announce its decision post-March 8, after elections of five states are over. With this the central government will not violate the model code of conduct.
The government has divided transport allowance into two parts, one being CCA and the other one is TA. It is believed that this might be separated from DA and might be set on a fix slab.  It is being said that employee demand has been accepted  and the committee has agreed to pay HRA according to the sixth pay commission.
Ashok Lava’s committee had in October last year stated that his team was ready with its report. As per now, the central government employees are paid allowances according to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations until issuing of higher allowances notification. In October 2016, Ashok Lavasa had said, “We are ready to submit our report, whenever Finance Minister Arun Jaitley calls up”.
HRA will benefit  48 lakh employees of central government, and will also be helpful for pensioners. If the suggestions of the pay commission are approved, then the basic pay will increase along with allowances. The 7th pay commission had suggested for stopping 51 allowances and merging 37 others out of 196 allowances.

Source: NDTV


Monday 27 February 2017

7th Pay Commission: Announcement for higher allowances after Assembly election results

New Delhi, February 25: Almost eight months have been passed now and the Central government employees are waiting to receive higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations in their paychecks. Some reports suggest that the government is likely to make an announcement on higher allowances after assembly elections results of five states which will be declared on March 11.


In June 2016, the union government approved the recommendations made by the high-powered committee on 7th Pay Commission and promised to pay higher basic pay with arrears, effective from January 1, 2016. But the hike in allowances other than the Dearness Allowances (DA) is yet to materialise.

The recommendations made by the 7th Pay Commission was wrapped up in June 2016, but more than 53 lakh central government employees are not given any assurances, as they are still waiting for payments owed them ie: higher allowances.

Some reports suggest that the delays are because the ‘Committee on Allowances’ headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa had recommended to abolish 51 allowances and subsuming 37 other allowances out of 196 allowances.

Earlier the Committee on Allowances were initially given a time of four months to submit its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. In October 2016, Ashok Lavasa was quoted by some media organisation saying he was ready with the report.

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

Once the Assembly elections are over in five states, the government is likely to clear the nod to revise allowances. Some reports suggest that the revised allowances are expected to be effective from April 1, which marks the beginning of the new financial year.

According to The Sen Times report, which quoted a source said that the report on Committee on Allowances states the current HRA slab is 30 per cent of the basic pay for metros. An announcement on the same is expected soon.

On the other side, 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 6th Pay Commission.

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 finalised 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 favourably.

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 Be 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.


Sunday 26 February 2017

India Post Bank is likely to tap World War-era tech to garner business

  • Three things India Post will do to change the banking landscape
  • Postman to deliver cash at homes
  • Phone cell-based remittances and bill payments

It is back to basics for India Post Payments Bank (IPPB). It is tapping into World War-era phone-based technology and its vast network of postman to target a customer base of around 850 million, which either have no access to telephony or still depend on feature phones. 

“Banks and payments banks are two different things.Over 90% households have access to bank accounts. So, we are targeting remittances and bill payments,“ said an officer at the bank, which launched operations a month ago, offering 5.5% interest on deposits. 


Unlike full-fledged banks, payments banks can accept deposits up to Rs 1lakh and have to mandatorily park 75% of funds in government bonds.They are not allowed to offer loans either. 

With its network of over 1.5 post offices, IPPB is seen to be a major competitor for banks, especially in rural areas and small towns. The bank, floated by India Post, is running behind schedule as it is yet to tie up with a technology vendor for its banking services. But it is still targeting 2 crore customers in the first year with business of around Rs 450 crore.By the fifth year, the bank hopes to have eight crore customers with a business of Rs 2,500 crore. 

A key focus area for IPPB is one billion bills that are paid every month, with the average ticket size being Rs 300. This is where Giro -an electronic fund transfer tool used in Europe and Japan -will come in handy . Apart from helping customers settle bills, a worker in a city can add his wife or mother as a beneficiary and transfer funds into their accounts by issuing instructions to a call centre. The wife or the mother will then use Aadhaar based authentication to withdraw funds either at a post office or ask a postman to deliver cash at home, for which a small fee may be levied. 

IPPB is also in talks with the rural development ministry for accessing details of NREGA beneficiaries and pensioners getting funds under the National Social Assistance Programme.Again, idea is to make the payments Aadhaar-based to minimise leakages.


