Revised rates of Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) to Armed Forces Medical Services

Revised rates of Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) to Armed Forces Medical Services

Revision of rates of Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) to the officers of Armed Forces Medical Services consequent on acceptance of recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission.

No.4(10)/2017/D(Med)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

New Delhi dated the 28th September, 2017

The Chief of the Army Staff,
The Chief of the Naval Staff,
The Chief of the Air Staff,
New Delhi

Subject: Revision of rates of Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) to the officers of Armed Forces Medical Services consequent on acceptance of recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission.

Sir,
I am directed to refer to Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance’s Resolution No.11-1/2016-IC dated 6th July, 2017 and OM No 12-2/2016-EIII.A dated 7th July, 2017 and to convey the sanction of the President of India for the grant of Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) to the officers of Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services which shall now be paid at the rate of 20% of the basic pay in the revised pay structure in vogue based on the recommendations of 7th CPC, subject to the condition that the sum of the basic pay, Military Service Pay(MSP) and NPA does not exceed Rs.2,37,500 (Rupees two Lakh thirty seven thousand and five hundred only). The following conditions shall regulate the grant of NPA under these orders:

(i) The term ‘basic pay’ in the revised pay structure shall mean "basic pay" in Army/Navy/Air Force Officers Pay Rules/Regulations, 2017, i.e., "basic pay" in revised pay structure means the pay drawn in the prescribed Level in the Pay Matrix.

(ii) The NPA shall continue to be treated as pay for the purpose of computation of Dearness Allowances, pension and other allowances, except those allowance in respect of which the applicable orders provide otherwise, including calculation of retirement benefits. Dearness Allowance under these orders shall mean dearness allowance as sanctioned by the Central Government from time to time in the 7th Pay Commission - related pay structure.

(iii) As per provision in relevant Rules of Army/Navy/Air Force Officers Pay Rules/Regulation,2017, NPA shall not be calculated on MSP.

(iv) NPA shall continue to be restricted to those medical posts for which medical qualifications recognized under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 or under the Dentist Act, 1948 have been prescribed as an essential qualification. The following conditions shall also be fulfilled as hitherto:

(a) The post is a clinical one.
(b) The Post is a whole time post.
(c) There is ample scope for private practice, and
(d) It is necessary to prohibit private practice in public interest.

2. The revised rates of NPA in terms of these orders shall take effect from 1st July,2017.

3. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Finance) vide UO No.3(01)/2017/AG/289-PA dated 19.09.2017.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(A.K.Tewari)
Under Secretary to the Government Of India

Authority: https://mod.gov.in/

7th Central Pay Commission: The Services should ensure a better deal for the Short Service Commission Scheme

The 7th Central Pay Commission: The Services should ensure a better deal for the Short Service Commission Scheme - Article by Maj Navdeep Singh on IndianMilitaryInfo.in

Now that the issues tagged with the 7th Central Pay Commission are gaining momentum, it is very important to again bring to light the matters related to the scheme of Short Service Commission, which arguably is being thought of as the backbone of the officer cadre of the defence services for the future.

A few years ago, the Short Service Commission Scheme of the Army was regressively tweaked from the earlier 5+5+4 system to the 10+4 system making service of 10 years compulsory in the Army for such officers. This was ostensibly done to make the scheme more ‘attractive’, but ironically, this is the greatest disservice that could ever be rendered and has had just the opposite effect. The reasons why I say so can be fathomed from this old post of mine:

A. There is no seniority protection in the civil services for former SS officers anymore, which means that an ex-SSCO starts his/her civil career alongwith civil direct recruits 10 years younger to him/her and atleast two ranks junior to his/her former status in the Army.

B. If joining the corporate world, the ex-SS officer again starts at a point of the ladder where he/she competes with youngsters who already have had a head-start which the former SS officer missed out due to his/her joining the Army.

C. Ex-Servicemen benefits are entitled only on completion of terms of engagement which means that the said benefits which were earlier available after 5 years, are now available after serving for 10.

D. 10% of appointments at Assistant Commandant (Lieutenant equivalent) level in the CAPFs are reserved for SSCOs. There is no protection of seniority. Hence, ex-SSCOs of Major and Lt Col level are expected to join at Lieut level (GP 5400) in the CAPFs which makes the entire reservation redundant.

E. After completing 10 years of service, an SSCO is in his/her 30s and to expect him/her to then look around for a fruitful career, in my opinion, is otiose.

It may be important to point out that in the civil services, in accordance with Rule 49 (2) (b) of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, civil employees become eligible for pension after serving the govt for 10 years, whereas our SSCOs are released without a pension and are only granted a gratuity even after serving 14 years. After the 6th CPC, civil employees are now entitled to full pension after serving 10 years under the ibid rule (it was 33 years for full pension prior to 6th CPC). Of course the 10 year rule on the civil side only applies to those who are released or retired after completing 10 years and not to voluntary retirees.

On learning that the defence services had made no recommendation of a proper pension scheme for SSCOs to the 7th CPC, I had duly pointed out its very pertinent requirement if we were to ensure retention of talent in this very important cadre of the defence services.

In short, the top brass of the Ministry of Defence and also the defence services, without being unduly guided by personal opinions of their staff, must take a holistic view and address the following issues to retain talent in the Short Service Commission and to maintain the izzat and sheen of the military rank in the civil society in general:

(1) Reverting back to the system of 5+5+4 years terms of engagement rather than the 10+4 years which leaves our officers neither here nor there.

(2) Introduction of pension after 10 years for those who opt to continue beyond 5 years on the lines of Rule 49 (2)(b) on the civil side, or a suitable contributory pension scheme.

(3) Ensuring retention and protection of seniority and status in the civil services for SSCOs.

(4) Restoration of outpatient medical facilities to released SSCOs and ECOs whichwere illegally withdrawn by the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services.

Though the above steps are not exhaustive, it is only now that putting our brains together could make any positive dent, otherwise, the matter would further be postponed for another 10 years to the next pay commission. The Services HQ should stand up and take a call!

Read at: Indianmilitary.info

Doctors Commissioned through Armed Forces Medical Services: 700 doctors have been commissioned during last three years

Doctors Commissioned through Armed Forces Medical Services: 700 doctors have been commissioned during last three years

 Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

07-August-2013 16:09 IST

Doctors Commissioned Through AFMS

700 doctors have been commissioned in Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) during last three years.

The number of medical cadets (who opted out of service before their commissioning in the AFMS) and the serving doctors who left service by paying the bond money during the last three years, is indicated below:-

S. No.	Year	No. of medical cadets	No. of serving doctors
(i)	2010	33	Nil
(ii)	2011	26	Nil
(iii)	2012	19	Nil

 To discourage commissioned doctors from leaving, several measures have been taken by the Government. Additional marks are awarded to specialist doctors for professional qualifications while considering them for promotions by the concerned Promotion Boards. Specialists trained in Armed Forces Medical Services undertake-to serve for a period of 10 years after post graduation. Opportunities are provided to specialist officers to train further in super specialities / allied specialties which act as an incentive for them to continue to serve with the organization. For retaining trained doctors, opportunities for doing Post Graduation are also provided to them. Option of raising the amount of the bond required to be executed at the time of taking admission for MBBS course as also for doing other courses is also available with the Government for this purpose.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Dr. Chandan Mitra in Rajya Sabha today.

Source: PIB