7th Pay Commission likely to propose minimum pay Rs 20,000 of central government employees

Seventh Pay Commission likely to propose minimum pay Rs 20,000 of central government employees

7th Central Pay Commission Chairman Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur

New Delhi: The Seventh Pay Commission is likely to propose minimum basic salary Rs 20,000 of central government employees.


Highly-placed sources in the pay panel said on Monday, “the average increase in basic pay for all government employees will be in the region of 30-40%.”

Currently, the minimum basic salary of central government employees is Rs 7730 with Grade pay excluding dearness and other allowances. After the Seventh pay commission recommendations will come into force, the minimum basic salary will be 20,000 excluding dearness and other allowances.

A competitive minimum pay is important because it determines the the socialism view of the government and the higher number of central government employees are in the minimum pay slabs. Apart from giving good salary to lower grade employees, the pay panel also will have to consider the disparity ratio between its highest and lowest paid employees.

“A joint secretary gets now Rs 128,000 as monthly salary with dearness allowance. I do not expect it to go up to more than Rs 160,000,” a joint secretary-level official of the Central Government said.

The first, second, third, fourth, fifth pay and sixth pay commission recommended the minimum basic salary Rs 35, Rs 80, Rs 260, Rs 950, Rs 3050 and Rs 7730 respectively.

The Commission has already completed discussions with various stakeholders, including organisations, federations, groups representing civil employees as well as Defence services and is in the process of finalising its recommendations.

It’s now in the process of finalising its recommendations.

The Seventh Pay Commission is also likely to keep the retirement age of central government employees unchanged at 60 years, although most of the central employees bodies sought to increase the retirement age to 62 years in their memorandum in the pay panel.

“We are not going to either recommend lowering or raising the retirement age. If we lower the age limit, the pension burden will bust the government’s medium-term fiscal targets.” highly-placed sources in the pay panel said.

TST

Armed forces again demand resolution of pay ‘anomalies’ with 7th Pay Commission

Armed forces again demand resolution of pay ‘anomalies’ with 7th Pay Commission

NEW DELHI: The armed forces want at least five “core anomalies” in their salary structures to be resolved to establish the “correct baseline” for recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC), whose term has now been extended till December 31 by the government.

While the heat and dust over one rank, one pension (OROP) is yet to settle, with a section of veterans rejecting the “diluted” version announced by the government on September 5, the serving personnel have their own deep-seated grouse over their eroding “status, parity and equivalence” as compared to their civilian counterparts.

The armed forces top brass have made several representations to the government, including the defence and finance ministries, on the core anomalies over the last one year. But have received no assurance till now. With the 7th CPC’s term being extended by four months, they are now making a last-ditch attempt to get the anomalies rectified.

One of the main demands is the grant of NFU (non-functional upgradation) for officers denied promotions due to the lack of vacancies in the steeply-pyramidal structure of the armed forces. “IFS and IPS officers, as also those from organized Group A civil services, now get NFU after the 6th CPC like IAS officers. But the armed forces have been kept out of it,” said a senior officer.

“This adversely impacts the morale of serving military officers. It also creates command, control and functional problems because even organizations that work closely with the military like DRDO, Border Roads Organisation, Military Engineer Service and the like get NFU,” he added.

Another demand is the placement of all Lt-Generals in the HAG+ (higher administrative grade) pay-scale like directors-general of police. “As of now, only 33% of Lt-Gens are in the HAG+ scale. The status of all Lt-Gens with that of DGPs must be restored,” he added.

The other anomalies deal with the grant of “uniform grade pay” and proper “initial pay fixation” of Lt-Colonels, Colonels and Brigadiers. There is also the need for all JCOs (junior commissioned officers) and soldiers to get “common pay scales”, in the backdrop of the ones recruited before January 2006 not getting them.

“Successive CPCs have given a raw deal to the armed forces compared to the bureaucracy. Virtually all IAS and IFS officers, for instance, reach the apex pay scale before their retirement due to NFU. They, therefore, get OROP through the backdoor. It’s high time the historical and traditional parity was restored,” said another officer.

The civilian bureaucracy, however, is not impressed. It feels the armed forces keep on making “more and more demands” when they already get a lot of privileges from free rations to hugely-subsidized canteens. “Military officers and jawans already get ‘military service pay’ for their tougher working conditions. The demand for NFU is unrealistic,” said a senior bureaucrat.

