Proposed Changes in UPSC Examination

Proposed Changes in UPSC Examination

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) have submitted a proposal to the Central Government suggesting certain changes in the existing scheme of Civil Services (Main) Examination to make it more relevant with the present day, global as well as internal scenario on the basis of the report of a committee, constituted by the Commission under the chairmanship of Prof. Arun S.Nigavekar, former Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC).

Till now, no decision has been taken by the Government on these recommendations.

This was stated by Shri V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office in written reply to a question by Shri Avinash Pande in the Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

GAP between WPI and CPI; Government and RBI takes Several Measures to Contain Inflation

GAP between WPI and CPI; Government and RBI takes Several Measures to Contain Inflation

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

06-December-2012 18:59 IST

GAP between WPI and CPI; Government and RBI takes Several Measures to Contain Inflation

Year-on-year inflation in October, 2012 measured in terms of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) (New series) was 7.45 per cent and 9.75 per cent, respectively. The details of the level of WPI and CPI (NS) and the rate of inflation are indicated below.

Table: Comparative weights, base, indices and inflation of WPI and CPI
Composition of Indices			Index	Inflation (%)
Wholesale Price Index (Base: 2004-05=100)
General and group	Weight	Oct. 11	Oct. 12	Y-o-Y
Headline WPI	100.00	157.0	168.7	7.45
Food	24.31	179.8	193.7	7.73
Non-food	75.69	149.7	160.7	7.35
Consumer Price Index for new series (base: 2010=100)
CPI-NS General (all India)	100.00	113.8	124.9	9.75
Food	47.58	113.7	126.7	11.45
Non-food	52.42	113.9	123.3	8.22
Note: the figures are provisional for October 2012 in case of WPI and CPI-NS

Variation in the level of index and inflation in these two indices is due to difference in base year, commodity composition and weights.

Inflation measured in terms of both these indices currently is above the comfort level of Government and Reserve Bank of India. Government and Reserve Bank of India have been conscious of the need to contain inflation. Measures taken in this regard are given at Anenxure-I.

Annexure-I

Measures taken to contain inflation

1.     Fiscal and Administrative measures

Reduced import duties to zero-for wheat, onion, pulses, crude palmolein and to 7.5% for refined and hydrogenated oils and vegetable oils.

Duty-free import of white and raw sugar was extended upto 30/6/2012; presently the import duty has been kept at 10%.

Ban on export of onion was imposed for short period of time whenever required. Exports of onion were calibrated through the mechanism of Minimum Export Prices (MEP).

Maintained the Central Issue Price (CIP) for rice (at Rs. 5.65/kg for BPL and Rs. 3/kg for AAY) and wheat (at Rs. 4.15/kg for BPL and Rs. 2/kg for AAY) since 2002. Effective prices for BPL families in 2012-13 are 23.4% and 22.8% of the economic cost of rice and wheat respectively.

Suspended futures trading in rice, urad, tur, guar gum and guar seed.

Banned export of edible oils (except coconut oil and forest based oil) and edible oils in blended consumer packs upto 5 kg with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes per annum and pulses (except Kabuli chana and organic pulses and lentils upto a maximum of 10,000 tonnes per annum)

Imposed stock limits from time to time in the case of select essential commodities such as pulses, edible oil, and edible oilseed and in the case of paddy and rice for specific seven states upto 30.11.2012.

To ensure adequate availability of sugar for the households covered under TPDS, the levy obligation on sugar factories was resorted to 10% for sugar season 2011-12.

Government allocated rice and wheat under OMSS scheme.

Off take of wheat and rice continued to be maintained to ensure adequate availability of food grains. Overall off-take of wheat and rice was 53.0 million tonnes in 2010-11 and 56.4 million tonnes in 2011-12. In first five months of the current fiscal year 24.0 million tonnes has already been distributed.

Resumed the scheme for subsidized imported pulses through PDS in a varied form with the nomenclature “Scheme for Supply of Imported Pulses at Subsidized rates to States/UTs for Distribution under PDS to BPL card holders” with a subsidy element of Rs. 20/- per kg to be paid to the designated importing agencies upto a maximum number of BPL card holders for the residual part of the current year and extended the scheme for subsidized imported edible oils w.e.f. 1.10.2012 to 30.9.2013 with subsidy of Rs. 15/- per kg for import of upto 10 lakh tonnes of edible oils for this period.

