Approximately 18 lakh central government employees covered under NPS would be benefitted from the streamlining of the National Pension System

Ministry of Finance

Streamlining of National Pension System (NPS)

 

Posted On: 10 DEC 2018 3:01PM by PIB Delhi

Decision
The Union Cabinet in its Meeting on 6th December, 2018 has approved the following proposal for streamlining the National Pension System (NPS).

• Enhancement of the mandatory contribution by the Central Government for its employees covered under NPS Tier-I from the existing 10% to 14%.
• Providing freedom of choice for selection of Pension Funds and pattern of investment to central government employees.
• Payment of compensation for non-deposit or delayed deposit of NPS contributions during 2004-2012.
• Tax exemption limit for lump sum withdrawal on exit has been enhanced to 60%. With this, the entire withdrawal will now be exempt from income tax. (At present, 40% of the total accumulated corpus utilized for purchase of annuity is already tax exempted. Out of 60% of the accumulated corpus withdrawn by the NPS subscriber at the time of retirement, 40% is tax exempt and balance 20% is taxable.)
• Contribution by the Government employees under Tier-II of NPS will now be covered under Section 80 C for deduction up to Rs. 1.50 lakh for the purpose of income tax at par with the other schemes such as General Provident Fund, Contributory Provident Fund, Employees Provident Fund and Public Provident Fund provided that there is a lock-in period of 3 years.

Background
The new entrants to the central government service on or after 01.01.2004 are covered under the National Pension System (NPS). The Seventh Pay Commission (7th CPC), during its deliberations, examined certain concerns regarding NPS and made recommendations in the year 2015. The 7th CPC recommended for setting up of a Committee of Secretaries in this regard. Accordingly, a Committee of Secretaries was constituted by the Government to suggest measures for streamlining the implementation of NPS in the year 2016. The Committee submitted its report in the year 2018. Accordingly, based on the recommendations of the Committee, draft Cabinet Note was placed before the Cabinet for its approval.

Implementation strategy and targets
The proposed changes to NPS would be made applicable immediately once time critical decisions are taken in consultation with the other concerned Ministries / Departments.

Major impact

• Increase in the eventual accumulated corpus of all central government employees covered under NPS.
• Greater pension payouts after retirement without any additional burden on the employee.
• Freedom of choice for selection of Pension Funds and investment pattern to central government employees.
• Benefit to approximately 18 lakh central government employees covered under NPS.
• Augmenting old-age security in a time of rising life expectancy.
• By making NPS more attractive, government will be facilitated in attracting and retaining the best talent.

Expenditure involved
The impact on the exchequer on this account is estimated to be to the tune of around Rs. 2840 crores for the financial year 2019-20, and will be in the nature of a recurring expenditure. The financial implications on account of provisions regarding payment of compensation for non-deposit or delayed deposit of NPS contributions during 2004-2012, would be in addition to the amount indicated above.

No. of beneficiaries
Approximately 18 lakh central government employees covered under NPS would be benefitted from the streamlining of the National Pension System.

States/districts covered
Pan India.

Details and progress of scheme if already running
Presently, the new entrants to the central government service on or after 01.01.2004 are covered under the NPS. NPS is being implemented and regulated by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority in the country.

PIB

DoPT: Procedure for booking of air-tickets on LTC- compliance of instructions regarding

DoPT: Procedure for booking of air-tickets on LTC- compliance of instructions regarding.

No. 31011/2/2018-Estt (A.IV)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
Establishment A-IV Desk

North Block, New Delhi-10001
Dated: December 10, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Procedure for booking of air-tickets on LTC - compliance of instructions regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. No. 31011/5/2014-Estt.A-IV dated 24.09.2014, 23.09.2015 and 21.08.2017 on the procedure for booking of air tickets on LTC and to say that as per the extant instructions, whenever a Government servant claims LTC by air, he/she is required to book the air tickets directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the services of the authorized travel agents viz. 'M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company', 'M/s Ashok Travels & Tours' and 'IRCTC' (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT O.M. No. 31011/6/2002-Est(A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey(s).

2. In this regard, it is observed that despite reiterating the above instructions from time to time, this Department still continues to receive numerous references from various Ministries/Departments and individuals seeking relaxation for booking of air tickets for the purpose of LTC through private travel agents. In most of the cases, the common reasons cited by the Government employees are lack of awareness of the rules and work exigencies.

3. Therefore, all the Ministries/Departments are advised to ensure wide circulation and strict compliance of the guidelines stated in para 1 of this OM. This point may also be emphasized by the Administration whenever any advance is sought or intention to avail LTC is conveyed by the Government servant. It is stated that henceforth only those cases, where it is established that bonafide mistake has occured and the Administrative Ministry/Department is satisfied that undue hardship is being caused to the Government servant, shall be considered by this Department for relaxation provided that the information is received in the Proforma enclosed along with supporting documents.
End.: As above

(Surya Na ayan Jha)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

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

Source: DoPT

Appointment on Compassionate Grounds - Railways

Appointment on Compassionate Grounds - Railways

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

RBE No. 181/2018

New Delhi, dated 27.11.2018

No. E(NG)II/2018/RC-1/44 pt
The General Manager(P)
All Indian Railways & PUs

Sub: Appointment on Compassionate Grounds - Priority No. 1 case- reg.