Read at: Times of India

Fraudulent Collection of Funds in the name of National Pension System – Public Notice

Fraudulent Collection of Funds in the name of National Pension System – Public Notice

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
First Floor, ICADR Building, Plot No 6, Institutional Area Phase II,
Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070 Tel. 011-26897948

PUBLIC NOTICE

It has come to notice of the Authority recently that some organizations, NGOs, societies, individuals, etc. are resorting to offer employment to students/ members of general public under and/or in the name of National Pension System. It has also been reported that some of these entities are also collecting funds from the students in the name of security money for offer of jobs or using the National Emblem and PFRDA logo on their website and other documents. It is hereby informed that PFRDA has not authorized any entity to engage in any such activity, which is illegal and fraudulent. Any entity/ or person found to be engaged in such fraudulent activities, is liable to be prosecuted in law.

The Authority is the regulatory body for National Pension System and other pension schemes under the provisions of the PFRDA Act, 2013, and detailed information pertaining to its functions are available on its website being www.pfrda.org.in.

Members of general public are hereby advised not to pay heed to or act on such false and misleading propaganda issued by such organizations/ individuals. Authority shall not be liable for any loss suffered by any person on account of any dealings with such unauthorized entities/individuals which shall be at his/ her own risk. Members of the general public are also requested to report such unauthorized activities to local authorities/ police department with a copy addressed to grc@pfrda.org.in;

This public notice is issued in interest of members of the general public.

Date: 20.08.2015

Ashish Kumar
General Manager

Authority : www.pfrda.org.in
Click to view the Public Notice

Removal of ceiling for Compassionate Appointment, Payment of Gratuity to NPS Beneficiaries and Minimum Guaranteed Benefits under NPS

Removal of ceiling for Compassionate Appointment, Payment of Gratuity to NPS Beneficiaries and Minimum Guaranteed Benefits under NPS

BPMS Resolutions adopted in CEC Meeting held in Hyderabad

BHARATIYA PRATIRAKSHA MAZDOOR SANGH
(An All India Federation of Defence Workers)
(An Industrial Unit of B.M.S.)
(Recognized by Govt of India, Min of Defence)
Central Office: 2A, NaVin Market, Kanpur – 208001

REF: BPMS/ RESOLUTION/ 10(7/1/M)

Dated: 21.09.2015

To,
The Secretary,
Govt. of India, Min of Defence,
South Block, DHQ PO,
New Delhi – 110011

Subject: Resolutions adopted in the Central Executive Committee meeting of BPMS.

Respected Sir,
With due regards, it is submitted for your kind information that the Central Executive Committee meeting of this federation has held on 08th & 09”” Sep. 2015 at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Complex, DRDO Township, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad and 03 Resolutions have been unanimously adopted by the CEO of the federation & the same are enclosed herewith for your kind consideration and further necessary action please.

This federation is in full hope to get favourable consideration in this regard.
Thanking you in anticipation.

Sincerely yours

(M P SINGH)
General Secretary

RESOLUTION No. 1: Payment of Gratuity to NPS Beneficiaries

In spite of our strong opposition, the Government has made the New Pension Scheme applicable to all recruits after 01-01-2004. While continuing our opposition to the scheme, BPMS have given several inputs from time to time to ensure that maximum benefit be given to the employees.

As a part of this, the entire bye-laws and other issues pertaining to the formulation of the New Defined Contribution Pension System (popularly known as the NPS) was studies and it was found that as per clarification issued by the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) the NPS is a replacement for only Pension, and thus, other benefits provided to employees like Gratuity remains constant i.e. the employees enrolled under NPS are also eligible for Gratuity as per provision of extant law.

After vigorously pursuing the issue, the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare had issued O.M. No. 38/41/06/P&PW (A) DT. 05-05-2009, with the approval of Cabinet to provide for Invalid Pension, Family Pension, Disability Pension, Extra-Ordinary Family Pension, Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity in respect of NPS subscribers on provisional basis.

Consequent thereof, BPMS has been consistently demanding that this “Provisional” basis be converted into a PERMANENT BASIS feature of the NPS. The Government has, now vide DC. No. 1(4)/E-2006 DT. 17-08-2015 of JS (Pers) of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) circulated a note proposing that the budget for the payment of gratuity be projected from the office of the Controller General of Accounts.

Subsequently, the issue has been earmarked to various Ministries, who in turn have further asked comments from various channels.

The federation having taken stock of the present situation feels that asking comments etc. is not required on a Policy decision and demands that the feature of payment of Gratuity to all NPS subscribers upon Retirement or Death, be made a Permanent feature, without further loss of time.