2. Budgetary and other measures

A number of measures have been announced in Unino Budget 2012-13 to augment supply and improve storage and warehousing facilities. Government had launched a National Mission for Protein supplements in 2011-12 with allocation of Rs. 300 crore. To broaden the scope of production of fish to coastal aquaculture, apart from fresh water aquaculture, the outlay 2012-13 is being stepped up to Rs. 500 crore. Recently, Government has permitted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail trading. This will help consumers and farmers by improving the sell and purchase facilities.

3. Monetary measures

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had also taken suitable steps to contain inflation with 13 consecutive increase by 375 bps in policy rates from March 2010 to October 2011.

However, to increase liquidity, it reduced CRR (from 6% to 4.25%) and SLR (from 25% to 23%). With moderation in inflation, repo rate was also reduced by 50 basis points in April 2012 to bring it to 8.00 per cent.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Finance Shri Namo Narain Meena in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

 

PIB

Bankers demand 5 days week, NUBE submitted memorandum

Bankers demand 5 days week, NUBE submitted memorandum

Demand for five days' week in bank is again on the news. NUBE, an organization of bank employees recently submitted a memorandum to Central Govt for implementation of this long awaited demand.

"At present all Central government establishments, RBI, Forex Department, Parliament, State Assemblies, Treasury, ITBT industries and Western Countries observe 5 day week.

Majority of State government offices remain closed on Second Saturday of the month. Therefore Banking Industry switching over to 5 day week will not make much difference to routine business. Introduction of 5 day week has sits benefits as it will go a long way in further strengthening our Banking Industry and delivering better results to the people of the country. With the introduction of technology in the banking sector, basic Banking services are today available 24X7; RBI, Central Government, State Governments, Insurance Sector, Financial Market, Stock Exchange, Foreign Exchange Markets, etc. are closed on Saturdays and Sundays without causing any major inconvenience to general public at large. With the increased need for canvassing business, marketing, followup recovery, etc. one weekday off is inadequate and there is genuine need to introduce 5 Day banking for the Banks...."

Seethe full memorandum

Source: www.paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in
[http://paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in/2012/12/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube.html]

CONFEDERATION PRESIDENT WRITES TO STAFF SIDE SECRETARY ON MACP ISSUES

CONFEDERATION PRESIDENT WRITES TO STAFF SIDE SECRETARY ON MACP ISSUES


S.K. VYAS
PRESIDENT;
Dated: 10th November, 2012.
Com. Umraomal Purohit,
Secretary, Staff Side, National Council, JCM\
13-C Ferozeshah Road,
New Delhi 110 001

Dear Comrade,

Kindly recall the discussions, I had with you two days back about the meeting held under the Chairmanship of JS(E) 27th July, 2012 on MACP issues.  As intimated to you, the minutes of the said meeting was prepared and circulated by the official side without causing any discussion with the Staff Side, which had been the practice all along with the result there had been serious omissions in the conclusions indicated therein.  However, on the basis of our discussions, we suggest the following proposals:
(a)    On our demand for giving effect to the MACP scheme from 1.1.2006 :
Our suggestion at the meeting was that if not for the entire personnel, the Govt. may consider to grant the benefit of MACP scheme to  the personnel retired between 1.1.2006 and 31.8.2008 effective from. 1.1.2006.  This suggestion was made with a view that the personnel who were in service after 1.9.2008, no doubt get the MACP benefit, though belatedly.  Only those who retired between the above crucial dates are denied the said benefit for ever.   In my opinion, we may even go further and suggest that even in the case of those retired, the benefit may be made only notional, in as much as they may not be entitled to receive arrears of salary due to the revision of pay.  They become entitled only the increased pension benefit and that too with effect from. 1.9. 2008.

(b)   MACP on promotional hierarchy :
There had been no logical arguments placed by the official side for denying the option to be exercised by the individual employee as to whether he would like to retain the existing scheme of ACP or switch over to MACP.  In the light of strong contention made by the Staff Side, it was in fact agreed that the official side will consider this proposal which was made by the Staff Side in fact as an alternative to the demand for masking MACP on the basis of promotional hierarchy in replacement of Grade Pay hierarchy. As large number of employees would be affected adversely if this just demand is denied, we feel that this issue must be pressed for acceptance.

