DoPT: Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport

DoPT: Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport

F.No.11012/7/2017-Estt.A-III
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-III Desk

North Block, New Delhi - 110001
Dated 28th March, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport.

The undersigned is directed to say that matter regarding guidelines for granting vigilance clearance to members of the Central Civil Service holding Central Civil Posts have been reviewed and it has been decided to lay down guidelines for grant of vigilance clearance to the Government servant for obtaining Indian Passport.

2. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued the guidelines for issuance of ordinary Passport to the Government servant vide O.M. No. VI/401/01/05/2014 dated 26.05.2015 in connection with procedures to be the followed in case of passport to be issued to Government servant.

3. In view of the above, it is mandatory for the administrative Department/Controlling Authority to check whether any provision of the Section 6(2) of the Passport Act, 1967 are attracted in the case of employee, who are working under them, while obtaining Indian Passport. As such, it is required to check the vigilance clearance of such Government servant.

4. Accordingly, it has been decided that vigilance clearance can be withheld only under the following circumstances:

(i) The officer is under suspension;
(ii) A charge sheet has been issued against the officer in a disciplinary proceeding and the proceeding is pending.
(iii) Charge sheet has been filed in a Court by the investigating Agency in a criminal case and the case is pending.
(iv) Sanction for investigation or prosecution has been granted by the Competent Authority in a case under the PC Act or any other criminal matter.
(v) An FIR has been filed or a case has been registered by any Government entity against the officer, after a preliminary fact finding inquiry.
(vi) The officer is involved in a trap/ raid case on charges of corruption and investigation is pending.

5. Vigilance clearance shall not be withheld due to an FIR filed on the basis of a private complaint unless a charge-sheet has been filed by the investigating agency provided that there are no directions to the contrary by a competent court of law. However, the information regarding FIR may be provided to the Passport Office. The final decision will be taken by the concerned Passport Issuing Authority.

6. There may be situations wherein wards and relatives of the civil servants residing abroad (for education and other purposes) could be having medical emergencies or family events. The officer himself/ herself may require to visit abroad for medical reasons. Therefore, as a policy, ordinarily, a passport will not be granted if a disciplinary proceeding is pending against the officer. However, the competent authority can take a view wherein a foreign travel is necessitated due to extreme urgent situation like medical emergencies etc. on case to case basis.

7. All Ministries/ Departments/Offices are requested to bring the above guidelines to the notice of all Disciplinary Authorities under their control.

8. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-
(Sanjiv Kumar)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source: http://dopt.gov.in/

LTC to Railway employees (and Government servants whose spouses are Railway servants)

LTC to Railway employees (and Government servants whose spouses are Railway servants)

No.31011/1512017-Estt.A-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-IV Desk

North Block New Delhi
Dated March 27, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: LTC to Railway employees (and Government servants whose spouses are Railway servants)

The undersigned is directed to say that as per extant LTC instructions, Government servants and their spouses who are working in Indian Railways are not entitled for the facility of LTC as the facility of "Free Pass" is available to them. However, Seventh CPC in its report has recommended for bringing Railway employees (and employees whose spouses are Railway servants) into the fold of LTC.

2 The matter has been considered in this Department in consultation With Ministry of Railways. It has been decided that Railway employees may be allowed to avail All lndia LTC once in a block of four years under CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988, subject to the following conditions·

(i) The railway employees shall continue to be governed fully by the Railway Servants (Pass) Rules only and availing of "All India LTC" under CCS (LTC) Rules by them will be facilitated through a Special Order under the relevant provision of the said Pass Rules.

(ii) "All India LTC" will be purely optional for the railway employees.

(iii) Even after availing "All India LTC" in a year, it will not be mandatory for the railway employee to opt for "All India LTC" 1n the next or subsequent block years

(iv) No "Home Town LTC" will be admissible to Railway employees and on the same analogy, no Home Town converted LTC shall be allowed to them.

(v) The railway employees will surrender the Privilege Passes admissible to them In the calendar year in which they intend to avail the LTC facility. However they would continue to be eligible for Privilege Ticket Orders and other kinds of Passes viz., Duty Pass. School Pass, Special Passes on Medical grounds. etc., as admissible under the Pass rules. Further, if the railway employee has already availed of a Privilege Pass, then LTC will not be allowed in that year.

(vi) The railway employees on deputation to any other organization, Including Railway PSUs, would also continue to be eligible for optional LTC in lieu of Privilege Pass entitlement.