This resolution is therefore, unanimously adopted at the Central Executive Committee Meeting of the Federation on September 08th, 2015.

RESOLUTION No. 2: Minimum Guaranteed Benefits under NPS

In spite of our strong opposition, the Government has made the New Pension Scheme applicable to all recruits after 01-01-2004. While continuing our opposition to the scheme, BPMS have given several inputs from time to time to ensure that maximum benefit be given to the employees.
Even after a lapse of more than 10 years since the arbitrary implementation of the scheme, the Government has failed to formulate a policy ensuring “Guaranteed Minimum Pension” to the subscribers of the NPS.
Having examine the issue in detailed, BPMS now demands that without any further waste of time, the Government should frame a policy to ensure that irrespective of the financial/market conditions at the time of Retirement and/or Death of the NPS subscriber, he should get a minimum guaranteed pension equivalent to FIFTY PERCENT of his last drawn Basic Pay plus dearness relief for neutralization of price rise.
This Central Executive Committee Meeting of the Federation held at Hyderabad, on September 08th, 2015, hereby RESOLVES, to call upon the Government to frame a policy to ensure that the NPS subscribers receive a minimum guaranteed pension equivalent to FIFTY PERCENT of his last drawn Basic Pay plus dearness relief thereupon at par with Central Government Employees/Pensioners.

RESOLUTION No. 3: One time relaxation & removal of ceiling for Compassionate Appointment

The Government has imposed an arbitrary limit of 5% only for filling up of vacancies on compassionate grounds, subject to several conditions. As a result of this decision, many families are living in distress and the very concept of helping the families of those employees who die in harness, stands defeated due to imposition of this ceiling.

The Federation has been taking up the issue at all levels to relax the ceiling to enable the deserving candidate get employment and thereby provide help to the families of the deceased. Having examine the issue in detailed, BPMS now demands that without any further waste of time, the Government should frame a policy to ensure that as a onetime measure, all existing cases of compassionate appoints are provided suitable employment assistance immediately.

This Central Executive Committee Meeting of the Federation held at Hyderabad, on September 08th , 2015, hereby RESOLVES, to call upon the Government to frame a policy to ensure that one time measure, all existing cases of compassionate appoints are provided suitable employment assistance immediately and to further scrap the artificial ceiling of 5% with immediate effect.

(M P SINGH)

Source: BPMS

Revision of Cycle Maintenance Allowance of GDS Mail Carrier/Mail Deliverer

Revision of Cycle Maintenance Allowance of GDS Mail Carrier/Mail Deliverer

F. NO.41-1/2011-PAP

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND I.T.

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

[ESTABLISHMENT DIVISION]

DAK BHAWAN, SANSAD MARG, NEW DELHI-110001

The 15th September, 2015

To,
All Heads of Circles
All G.M. (Finance & Accounts)
All Directors of Postal Accounts
Directors RAKNPA Ghaziabad
All Directors, PTCs

Sub:-Revision of Cycle Maintenance Allowance of GDS Mail Carrier/Mail Deliverer —Reg.

Ref: Annexure II to this Directorate O.M. No. 6-1/2009-PE-II dated October 9, 2009.

I am directed to convey approval of the competent authority for revision of Cycle maintenance Allowance payable to GDS Mail carrier/Mail Deliverer who use their own cycle for discharge of duty.

2. Rate of Cycle maintenance Allowance are revised @ Rs.90/-(ninety only) per month with immediate effect. All Other terms & conditions for sanctioning of Cycle maintenance Allowance will be unchanged.

3 The cycle maintenance allowance of GDS Staff will be increased by 25% as & when the D.A. payable on revised pay Scales goes up by 50% in future.

4. It is requested to kindly circulate these orders to all subordinate offices for information and further necessary action please.

5. This issues with the concurrence of Integrated Finance Wing vide their Advice in Dy. No.144/FA/2015/CS Dated 15-09-2015.

(Maj S.N.Dave)

Asstt. Director General (Estt.)

Source: NFPE

Clarification regarding educational qualification for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Loco Pilot (Diesel/Electric)

Clarification regarding educational qualification for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Loco Pilot (Diesel/Electric) - "ITI (Machinist Grinder) cannot be accepted in lieu of qualification of ITI (Machinist) trade"

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR)

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAYA)

(RAILWAY BOARD)

No. E(NG)-II/2000/RR-1/47

New Delhi, Dated: 9.9.2015.