We request you to kindly take up the above two formulations at the appropriate level as you deem fit and bring about a settlement at an early date.
With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

sd.
S.K.Vyas.
President.

Source: www.confederationhq.blogspot.in

Benefit of one increment on promotion in same grade pay – Confederation writes to Finance Ministry

Benefit of one increment on promotion in same grade pay – Confederation writes to Finance Ministry

CONFEDERATION WRITES TO SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE ON FIXATION OF PAY ON PROMOTION CARRYING SAME GRADE PAY

D/16/2012 Dated: 10th November, 2012.

To
The Secretary,
Department of Expenditure,
Ministry of Finance,
Government of India, North Block
New Delhi. 110 001

Dear Sir,

Sub:  Fixation of pay on promotion to a post carrying the same Grade pay.

It was agreed in the last National Anomaly Committee meeting held on 17th July, 2012( as could be seen from the minutes issued in this regard) that in cases where promotion to a post carrying the same grade pay, benefit of one increment would be considered subject to the condition that the promotional post carries higher duties and responsibilities under FR 22 and fixation benefit under FR 22 (1)(a)(i) was available prior to the implementation of the 6th CPC report and the merger of the two grades was not on functional considerations.  However, in implementation of this agreement, no formal orders were issued so far.

We, therefore, request that necessary instruction may kindly be caused to be issued to grant one increment benefit to all those employees who are promoted where the feeder cadre and the promotion cadre carry the same grade pay, provided the promotional grade is declared to be a post carrying higher responsibilities.  All those who were promoted during the period between 1.1.2006 and the date of issue of the instruction may also be covered by the said instruction specifically.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,
K.K.N. Kutty
Secretary General.

Source: www.confederationhq.blogspot.in

Employment Staff News : New Column in Employment News for disabled persons called “Ability Brings Employment

Employment Staff  News : New Column in Employment News for disabled persons called “Ability Brings Employment

New Column for disabled persons

Employment News will focus on this aspect from January 2013, by launching a new column called “Ability Brings Employment”.

Social and economic inclusion is key to a meaningful growth.  The core message of democracy is inclusiveness. Since its inception, focus of Employment News has been to disseminate equitable employment opportunities for all section of society including persons with disabilities.  In the recent past, it has been realized by more and more industries and services to view qualified persons with disabilities as a valuable human resource. This important section of society can no longer be ignored.  From various quarters there have been requests to Employment News to publish information on employment opportunities for them.

Employment News will focus on this aspect from January 2013, by launching a new column called “Ability Brings Employment”.  Every alternative month, employment opportunities and upgradation of skills etc. will be highlighted in this column.

It is yet another step of Employment News to enrich its subscribers and readers.

Source: www.employmentnewsweeklyjobs.com

ONE OF THE PASSENGERS BOOKED ON A NON-TATKAL TICKET NEEDS TO PRODUCE ONE OF THE PRESCRIBED PROOFS OF IDENTITY IN ORIGINAL DURING THE JOURNEY

ONE OF THE PASSENGERS BOOKED ON A NON-TATKAL TICKET NEEDS TO PRODUCE ONE OF THE PRESCRIBED PROOFS OF IDENTITY IN ORIGINAL DURING THE JOURNEY

Carrying Prescribed Photo Identity Card in Original is Now Compulsory During Journey in Trains in Any Reserved Classes

ONE OF THE PASSENGERS BOOKED ON A NON-TATKAL TICKET NEEDS TO PRODUCE ONE OF THE PRESCRIBED PROOFS OF IDENTITY IN ORIGINAL DURING THE JOURNEY

THE PASSENGERS UNDERTAKING JOURNEY ON TATKAL TICKET HAVE TO PRODUCE THE SAME ORIGINAL PRESCRIBED PROOF OF IDENTITY AS INDICATED ON THE TICKET

PASSENGERS TRAVELLING WITHOUT AN ORIGINAL IDENTIFY PROOF WOULD BE TREATED AS WITHOUT TICKET AND CHARGED ACCORDINGLY.