(vii) The definition of beneficiaries e g members of family, dependents etc. and other conditions as laid down in the CCS(L TC) rules will be applicable for availing 'All India LTC' facility by the railway employees even if such beneficiaries are not entitled for Privilege Pass under the Pass Rules.

(viii) If both spouses are Railway employees then both will surrender admissible in the calendar year, if they opt for All India LTC.

(ix) In case of the Government employees whose spouse is working In Railways, want to avail All India LTC, either Independently or with family members, then he/she they may be allowed subject to the condition of surrendering privilege passes admissible in that calendar year for him/her/them and an undertaking in this regard shall be
given by the Government servant to his office

3. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-
(Sanjiv Kumar)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source: AIRF

Defence Hospitals

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

Defence Hospitals

28 MAR 2018

There are 112 Military Hospitals, 12 Air Force Hospitals and 9 Naval Hospitals in the country. The State / UT wise number of such hospitals, along with location is as under:

S.No.	STATE	Number of Armed Forces Hospitals
		Army	Navy	Air
1	Andhra Pradesh		1 (INHS Kalyani, Vishakhapatnam)	1 (14AFH Hyderabad)
2	Arunachal Pradesh	1 (181 MH Tenga)
3	Assam	6 (151 BH (Guwahati), 155 BH (Tezpur), 160MH (Silchar), 162 MH (Dinjan), 180 MH (Missamari), 188 MH (Likabali)		1 (5AFH Jorhat)
4	Bihar	2 (MH Danapur, MH Gaya)
5	Goa	1 (MH Panaji)	1 (INHS Jeevanti, Vasco da Gama)
6	Gujarat	5 (MH Ahmedabad, MH Baroda, MH Bhuj, MH Dharangandhara, MH Jamnagar)
7	Haryana	3 (MH Ambala, Comd Hosp (WC) Chandimandir, MH Hissar)
8	Himachal Pradesh	6 (MH Kasuali, MH Shimla, MH Bakloh, MH Dalhousie, MH Palampur, MH Yol)
9	Jammu & Kashmir	11 (171MH Samba, Comd Hosp NC Udhampur, MH Doda, MH Kargil, 92BH Srinagar, 150GH Rajouri, 153 GH Leh, 166MH Jammu, 168MH Tangdhar, 169MH Surakot, 170MH Akhnoor)
10	Jharkhand	2 (MH Namkum, MH Ramgarh)
11	Karnataka	1 (MH Belgaum)	1 (INHS Patanjali, Karwar)	1 (Commd Hosp AF CHAFB)
12	Kerala	3 (MH Cannonore, MH Trivandrum, MH Wellignton)	2 (INHS Sanjivani, INHS Navjivani)
13	Madhya Pradesh	6 (MH Bhopal, MH Gwalior, MH Saugor, MH Jabalpur, MH Mhow, MH Pachmari)		1 (3AFH Amla)
14	Maharashtra	9 ((MH Ahmednagar, MH Aurangabad, MH Deviali, MH Kamptee, MH Khadakvasal, MH Kirkee, Comd Hosp SC Pune, MH CTC Pune, MH Pulgaon))	2 (INHS Asvini Mumbai, INHS Kasturi Lonavala)
15	Manipur	1 (183 MH Leimakong)
16	Meghalaya	1 (MH Shillong)
17	Nagaland	2 (154 GH Zakhama, 165MH Dimarpur)
18	Odisha	1 (MH Gopalpur)	1 (INHS Nivarani, Chilka)
19	Punjab	9 (MH Amritsar, MH Jalandhar, MH Patiala, 159GH Ferozpur, 167MH Pathankot, 172 Gurdaspur, 173MH Faridkot, 174MH Baathinda, 175MH Abohar)		1 (9AFH Halawara)
20	Rajasthan	10 (MH Jodhpur, MH Nasirabad, 177MH Jalipa, 185MH Udaipur, MH Alwar, MH Jaipur, MH Kota, 176MH Sri Ganganagar, 184MH Suratgarh, 187MH Bikaner)		1 (15AFH Jaisalmer)
21	Sikkim	1 (178MH Gangtok)
22	Tamil Nadu	2 (MH Avadi, MH Chennai)		1 (6AFH Coimbatore)
23	Telangana	2 (MH Golconda, MH Secundrabad)
24	Tripura	1 (182MH Agartala)
25	Uttarkhand	5 (MH Dehradun, MH Lansdowne, MH Ranikhet, MH Roorkee, 161MH Pithorgarh)
26	Uttar Pradesh	12 (MH Babina, MH Jhansi, MH Agra, MH Allahabad, MH Bareilly, BH Lucknow, Comd Hosp (CC) Lucknow, MH Faizabad, MH Fatehgarh, MH Mathura, MH Meerut MH Varanasi)		3 (7AFH Kanpur, 11AFH Hindon, 12AFH Gorkhpur)
27	West Bengal	7 (BH Barrackpore, Comd Hosp (EC) Kolkata, MH Panagarh, 158BH Bendubi, 163MH Lebong, 164MH Binaguri, 179MH Kalimpong)		2 (4AFH Kalakunda, 10AFH Hasimara)
28	Andaman & Nicobar Islands		1 (INHS Dhanvantari, Portblair)
29	Delhi	2 (Army Hosp (R&R), BH Delhi Cantt).

