| Sl. No. | Frequently asked Question | Answer |
| 1 | Whether
Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance (CEA)for 3rd child is
permissible if CEAhas not been claimed for 1st and or 2nd child? As per
OM dated 2.9.2008 CEAis admissible for two school going children does it
mean any two school going children? | No. Reimbursement of CEA is
not permissible for third child even if reimbursement has not been
claimed in respect of first and/or second child. However, as per OM
No.12011/03/2008- Estt.(AL) dated 11.11.2008, the Children Education
Allowance would be admissible for more than two children where as a
result of the second child birth results in birth of twins or multiple
children. Further, reimbursement of CEAfor the 3? child is also
admissible in case of failure of sterilization operation. Such
reimbursement• is admissible only for the first child birth after
failure of sterilization operation. This point was further clarified
vide O.M. No.12011/16/2009-Allowance) dated 13.11.2009. |
| 2 | What
types of fee are reimbursable? Whether Annual Charges and
Transportation fees are reimbursable? Whether reimbursement towards
purchase of school bag, water bottle, uniform, shoes and stationery is
admissible? | As per OM No.12011/03/2008-Estt.(AL) dated 2.9.2008,
tuition fee, admission fee, laboratory fee, special fee charged for
agriculture, electronics, music or any other subject, fee charged for
practical work under the programme of work experience, fee paid for the
use of any aid or appliances by the child, library fee, games/sports fee
and fee for extra-curricular activities are reimbursable subject to the
condition that the aforementioned fee are charged by the school
directly from the student. No reimbursement is permissible for Annual
Charges and Transportation fees. Besides, reimbursement for purchase of
one set of text books and notebooks, two sets of uniforms prescribed by
the school in which the child is studying, one pair of shoes, in an
academic year are reimbursable. Uniform include all items of clothing
prescribed for a day, as uniform by the school, irrespective of
colours/winter/summer/PT uniforms. Reimbursement of school bags,
pens/pencils, water bottle, stationery etc., may not be allowed. O.M.
No.12011/08/2010-Estt.(AL) dated 30.12.2010and O.M. No.12011/07(i)/2011-
Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012 refers. |
| 3 | Whether CEA has been increased by 25% as a result of enhancement ofDearness allowancebeyond 50%? | The
Department’s OM No.12011/03/2008-Estt.(AL) dated 2.9.2008 clearly
indicates that the limits “would be automatically raised by 25% every
time the Dearness Allowance on the revised pay structure goes up by 50%.
There is no need for any separate order from this Department to effect
enhancement of CEA as a result of increase in DA by 50%. However, O.M.
No.12011/01/2011-Estt.(Allowance) dated 4th May, 2011, has been issued
to clarify this further. |
| 4 | Whether CEA can be claimed for the child for the same class twice? | The
reimbursement of CEA is not linked to the performance of the child in
his class. Even if a child fails in a particular class, the
reimbursement is permissible.However, if the child is admitted in the
same class in another school, although the child has passed out of the
same class in previous school or in the mid-session, CEA shall not be
reimbursable. |
| 5 | Whether CEA/Hostel Subsidy is allowed for initial two years of Diploma Courses? | Children
Education Allowance/Hostel Subsidy is allowed for the initial two years
of a diploma/ certificate course from Polytechnic / lTl / Engineering
College, if the child pursues the course after passing 10th standard and
the Government servant has not been granted CEA/Hostel Subsidy in
respect of the child for studies in ¡n 11th and 12th standards. This is
further subject to fulfillment of other conditions laid down in the OM.
No.12011/03/2008-Estt.(AL) dated 2.9.2008 and subsequent instructions
issued from time to time. |
| 6 | What is hostel subsidy? | The
term Hostel Subsidy would mean expenses incurred by the Government
servant if he/she keeps his/her children in a hostel of a residential
school/institution located beyond a distance of 50 kilometers from
his/her residence. |
| 7 | Whether Hostel subsidy is reimbursable irrespective of transfer liability? | Hostel
Subsidy is reimbursable to all Central Government Employees covered by
the scheme, for keeping their ward in the Hostel of a residential school
away from the station in which the employee is posted or residing
irrespective of any transfer liability. |
| 8 | Whether
Hostel subsidy can be reimbursed if the child is staying in a Hostel
which is not part of residential school where he is studying? | No,
Hostel subsidy is reimbursable only in case of child studying in a
residential school and staying in hostel of the said residential school. |
| 9 | What are the components of hostel subsidy? | Hostel
subsidy includes fee charged for boarding, lodging in addition to fee
as mentioned in para 1(e) of OM No. 12011/03/ 2008-Estt.(AL) dated
2.9.2008. |
| 10 | Whether a Government servant is
allowed to get 50% of the total amount subject to the overall annual
ceiling in the first quarter and the remaining amount in third and/or
fourth quarter? | Reimbursement of 50% of the entitled amount for
the academic year can be allowed in the first and/or second quarter and
the remaining amount can be reimbursed in the third and/or fourth
quarter. The entire entitled amount can also be reimbursed in the last
quarter. However, frontloading of the entire admissible amount is not
permissible. O.M. No.12011/07(i)/2011- Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012
refers. |
| 11 | Whether any age limit been prescribed reimbursement of CEA respect of children studying nursery classes? | There is no minimum age prescribed for reimbursement of CEA in respect of children admitted in nursery classes.