WHILE PURCHASING RESERVED TICKETS THROUGH PRS COUNTERS, SHOWING ORIGINAL OR ATTACHING PHOTOCOPY OF THE IDENTITY CARD IS NOT REQUIRED EXCEPT WHILE PURCHASING TATKAL TICKETS WHERE PHOTOCOPY NEEDS TO BE ATTACHED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE

THE MOVE AIMS TO FACILITATE THE TRAVEL OF BONAFIDE AND LEGITIMATE PASSENGERS AND TO REDUCE THE SCOPE FOR MISUSE OF RESERVED TICKETING SYSTEM BY UNSCRUPULOUS ELEMENTS/MIDDLEMAN

THE LIST OF PRESCRIBED PROOFS OF IDENTITY HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO COVER MORE VARIETY OF PHOTO IDENTITY CARDS FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE PASSENGERS

As a major initiative to further facilitate the travel of bonafide and legitimate passengers and to reduce the scope for misuse of reserved ticketing system by unscrupulous elements/middlemen, the Ministry of Railways has now made it compulsory to carry prescribed original proof of identity cards during train travel on all reserved classes of tickets.  While this provision was made compulsory for Air Conditioned classes w.e.f. 15th February 2012,   the provision for all remaining classes was made effective from 1st December 2012.  In a nutshell, now all categories of passengers travelling in reserved classes will have to produce original proof of prescribed identity cards during the train journey.  Those travelling without an original identify proof shall be treated as without ticket and charged accordingly.

In case of travel by a group on the same PNR, any one member in the group travelling on a single PNR needs to carry the prescribed identity proof in original which will be valid for all.  In case of Tatkal tickets, the same original proof of identity as mentioned at the time of purchase of he Tatkal tickets (which is also indicated on the ticket) needs to be carried while travelling.

Moreover, in case of purchasing Tatkal tickets from PRS counters, it is necessary to attach only the self-attested photocopy of the prescribed identity card with the requisition slip, whereas while booking Tatkal ticket though internet, the number and type of proof of identity has to be indicated.  However, at the time of purchasing non-Tatkal tickets from PRS counters, there is no need either to show original prescribed identity card or attach any self-attested photocopy of the identity card.

The Ministry of Railways has also expanded the list of prescribed proofs of identity to cover more variety of Photo Identity Cards for the convenience of the passengers.  Keeping rural travelling public in mind, the identity cards like Voter Card,  Ration Card, Below Poverty Line Card,  Cards issued by Panchayat Administration  Unique Identity Card, Aadhaar, ESI Cards, Senior Citizen Cards,  Student Identity Card, Bank Passbook with photograph etc. have been included in the list.  The complete expanded list of the prescribed proofs of identity for undertaking journeys on Tatkal ticket and other reserved classes will now be as follows:

1.    Voter Photo identity card issued by Election Commission of India.

2.    Passport.

3.    PAN Card issued by Income Tax Department.

4.    Driving Licence issued by RTO.

5.    Photo identity card having serial number issued by Central/State Government which include the following:

(i) Pension Pay Order s(PPO)
(ii) Ration Card with photographs
(iii) Senior Citizen cards
(iv) Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards
(v) ESI cards (with photograph) issued for taking treatment in ESI dispensaries.
(vi) CGHS Cards (with photograph) issued to individual family members of Central Govt. employees.

6.    Student Identity Card with photograph issued by recognized School/College for their students.

7.    Nationalized Bank Passbook with photographs.

8.    Credit Cards issued by Banks with laminated photograph.

9.    Unique Identification Card “Aadhaar”.

10.     Photo identity cards having serial number issued by Public Sector Undertakings of State/Central Government, District Administrations, Municipal bodies and Panchayat Administrations.

This new change of policy of making identity card compulsory during reserved travel is aimed at facilitating the travel of bonafide and genuine passengers and simultaneously to check the scope for travel on transferred tickets.  It is also considered that this policy provision shall also be useful from the security point of view.

Railways has given wide publicity to these instructions through Press Notes, Press Advertisements, Display Boards, Announcement though Public Addresses, etc. for the convenience of the traveling people.

It will be relevant to mention that only five per cent of the total passenger travelling daily on Indian Railway trains travel in reserved classes.  All the Mail & Express trains have non-reserved ordinary Second Class coaches along with the reserved classes coaches for those who wish to travel in non-reserved classes wherein carrying of identity card is not compulsory.