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to ShriAshwini Kumarin Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB

Pensioners Portal at EPFO website

EPFO

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment

Pensioner's Portal at EPFO website

 28 MAR 2018

EPFO has launched the pensioner's portal https://mis.epfindia.gov.in/PensionPaymentEnquiry. The pensioner's portal is recently launched service, available at EPFO website by which all EPFO pensioners may get the details of pension related information like Pension payment order number, Pensioner's Payment Order details, Pensioner's passbook information & other related information such as date of credit of pension, submission of pensioner's life certificate etc.

It is helpful to know the status of their life certificate, in case of non-submission/rejection of life certificate of the pensioners. It also provides the details and the reason of stoppage of pension.

Track e KYC:
The enhanced "Track eKYC" facility for the convenience of members have been launched to check the status of Aadhaar seeded against their UAN and to figure out the specific mismatch details.
The facility has been made available at EPFO's website www.epfindia.gov.in >> Online Services >> e-KYC Portal>> TRACK eKYC.

Using the facility, EPFO members can online track the status of Aadhaar seeded against his/ her UAN. While using the facility, the member will have to provide his/her UAN. After entering his/ her UAN the member can click the "Track eKYC" button and the exact status in respect of his/her UAN will be displayed on the screen.

Source : PIB

Expected DA July 2018: AICPIN for Feb 2018

Expected DA July 2018: AICPIN for Feb 2018

Press Release of All India Consumer Price Index for the month of February 2018 has been released by Labour Bureau on 28.3.2018. The index decreased by one point and stands at 287.

No.5/1/2018-CPI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
LABOUR BUREAU

'CLEREMONT', SHIMLA-171004
DATED: 28th March, 2018

Press Release

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) - February, 2018

The All-India CPI-IW for February, 2018 decreased by 1 point and pegged at 287 (two hundred and eighty seven). On 1-month percentage change, it decreased by (-) 0.35 per cent between January and February, 2018 which was static between the two months a year back.

The maximum downward pressure to the change in current index came from Food group contributing (-) 1.87 points to the total change. At item level, Wheat & Wheat Atta, Gram Dal, Groundnut Oil, Egg (hen), Poultry (Chicken), Pure Ghee, Garlic, Onion, Brinjal, Cabbage Carrot, Cauliflower, Palak, Peas, Tomato, Sugar, Flowers/Flower Garlands. etc. are responsible for the decrease in index. However, this decrease was checked by Rice, Goat Meat, Apple, Banana, Coconut, Tea Leaf, Bidi, Cigraette, Electricity Charges, Kerosene Oil, Medicine (Allopathic), Cinema Charges, Bus Fare, Petrol, Repair Charges, Hair Oil, Hand Bag/Brief Case, Tailoring Charges, etc., putting upward pressure on the index.

The year-on-year inflation uneasured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 4.74 per cent for February, 2018 as compared to 5.11 per cent for the previous month and 2.62 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the food inflation stood at 2.36 per cent against 3.36 per of the previous month and 1.71 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.
At centre level, Bokaro reported the maximum decrease of 5 points followed by Mumbai (4 points). Among others, 3 points decrease was observed in 16 centers, 2 points in 14 centres and 1 point in 16 centres. On the contrary, Coimbatore and Jamshedpur recorded a maximum increase of 4 points each followed by Lucknow, Goa and Chennai (3 points each). Among others, 2 points increase was observed in 3 centres and 1 point in 4 centres. Rest or the 18 centres indices remained stationary.
The indices of 38 centres are above All-India Index and 37 centers’ indices are below national average. The index of Varanasi, Bengaluru and Chandigarh centres remained at par with All-India Index.