The Chairman,

Railway Recruitment Board,

Opposite North Central Railway Headquarters,

Near Railway Hospital, Subedarganj,

ALLAHABAD – 211 011.

Sub: Clarification regarding educational qualification for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Loco Pilot (Diesel/Electric).

Ref: RRB/ALD’s letter No. RRB/ALD/Con/ALP/CENO1/2010 dated 21.4.2009.

***

Clarification was sought for vide letter under reference whether National Trade Certificate (NTC) obtained from I.T.I. in Machinist Grinder Trade can be accepted in lieu of NTC from I.T.I. in Machinist Trade for the post of Assistant Loco Pilot (Diesel/Electric) on the railways.

2. The issue has been examined in consultation with Directorate General of Training (DGT), M/o Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and it is clarified that trade “Machinist” and trade “Machinist Grinder” are two different trades and content of curricula of both the trades are different, as such, ITI (Machinist Grinder) cannot be accepted in lieu of qualification of ITI (Machinist) trade.

Please acknowledge receipt.

(Neeaj umar)

Director Estt. (N)-II

Railway Board

Source: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/

Change in timings for booking train tickets through internet – Railway Board Orders on 18.9.2015

Change in timings for booking train tickets through internet – Railway Board Orders on 18.9.2015

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.2010/TG-I/10/ITS

New Delhi, dated 18.9.2015.

MD/CRIS
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
Managing Director / IRCTC,
11th Floor, Statesman House,
Barakhamba Road,
New Delhi.

(COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR NO.58 OF 2015)

Sub:- Change in timings for booking through internet.

Please refer to this office letter no. 2010/TG-I/10/P/ITS dated 22.04.2010 on the subject quoted above wherein the timings for booking of reserved tickets through internet were advised.

2. The matter been reviewed and it been decided that the facility of booking revised tickets through internet will be available from 0030 hours to 2345 hours daily w.e.f 20.09.2015.

3. Since the timings of functioning of PRS will be changed 0030 hours to 2345 hours w.e.f. 20.09.2015, the current counters at train originating stations will also be able to function from 0030 hours to 2345 hour.

4. Wide publicity should be given for information of general public by IRCTC and Zonal Railways.

(Vikrnm Singh)
Director Passenger Marketing
Railway Board

Authority : Indian Railways

Grant of 30% House Rent Allowance to employees working Umdanagar, Medchal and Gundlapochampally

Grant of 30% HRA to staff working Umdanagar, Medchal and Gundlapochampally on par with the staff working in GHMC limits.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No. E(P&A)II-2012/HRA-1

New Delhi, dated 18.9.2015.

The General Manager (P),
South-Central Railway,
Secunderabad

Sub:- Grant of 30% HRA to staff working Umdanagar, Medchal and Gundlapochampally on par with the staff working in GHMC limits.

Please refer to your office letter No. SCR/P-HQ/Ruling/O/811/HRA dated 29.06.15 on the above noted subject.

As per the dependency certificates dated 23.6.2015 issued by the District Collector of Ranga Reddy District, Umdanagar, Medchal & Gundlapochampally in Andhra Pradesh fulfill all the conditions prescribed in Para 2 of Board’s letter No.PC-65/HRA-1/3 dated 22-7-1965, as amended from time to time. The President is, therefore, pleased to decide that Railway employees posted at Umdanagar, Medchal and gundlapochampally, in Andhra Pradesh may be paid House Rent Allowance at the rates applicable to those posted with the classified city of Hyderabad (UA) [‘X’ class city] subject to fulfillment of the conditions laid down for grant of House Rent Allowance.

2. These orders will be valid from 01.06.2015 (a) for a period of 3 yrs i.e. upto 31.05.2018 or, (b) till the conditions prescribed in Para 2 of Board’s letter 22-7-1965, referred to above continue to be fulfilled in respect of Umdangar (ii) Medchal & (iii) Gundlapochampally or (c) until issue of any further orders in this regard by the Ministry of Railways, whichever is earliest.

3. The period at (a) of Para 2 above may, however, be extended after obtaining a fresh Dependency Certificate as prescribed in clause (ii) of Para 2 of Board’s letter dated 22-07-1965, as amended from time to time and in accordance with the provisions of Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-85/HRA-12 dated 11-3-1986.

4. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

sd/-
(Salim Md. Ahmed)
Dy. Director, Estt.(P&A)II
Railway Board

Source: NFIR