Source : The Economic Times

The Government simplifies maintenance of registers under various Labour Laws

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment
23-February-2017 18:28 IST

The Government simplifies maintenance of registers under various Labour Laws

Government reduces 56 labour registers to only 5 for 5.85 crore establishments 
The Government has simplified the maintenance of Labour registers of about 5.85 crore establishments in agriculture and non- agriculture sectors. These registers are related to details of employees, their salaries, loans/recoveries, attendance etc. This exercise will drastically reduce the number of registers being maintained by these establishments from 56 to only 5 by doing away with overlapping/redundant fields. This will help these establishments to save cost and efforts and ensure better compliance of Labour Laws.

Under various Central Labour Acts, there is a requirement of maintenance of registers depending upon the threshold of the number of employees by the establishments in agriculture and non-agriculture sectors. As per the Sixth Economic Census of Central Statistical Office conducted during 2013-2014, India has about 5.85 Crore establishments in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors combined. Out of this, 4.54 Crore establishments are in non-agricultural sector. While reviewing the requirement of filing various returns / registers/forms provided under 9 Central Acts, there were several overlapping/ redundant fields that could be rationalized.

An intention notification was issued on 4th November, 2016 for reducing the number of registers/data fields and the same was widely circulated to concerned Ministries / Departments, State Govts., other stakeholders besides placing the same in public domain. In effect, all previous registers envisaged under various Acts / Rules have been omitted and replaced with only 5 common Registers. Such an exercise has reduced number of data fields in 5 registers to only 144 from the then existing 933 fields in 56 registers.

Ministry of Labour & Employment has also simultaneously undertaken to develop a software for these 5 common Registers. After development of the software, the same will be put on the Shram Suvidha Portal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment for free download with an aim to facilitate maintenance of those registers in a digitized form.

The Labour Laws under which these registers are maintained include:

(i) The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996

(ii) The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970

(iii) The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976

(iv) The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979

(v) The Mines Act, 1952

(vi) The Minimum Wages Act, 1948

(vii) The Payment of Wages Act, 1936

(viii) The Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1976

(ix) The Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1955

****

Saturday 25 February 2017

AAO 2012 EXAM SUPPLEMENTARY RESULTS DECLARED

7th Pay Commission – Bunching of stages in the revised pay structure under Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016

No.A-60015/1/2016/MF.CGA(A)/NGE/7th CPC/6010
Government Of India
Ministry Of Finance
Department Of Expenditure
Controller General Of Accounts
Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan
E Block, GPO complex, INA
New Delhi – 110 023

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.
(Sandeep Malhotra)
Sr.Accounts Officer

Encl: As above.
Statement of Fixation of Pay under Central Civil Service (Revised Pay) Rule, 2016





Thursday 23 February 2017

How a member of deceased employee can apply for Family Pension ?

Family Pension – Form 14 – How to apply for granting family pension on the death of Government servant/ pensioner/ family pensioner.
Family Pension can be claimed by submitting Form 14 in case of death of Government servant/ pensioner/ family pensioner.
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 office 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 Order.
(2) The Head of Office for sanction of family pension in all other cases.
If 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.

Admissibility of Deputation (Duty) Allowance while on deputation

As per Para 8.3.2 of the O.M. dated 17th June 2010, i.e. only up to the fifth year
 
 DOPT ORDER
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

Wednesday 22 February 2017

The Promotion of the Sorting Assistants to the cadre of LSG in RMS.





7th Pay Commission: Committee on Allowances to submit report today and allowance hike from April 1, says NJCA chief

7th Pay Commission: Committee on Allowances to submit report today and allowance hike from April 1, says NJCA chief

NJCA chief Shiv Gopal Mishra confirmed that the allowances report would be submitted on Wednesday.

New Delhi, Feb 21: Committee on allowances, headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, will submit its report tomorrow, claims National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) convenor Shiv Gopal Mishra. Central government employees were expecting the report to be tabled by Monday. However, the committee delayed the submission due to unspecified reasons. The report would pave the way for the implementation of hiked allowances as per the revised 7th Pay Commission recommendations.

“Government has made no announcement yet. But the report by Committee on allowances would be tabled tomorrow,” Shiv Gopal Mishra said, while speaking exclusively to India.com. On being asked whether the government would make an announcement in relation to the arrears on allowances, he replied, “Let us see what comes out of the report. We are expecting the hike in allowances, as per our demands. We have to wait and see whether the government makes an announcement on arrears as well.”

The committee on allowances was formed in July 2016, after central government employees raised several anomalies related to the 7th Pay Commission report submitted by Justice (retd) AK Mathur. The 7CPC report had recommended the abolition of 51 existing allowances, and subsumption of 37 others of the total 191 allowances.