The next issue of CPI-IW for the month of March, 2018 will released on Friday 27th April, 2018. The same will also be available the on the office website www.labourbureaunew.gov.in.

sd/-
(AMRIT LAL JANGID)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Source: http://labourbureaunew.gov.in/

Income Tax benefits In Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA)

Income Tax benefits In Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA)

(i) Sukanya Samriddhi Account has been specified under clause (viii) of Sub Section (2) of Section 80(C) of Income Tax Act 1961 and deposits under these accounts enjoy benefit of this Income Tax Section up to the overall maximum limit of Rs. One lakh Fifty Thousand (1,50,000).

(ii) By Finance Act 2015, a new clause (11A) has been inserted under Section 10 of Income Tax Act 1961 under which any amount withdrawn from Sukanya Samriddhi Account will not be included in the total income of a previous year of a person for the purpose of calculation of Income Tax.

(iii) By Finance Act 2015, a new clause (ba) has been inserted under clause (viii) of sub-section 4 of Section SOC of Income Tax Act 1961 under which a Legal Guardian can claim Income Tax benefit for the amount deposited by him or his/her girl child under the Sukanya Samriddhi Account.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
(CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES)
NOTIFICATION NO. 09/2015
INCOME-TAX

Dated - 21st January, 2015

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (viii) of sub-section (2) of section (2) of section 80C of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Government hereby specifies the 'Sukanya Samriddhi Account' for the purposes of the said clause.

This notification shall come into force with effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

[F.NO.178/3/2015-ITA-1]

Dearness Allowance applicable w.e.f. 1.1.2018 to employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scale/Grade Pay as per 6th Central Pay Commission

6th CPC DA Order: Enhanced from 139% to 142%

Rate of Dearness Allowance applicable w.e.f. 1.1.2018 to employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scale/Grade Pay as per 6th Central Pay Commission.

No.1/3/2008-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, dated the 28th March, 2018.

Office Memorandum

Subject: Rate of Dearness Allowance applicable w.e.f. 1.1.2018 to employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scale/Grade Pay as per 6th Central Pay Commission.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. of even No. dated 26th September, 2017 regarding revision of the rate of Dearness Allowance w.e.f 1.7.2017 in respect of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scale/Grade Pay as per 6th Central Pay Commission.

2. The rate of DA admissible to above categories of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies shall be enhanced from the existing 139% to 142% w.e.f. 1.1.2018.

3. The provisions contained in paras 3, 4 and 5 of this Ministry's O.M.No.1 (3)/2008-E.11(B) dated 29th August, 2008 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders.

4. The contents of this Office Memorandum may also be brought to the notice of all organisations under the administrative control of the Ministries/Departments which have adopted the Central Government scales of pay.

sd/-
(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

Source: www.doe.gov.in

Dearness Allowance to the employees of Central Government & Central Autonomous Bodies drawing pay as per 5th CPC - Revised Rates effective from 01.01.2018

Dearness Allowance to the employees of Central Government & Central Autonomous Bodies drawing pay as per 5th CPC - Revised Rates effective from 01.01.2018

5th CPC DA Order: Enhanced from 268% to 274%

No.1/3/2008-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, dated the 28th March, 2018

Office Memorandum

Subject: Rate of Dearness Allowance applicable w.e.f. 01.01.2018 to employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scales as per 5th Central Pay Commission

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. of even No. dated 26th September, 2017 regarding revision of the rate of Dearness Allowance w.e.f. 1.7.2017 in respect of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scales as per 5th Central Pay Commission.

2. The rate of DA admissible to above categories of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies shall be enhanced from the existing 268% to 274% w.e.f. 1.1.2018.

3. The provisions contained in paras 3, 4 and 5 of this Ministry’s O.M.No.1(13)/97-E.11(B) dated 3rd October, 1997 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders.

4. The contents of this Office Memorandum may also be brought to the notice of all organisations under the administrative control of the Ministries/Departments which have adopted the Central Government scales of pay.

sd/-
(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

Source: www.doe.gov.in

Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport

Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport

F. No. 11012/7/2017-Estt.A-III
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-III Desk

North Block, New Delhi - 110001
Dated 28th March, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport.

The undersigned is directed to say that matter regarding guidelines for granting vigilance clearance to members of the Central Civil Service holding Central Civil Posts
have been reviewed and it has been decided to lay down guidelines for grant of vigilance clearance to the Government servant for obtaining Indian Passport.

2. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued the guidelines for issuance of ordinary Passport to the Government servant vide O.M. No. VI/401/01/05/2014 dated 26.05.2015 in connection with procedures to be the followed in case of passport to be issued to Government servant.

3. In view of the above, it is mandatory for the administrative Department/Controlling Authority to check whether any provision of the Section 6(2) of the Passport Act, 1967 are attracted in the case of employee, who are working under them, while obtaining Indian Passport. As such, it is required to check the vigilance clearance of such Government servant.

4. Accordingly, it has been decided that vigilance clearance can be withheld only under the following circumstances:

(i) The officer is under suspension;

(ii) A charge sheet has been issued against the officer in a disciplinary proceeding and
the proceeding is pending.

(iii) Charge sheet has been filed in a Court by the investigating Agency in a criminal case and the case is pending.

(iv) Sanction for investigation or prosecution has been granted by the Competent Authority in a case under the PC Act or any other criminal matter.

(v) An FIR has been filed or a case has been registered by any Government entity against the officer, after a preliminary fact finding inquiry.

(vi) The officer is involved in a trap/ raid case on charges of corruption and investigation is pending.

5. Vigilance clearance shall not be withheld due to an FIR filed on the basis of a private complaint unless a charge-sheet has been filed by the investigating agency provided that there are no directions to the contrary by a competent court of law. However, the information regarding FIR may be provided to the Passport Office. The final decision will be taken by the concerned Passport Issuing Authority.

6. There may be situations wherein wards and relatives of the civil servants residing abroad (for education and other purposes) could be having medical emergencies or family events. The officer himself/ herself may require to visit abroad for medical reasons. Therefore, as a policy, ordinarily, a passport will not be granted if a disciplinary proceeding is pending against the officer. However, the competent authority can take a view wherein a foreign travel is necessitated due to extreme urgent situation like medical emergencies etc. on case to case basis.

7. All Ministries/ Departments/Offices are requested to bring the above guidelines to the notice of all Disciplinary Authorities under their control.

8. Hindi version will follow.

(Sanjiv Kumar)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source: DoPT

KV School Fee Structure: Proposal for Revision of Tuition Fee

KV School Fee Structure: Proposal for Revision of Tuition Fee

"A proposal for enhancement of tuition fees was moved by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to its Board of Governors for approval. However no decision is taken on the matter".

Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shri Updendra Kushwaha said in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 26th March, 2018 that there is a proposal for enhancement of tuition fees was moved by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to its Board of Governors for approval. However no decision is taken on the matter.

Also he added, as per the codal provisions contained in the Accounts Code for the Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), the Sponsoring Project Authorities are at liberty to apply a differential fee structure in their sponsored KVs, if they so decide.

Three KVs vizSteel Plant, Visakhapatnam, Panchgram and BHEL Jagdishpur have enhanced the fees to augment their internal receipts for meeting the committed expenditure. Details are as follows:-
1. KV Steel Plant, Visakhapatnam:An increase of Rs.100 per month in the form of Project fees for Project students and Rs.350 per month (average) for non-Project students has been introduced by the project authority.

2. KV,Panchgram:An increase of Rs.500 per month in the form of development fees/Project Fees for both Project students and non-Project students has been introduced.

3. KV, BHEL Jagdishpur:An increase of Rs.927 per month (average) for BHEL students and Rs.1617 per month (average) for non BHEL students has been introduced by the Project Authority.

Fees of Class 1 to 12th in Kendriya Vidyalayas revised from 1.4.2013 and the same continued till now.  No tuition fee is charged from boys up to Class VIII, girls up to Class XII, for SC/ST students,
Children of KVS Employees, Children of Officers and men of the Armed Forces killed or disabled during the wars of 1962, 1965, 1971, 1999-Kargil War (against China and Pakistan).

FEE STRUCTURE (PER MONTH) w.e.f. 01.04.2013

1.	Admission Fee	Rs. 25.00
2.	Re Admission Fee	Rs 100.00
3.	Tuition Fee
3 (a)	Class IX & X (Boys)	Rs 200.00
3 (b)	Class XI & XII Commerce & Humanities (Boys)	Rs 300.00
3 (c)	Class XI & XII Science (Boys)	Rs.400.00
4.	Computer Fund
4 (a)	Class III onwards wherever Computer Education is being imparted	Rs 100.00
4 (b)	Computer Science Fee. (for elective subjects) + 2 stage	Rs 150.00
5	Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi (Classes I - XII)	Rs. 500.00