5% Uniform rate of GST to apply in all railway catering services in trains or on stations

5% GST to Train Food and Drinks

5% GST applicable to supply of food and drinks made available in trains, platforms or stations

Ministry of Finance
5% Uniform rate of GST to apply in all railway catering services in trains or on stations

With a view to remove any doubt or uncertainty in the matter and bring uniformity in the rate of GST applicable to supply of food and drinks made available in trains, platforms or stations, it has been clarified with the approval of the competent authority that the GST rate on supply of food and drinks by the Indian Railways or Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. or their licensees, whether in trains or at platforms (static units), will be 5% without input tax credit. The copy of letter F.No. 354/03/2018-TRU dated 31.03.2018 (Order No. 2/2018 - GST) issued to the Railway Board is available atwww.cbec.gov.in .

One Week In-service Training (IST) programme for Officers of All India Service (lAS, IPS & IFoS), officers working under the Central Staffing Scheme, officers of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and officers of Central Secretariat Stenographer Service (CSSS)

One Week IST programme for Officers of IAS officers working under the CSS, officers of CSS and officers of CSSS

No.12017/01/2018- TNP(S)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
[Training Division]

Block-4, Old JNU Campus
New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-67
Dated: April 6, 2018

To,
The Training Institutions (To be uploaded on DoPT's website)

Sub: One Week In-service Training (IST) programme for Officers of All India Service (lAS, IPS & IFoS), officers working under the Central Staffing Scheme, officers of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and officers of Central Secretariat Stenographer Service (CSSS) (DS/Sr. PPS and above level):Inviting proposals from Institutions for In-Service Training during 2018-19.

Sir/Madam,
In continuation of this Department's circular of even number, dated January 9, 2018, Februaryl2113, 2018 and March 16,2018, I am directed to intimate that the last date for receipt of proposals from the training institutions for the above mentioned programme has been extended to April 16, 2018.

2. All training institutes willing to conduct the above mentioned training programme are requested to send their proposals to DoPT, Training Division on or before April 16, 2018.

3. The copy of the earlier circular dated January 9, 2018 giving all the details of the programme is enclosed for ready reference. This circular can also be downloaded from DoPT's website. [http://dopt.gov.in/ ---> About Us --->Circulars ]

4. Those institutions which have already applied to DoPT in response to its circular of even number dated January 9, 2018 need not apply in response to this circular.

(Biswajit Banerjee)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
[Training Division]

Block-4, Old JNU Campus
New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-67
Dated: January 9, 2018

To,
The Institutes (As per list)

Sub: One Week In-service Training (1ST) programme for Officers of All India Service (IAS, IPS & IFoS), officers working under the Central Staffing Scheme, officers of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and officers of Central Secretariat Stenographer Service (CSSS) (DS/Sr. PPS and above level):Inviting proposals from Institutions for In-Service Training during 2018-19.

Sir/Madam,
The Training Division of the Department of Personnel and Training is the nodal agency for training of government functionaries and is primarily responsible for formulating policies with regards to training. With an objective of addressing competency gaps of government employees, the Division also directly implements certain training components. Under the One Week In-Service Training (1ST) Scheme, officers of All India Services (IAS, IPS & IFoS), officers working under Central Staffing Scheme and officers of CSS/CSSS (DS/Sr. PPS and above level) are offered one week training programmes at various reputed institutes in India.

2. This letter is to invite proposals from the interested institutes for conducting one week inservice training programme for 2018-19 in diverse and broad thematic areas, such as, Administrative Law, Agricultural & Rural Development, Climate Change (preparedness), Competition Law (policy formulation), Corruption (eradication strategy), Education (reforms & challenges), E-governance (opportunities & challenges), Environment & Natural Resource (management), Environmental Impact Assessment (development projects), Ethics (Public Governance and Administration), Financial Markets (regulation), Fiscal Policy (Macroeconomic Management), Governance (IT management and improving through accountability), Infrastructure (Finance), Innovations (public service), Land Acquisition (rehabilitation & resettlement), Leadership, Participatory Management (Community Mobilization), PPP (negotiating strategies and urban development), Procurement (procedure & contracting), Project Analysis/Appraisal (risk analysis/management), Public Policy (management/governance), Quantitative Methods (management), Service Delivery (management), Social Policy (Governance), Social Sector financing/marketing), Urban Development, WTO (basic/advance course), Citizen Centric, Cyber Crime, Stress Management, etc.