Advance Increments granted to Stenographers of Subordinate Offices on qualifying speed test in shorthand at 100/120 w.p.m. regarding

No. 1/1/2010-Estt (Pay-I)
Department of Personnel & Training
Estt (Pay I ) Section

New Delhi, the 6th December, 2012.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Advance Increments granted to Stenographers of Subordinate Offices on qualifying speed test in shorthand at 100/120 w.p.m. regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s 0M No.18/44/88-Pay-I dated 07.12.2009 on the above subject which provides that the Advance Increments granted to Stenographers of Subordinate Offices on qualifying speed test in shorthand at 100/120 w.p.m. are treated as pay for all purposes.

2. Consequent upon implementation of CCS (RP) Rules 2008, the concept of Pay Band& Grade Pay has been introduced. Since there are no fixed rates of increments now, the manner in which advance increment(s) are to be computed has been considered in consultation with the Department of Expenditure. The grant of advance increments to Stenographers of Subordinate Offices on qualifying the speed test in shorthand at 100/120 w.p.m. after 1.1.2006 may be regulated as under:-

a) In terms of the instructions contained in this Department’s 0M No.18/44/89-Estt (Pay I) dated 07.12.2009, the advance increments granted to Stenographers of Subordinate Offices on qualifying Speed Test in Shorthand at 100/120 w.p.m. in terms of Department of Expenditure OM dated 04.10.1975 are to be treated as pay for all purposes and the past cases are also to be regulated accordingly. These advance increments were therefore to be taken into account for fixation ¡n the Revised Pay for those officials who were in receipt of such increments in the pre revised pay. In such cases, the advance increments will no longer continue as a separate element.

b) In respect of persons who become eligible for grant of advance increments consequent upon implementation of CCS (RP) Rules, 2008, the advance increment may be calculated by granting increment @ 3% of the Basic Pay on the date of passing of the test. Two advance increments may be calculated by granting two increments @ 3% of the Basic Pay on the date of passing the test. The amount of this increment may be treated as a separate element in addition to the Basic Pay (Pay in the Pay Band + Grade Pay), till such advance increments are taken into account as per (c).

c) Once the advance increments are taken into account for the purpose of pay fixation on promotion or being placed in a higher scale on grant of ACP/MACP or fixation of pay due to revision of pay scale etc., the advance increments will no longer be continued as a separate element as it will be merged with the basic pay.

3. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders will be issued after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

4. Hindi Version wilt follow.

sd/-
(Mukesh Chaturvedi)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India.

Source: www.persmin.nic.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02est/1_1_2010-Estt.Pay-I-06122012.pdf]

Proposed Changes in UPSC Examination

Proposed Changes in UPSC Examination

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) have submitted a proposal to the Central Government suggesting certain changes in the existing scheme of Civil Services (Main) Examination to make it more relevant with the present day, global as well as internal scenario on the basis of the report of a committee, constituted by the Commission under the chairmanship of Prof. Arun S.Nigavekar, former Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC).

Till now, no decision has been taken by the Government on these recommendations.

This was stated by Shri V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office in written reply to a question by Shri Avinash Pande in the Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Policies for Private Investment in Railways

Ministry of Railways

Policies for Private Investment in Railways

A number of policies were announced during Eleventh Five Year Plan to encourage private investment in terminals and wagons. These include: Private Freight Terminal policy (PFT), Special Freight Train Operations (SFTO) policy, Automobile Freight Train Operators (AFTO) policy, Auto-hub-ancillary policy, Operation of Container Trains, R3i (Railways’ Infrastructure for Industry Initiative) and R2CI (Rail connectivity to coal and iron ore mines) policies to facilitate participation of private sector in the development of Railway Infrastructure.

While these policies will continue to be pursued during the Twelfth Five Year Plan, a revised policy for encouraging private participation in rail connectivity projects has been approved recently by the Union Cabinet.

Approval of 53 rakes have been given under Liberalized Wagon Investment Scheme, 3 rakes approval have been given for Special Freight Train Operators Scheme, notification for 8 Private Freight Terminal have been issued, 17 private container train operators have now been given permission for operation of container trains.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
PIB