Attention is invited to this office letter para 10 (i) and 10 (c) of Board's letter No. E(NG)II/90/RC-1/117 dated 12.12.1990 wherein it had been laid down regarding order of priority in offering appointment on compassionate grounds.

Priority No. 10 (i) - Dependents of employees who die or are permanently crippled in the course of duty and 10 (c) - a time limit of one month should be observed within which appointment should be given and Para 6 of Board's letter No. E(NG)II/91/RR-1120 dated 03.12.1991 wherein it had been laid down that Compassionate appointment in the clerical categories should be avoided to the extent possible. For any such appointment, General Manager should be personally satisfied that, the same is unavoidable, and offered as a last resort.

It has been decided by the Board that for the dependents of employees who die or are permanently crippled in the course of duty (Priority No.1), there should be no restriction on offering him/her clerical post and this power is hereby delegated to DRMs/CWMs solely for the dependents of employees who die or permanently crippled in the course of duty.

(Neeraj Kumar)
Director Estt. (N)II,
Railway Board.

Brief of the meeting held on 07.12.2018 with Hon'ble Minister for Railways

Brief of the meeting held on 07.12.2018 with Hon'ble Minister for Railways

All India Railwaymen's Federation
4, State Entry Road, New Delhi - 110055

No.AIRF/24(C)

Dated: December 8, 2018

The General Secretaries,
All Affiliated Unions,

Sub: Brief of the meeting held on 07.12.2018 with Hon'ble Minister for Railways

Dear Comrades,
Yesterday I met Hon'ble Minister for Railways and shown our anguish against the inordinate delay in resolving the problems of the Railwaymen at an earliest. We have also mentioned about the discussions held with the Railway Board on 4-5 December, 2018 and our decision of "Work To Rule".

He had given positive response and called the Member Staff and Financial Commissioner(Railways), Railway Board, telling them to resolve the problems of the Railwaymen at an earliest, including implementation of four grade structure, in the ratio of 10:20:20:50, in case of Trackmen/Track Maintainers, revision of the rates of Running Allowance and other allowances related to Running Staff, Restructuring of the IT Cadre, etc. etc. The meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere and Hon’ble MR had appreciated the sentiments of the Railwaymen organized under AIRF.
This is for your information.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary
Pending burning issues of the Railwaymen

The undernoted burning issues have been time and again brought to your kind notice for early redressal thereof because non-redressal of these issue is causing serious deep sense of discontentment among the Railway Staff……

1.Implementation of four grade structure in the ratio of 10:20:20:50 in case of Trackmen/Track Maintainers - As you are very well aware that, the Joint Committee on Package and Career Progression of Trackmen had, unanimously recommended to grant four grade structure to the category of Trackmen/Track Maintainers in the ratio of 10:20:20:50 with a view to facilitate advancement prospects to this ever neglected category of the staff who are directly involved in safe train operation by maintaining railway track. Despite assurance given by the Railway Board, during the course of discussions in Railway Board PNM with AIRF, that, orders would be issued within a couple of days to implement the said four grade structure, final outcome is still awaited, due to which serious resentment is brewing among the Trackmen/Track Maintainers.

2.Revision of the rates of Running Allowance and other allowances related to Running Staff - This issue has also been deliberated at length at several occasions, but unfortunately, Railway Board’s instructions to this effect are yet to be issued. The Running Staff, both Loco & Traffic, are seriously concerned due to inordinate delay in revision of the rates of Running Allowance and other allowances related to Running Staff because on previous occasions the revision used to be done just after implementation of recommendations of the successive Central Pay Commissions.

I would, therefore, seek your personal intervene, so that, revision of the rates of the aforesaid allowances is done without any further delay.

3.Restructuring of the IT Cadre - Information Technology has gained paramount importance in all walks of the life. While IT Cadre was formed in the Indian Railways more than a decade ago, but there is still some confusion in regard to dysfunction and Human Resource Management. Railway Board had issued instructions for Cadre Restructuring of IT Cadre (Ref.No.2016/AC-II(CC)/37/9 dated 18.04.2017(RBA No.45/2017), No.2017/AC-II(CC)/37/7 dated 29.06.2017 and No.2017/AC-II/37/9 dated 29.12.2017), but unfortunately, an impracticable condition was imposed to surrender all the vacant posts in the cadre, whereas, in Cadre Restructuring of other categories, only number of posts of Matching Money Value were surrendered and not the entire vacant posts. We have been regularly pursuing this issue, and the present Financial Commissioner, Railway Board, also assured to take necessary action in the matter, but final outcome is still awaited.

I would, therefore, request that, this issue should also be looked into on priority and revised orders issued early.

I sincerely hope that, the above issues would definitely be given due attention and necessary instructions shall be issued without any further delay, keeping in view the discontentment brewing among these vulnerable categories of the Railwaymen.

Source: AIRF