However, with regard to physically challenged children the minimum age
of 5 (five) years was prescribed for disabled children undergoing non-
formal/vocational education. With effect from 21st February, 2012, the
minimum age stipulated as 5 years for disabled children stand removed.
Hence, there is no minimum age of child for whom reimbursement is
claimed irrespective of the fact whether the child is disabled or not.
The maximum age for normal child is 20 years and for physically
challenged children the maximum age is 22 years. O.M.
No.12011/07(ii)/2011-Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012 refers. |
| 12 | Whether the school/institution should be recognized? | The
school institution has to be recognized by the Central or State
Government or UT administration or by University or a recognized
educational authority having jurisdiction over the area where the
institution is situated. This also applies in respect of children
studying in two classes prior to Class-I. i.e.. nursery /LKG / UKG,
etc., OM No.12011/03/2008-Estt.(AL) dated 23.11.2009. |
| 13 | Whether
CEA is payable for the children of Central Government employees and
studying abroad, including children of citizens of Nepal/Bhutan but
working in Government of India, and their children are studying in the
schools in their native place? | The CEA is payable for the
children of all Central Government employees including citizens of Nepal
and Bhutan, who are employees of Government of India, and whose
children are studying in the native place. However, a certificate may be
obtained from the concerned Indian Mission that the school is
recognized by the educational authority having jurisdiction over the
area where the institution is situated. |
| 14 | What
constitutes “Fee” as per para 1(e) of the 0.M. dated 2/9/2008 and
whether fee paid for extra-curricular activities to some other institute
and reimbursement of school bags, pens/pencils, etc., can be allowed?
Is there any item- wise ceiling? | “Fee” shall mean fee paid to
the school in which the child is studying, directly by the
parents/guardian for the items mentioned in para 1(e) of the OM. dated
2/9/2008. Reimbursement of school bags, pens/pencils, etc., may not be
allowed. There is no item-wise ceiling. O.M.
No.12011/07(i)/2011-Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012 refers. |
| 15 | Whether
reimbursement can be allowed in case the original receipts are
misplaced and duplicate receipts are produced by the Government servant?
Are the original receipts required to be attested/ countersigned /
rubber stamped by the school authorities? | In case of
misplacement of receipts given by the school/institution towards charges
received from the parents/guardian, reimbursement may be allowed if the
Government servant produces a duplicate receipt, duly authenticated by
the school authorities. Receipts from private parties, other than the
school, if misplaced shall not be entertained, even if a duplicate
receipt is produced. Original receipts from school authorities need not
be attested/ countersigned/rubber stamped by the school authorities.
O.M. No.12011/07(i)/2011-Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012 refers. |
| 16 | Whether Development Fee / Parents Contribution charged by the school/institution is reimbursable? | Reimbursement
of Development Fee/Parents’ Contribution is allowed w.e.f. 2l’
February, 2012, vide O.M. No.1201 L/07(ii)1201 l-Estt.(AL) dated
21.02.2012, on pro-rata basis, subject to the condition that the
Government servant will have to certify that the school does not charge
tuition fee. However, in respect of children studying in Kendriya
Vidyalaya., the Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi is reimbursable as it forms part
of para 1(e) of O.M. No.12011 /3/2008-Estt.(Allowance) dated 2.9.2008.
O.M. No.12011/16/2009- Estt(Allowances) dated 13.11.2009 refers. |
| 17 | Whether
reimbursement of fee charged directly by the school for catering to the
special needs of the child with disabilities duly certified by the
concerned school authorities, in addition to items mentioned in para
1(e) of O.M. dated 2.9.2008. is permissible? | Reimbursement of
fee charged directly by the school for catering to the special needs of
the child with disabilities duly certified by the concerned school
authorities, in addition to items mentioned in para 1(e) of O.M. dated
2.9.2008, is allowed w.e.f. 211t February, 2012. |