3. The proposal should include:

(a) A brief about the institute, infrastructure, faculty, core competence, and previous experience in conducting such programmes;
(b) Thematic focus of the course and the course title;
(c) Two suitable dates for each course between July 2018 to February 2019 as in April & May 2018 and March 2019 courses are not scheduled in view of Budget Session of the Parliament;
(d) Name and CV of proposed Course Coordinator along with contact details;
(e) Draft programme design, content and pedagogy, draft time table-starting on Monday and closing on Friday;
(f) A paragraph on how the proposed course will be different from those offered by competing institutions.
(g) Feedback received from participants.

4. Formal proposal may be sent to this Department before 9th February, 2018.

(Biswajit Banerjee)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: DoPT

Promotional Avenue of ESMs in S&T Department

Promotional Avenue of ESMs in S&T Department

RBE No. 48/2018

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.E(NG)I/20 15 /PM 8/ 1
The General Manager (P)
All Zonal Railways & PUs

New Delhi, dated March 26th March, 2018

Sub: Promotional Avenue of ESMs in S&T Department.
The issue regarding promotional avenue of ESMs in the S&T Department has been under consideration of the Railway Board. The matter has been examined in detail in consultation with the concerned technical directorate and both the Federations, and it has been decided as under:

i) Direct Recruitment to the extent of 33-1 / 3% in Signal Maintainer Grade-II to be discontinued subject to 15% Direct Recruitment quota to be introduced in Signal Maintainer Grade-l. The remaining 85% vacancies in Signal Maintainer Grade I is to be filled by promotion·

ii) The revised qualification for ESM Grade-III should be either (a) Matriculation (i.e. 10th Class) and ITI Certificate in Electronic/ Electrical Fitter/ Wireman Trade or (b) Pass in Plus Two stage with Physics and Maths in Higher Secondary or equivalent.

iii) The educational qualification of direct recruiters at Signal maintainer Grade I level should be pass in B.Sc. ·
iv) On one tlme basis to fill up vacancies of Signal Maintainer Grade-III, the residency period for LDCE should be reduced from 3 years to 2 years.
v) The vacancies in Signal Maintainer Grade-Til may be calculated by taking resultant vacancies of higher grade posts of Signal Maintaner.

Please acknowledge receipt.

(D.Joseph)
Joint Director Estt (N)
Railway Board
New Delhi, dated March , 2018

Source: AIRF

BPMS: Grant of Minimum Guaranteed Pension under NPS

 BPMS: Grant of Minimum Guaranteed Pension under NPS

The Central Government had introduced the National Pension System (NPS) with effect from 1 January, 2004 (except for armed forces). During the budget session of 2003-2004 the Government announced introduction of the "New Defined Contribution Pension Scheme" then known as the New Pension Scheme. It was formally notified vide Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs letter dated 22-12-2003. Later, it was adopted by various State Governments and Central and State Public Sector Corporations.

Upto 28.02.2018, the total figure of subscribers of NPS working in Central Government Establishments/ Offices including Public Sector Undertaking has reached to 19,12,871 with a corpus of Rs 61,145.65 crore and in State Governments Establishments/ Offices including respective Public Sector Undertaking, it has reached to 38,21,266 with corpus of Rs. 86,897.31 crore.

The above mentioned Scheme was made operative since 01.01.2004 without any concrete instructions and with passage of time, Govt has been trying to develop a system regarding its functioning. But the future as well as retiremental security (Social Security) of the employees is at stake without guarantee of Minimum Pension under the Scheme.