The major point of grievance was the reduction in Housing Rent Allowance (HRA) offered to central government employees. As per the 6th Pay Commission report, the HRAs provided were 30 per cent, 20 per cent, 10 per cent for employees living in ‘X’, ‘Y’, ‘Z’ category towns/cities. However, the 7th Pay Commission report decreased the allowances to 24, 16 and 8 per cent of the basic pay.

Reduction in HRA has irked a major section of central government employees, who reside in rented accommodations. A section of the aggrieved employees have blamed the top bureaucracy for the delay in HRA hike. “Naturally, the common central government employees are more affected by the delay in allowance hike. The top bureacrats don’t take higher allowances, therefore, they are not interested in the hike,” Mishra said.

Apart from the hike in allowances, central government employees have also demanded Centre to provide arrears on the allowances. Since the date of implementation of 7th Pay Commission was fixed as January 1, 2016, employees have demanded the release of arrears on allowances as well.

Although the government provided arrears on basic pay while hiking the salaries on July 1, indications have been made that no arrears would be released on allowances. NJCA has confirmed that the employee unions would launch protest across the nation if the allowances are hiked, without the arrears. “Arrears are unlikely, but protests would be launched if they fail to release (the arrears),” Mishra said.

The date of allowances hike is reported to be April 1. NJCA claims, through its sources, that the government would be implementing the allowance hike from April 1. “It is most likely that the government announces the hike by April 1,” Mishra confirmed.

Read at: India.com

Tuesday 21 February 2017

7th Pay Commission Allowances – Only 7% increase has been factored in to Budget 2017-18

7th Pay Commission Allowances – Only 7% increase has been factored in to Budget 2017-18 – But the least increase recommended by 7th Pay Commission in HRA alone is more than 100%
While all Central Government Employees still believe increase in allowances based on recommendations of 7th Pay Commission is still on the cards, signs of Govt’s preparation towards the same are not encouraging.
For instance, the budget allocation made by the Govt towards Allowances payable in respect of Central Government Employees for the year 2017-18 is Rs. 69,221.70 Crores. Also, the Budget estimate with respect to allowances payable to Central Government Employees in the year 2016-17 has been revised to Rs. 64,677.43 crores.
So, the Govt expects that there will be an increase of 7% increase in the expenditure as a result of payment of various allowances to Central Government Employees in the year 2017-18 compared to the year 2016-17.
However, it is not clear whether Government has taken in to account the expected increase in the allowances on account of implementation of 7th Pay Commission, which is kept in abeyance in the pretext of examination of recommendation of the Commission on allowances by a Committee.
As this Allowances Committee has already taken 8 months to study the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission on allowances, it is expected to submit its views sooner or later atleast before the financial year 2017-18.
In that case, does the Govt believe that the Allowances Committee would only recommend an increase in allowances not more than 7% of what is being paid in 2016-17?
Remember, all the Allowances including the House Rent Allowance (HRA) are being paid now only in the old (6th CPC) Rates calculated on pre-revised Basic Pay.
Now, Let’s do a small calculation in respect of House Rent Allowance (HRA) alone, to acertain whether the increase in HRA recommended by 7th Pay Commission is only 7%.
6th CPC Pay in Pay Band = Rs. 23800
6th CPC Grade Pay = Rs. 5400
Total Basic Pay = Rs. 29200
HRA at the rate of 30% = Rs. 8760/-
7th Pay Commission Basic as against 6th CPC basic Pay of Rs. 29,200 = Rs. 75,600/- (Level 9 / Index 13 of 7th CPC Pay Matrix)
Rate of HRA recommended by 7th Pay Commission as against 30% HRA in old rate= 24%
Quantum expected HRA if 7th Pay Commission recommendation on HRA is accepted by Govt as such= 75600 X 24/100
= Rs. 18,144/-
Increase in 7th CPC HRA compared to 6th CPC HRA=107%
The above illustration shows that the increase in amount that was allocated by Govt towards Allowances payable to Central Government Employees for the year 2017-18 to the extent of 7%, is never going to meet out the quantum of increase in allowances recommended by 7th Pay Commission.
Let’s hope Govt comes out with some meaningful revision of allocation in Budget 2017 towards allowances and implement a reasonable increase in Allowances, as the increase in allowances to be spelled out in the near future is not going change till 2026 (except for allowances that are linked with DA).
Source for Union Budget Estimate in 2017-18 in respect of allowances payable to Central Government Employees:

Clarification from Directorate regardindg Benchmark for promotion


Directorate Letter No. 20-45/2016-SPB-II dated 18th Feb 2017 regarding clarification on Benchmark for Promotion.

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)
Authority: http://dopt.gov.in/