This Federation has been consistently demanding that Government should frame a policy to ensure that irrespective of the financial/market conditions at the time of Retirement of the subscriber under NPS, he should get a guaranteed minimum pension equivalent to 50% of his last drawn Basic Pay plus Dearness Relief for neutralization of price rise.

A resolution to this effect was also passed in the CEC Meeting held at Hyderabad during September 2015 and subsequently several correspondence have also occurred. However, in spite of lapse of such a large time, no tangible action is seen from the Government side on the issue.

After having deliberated the issue in details, the Central Executive while recording its displeasure over the absence of action on the part of the Government on such an important issue, hereby calls upon the Government to immediately notify the subject issue.

This resolution is being passed in the Central Executive Committee held at Dehu Road (Pune) on 28/03/2018.

Source: BPMS

Minimum Balance Requirements In India Post Accounts and Other Details

Minimum Balance Requirements In India Post Accounts and Other Details

As we know, India Post, under the Department of Posts (DoP), offers a host of services. Besides delivering mails, India Post also offers a range of financial and retail services. These include small savings schemes such as PPF Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC), bill collection and sale of forms. India Post also offers savings accounts. India Post's savings accounts - with or without cheque book - are among the most popular of its products, say financial experts. Post office savings accounts are opened by cash only, according to India Post.

But what is the interest rate offered in post office savings accounts? And what is the minimum balance permitted in these accounts? What are the other services offered by it?

Post office savings accounts interest rate
India Post currently offers an interest rate of 4 per cent on individually or jointly-held post office savings accounts, according to its website - indiapost.gov.in. The interest earned is tax-free up to Rs. 10,000 in a financial year.

Post office savings account minimum balance
The minimum balance required in a post office account without cheque book facility is Rs. 50, according to India Post. For savings accounts with cheque book facility, the minimum balance permitted is Rs. 500.

India Post savings accounts come with an ATM facility.
Among other features, post office savings accounts are opened in two modes - with cheque book facility and without cheque book facility. pls put this as first para under this particular sub head
Those holding a post office savings account without the cheque book facility originally also have the option to upgrade their account to subscribe to the facility. India Post - which has a network of over 1.5 lakh post offices - also offers the facility to transfer savings accounts from one post office branch to another, according to its website. However, only one account can be opened by an individual in one post office.

Minimum balance in other post office accounts

Type of account - Minimum balance
SB(Cheque account) - Rs.500/-
SB(non Cheque account) - Rs.50/-
MIS - Rs.1500/-
TD - Rs.200/-
PPF - Rs.500/-
Senior Citizen - Rs.1000/-

Among other popular instruments, India Post offers PPF at a minimum balance of Rs. 500 and Monthly Investment Scheme (MIS) at a minimum balance of Rs. 1,500. For senior citizen savings scheme, the minimum balance required is Rs. 1,000, according to India Post.
Monthly Income Scheme or MIS is a popular investment scheme wherein an individual invests a particular amount and gets an assured monthly income in the form of interest.

Source: indiapost.gov.in

Current Pension rate of Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) pensioners

Current Pension rate of Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) Pensioners

Ministry of Finance
Current Pension rate of Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) pensioners

The Central Government employees who are covered by CPF Rules (India) 1962 and who retired on or after 01.01.1986 are not entitled to any monthly pension/ex-gratia amount. However, the Government employees under CPF who retired between 18.11.1960 and 31.12.1985 are entitled to monthly ex-gratia amount of the following rates:

S. No	Group of Service to which CPF retirees belonged at the time of retirement	Enhanced amount of basic monthly ex-gratia
1	Group A Service	Rs. 3,000/-
2	Group B Service	Rs. 1,000/-
3	Group C Service	Rs. 750/-
4	Group D Service	Rs. 650/-
5	Widows and dependent children of the deceased CPF beneficiary	Rs. 645/-

Dearness ex-gratia equal to 50% of the amount of ex-gratia and Dearness Relief, as notified from time to time as per 5th Central Pay Commission series, on the sums of amount of ex-gratia and dearness ex-gratia is being paid to them. There is no proposal to increase the aforesaid rates.
This was stated by Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Finance in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Government's decision on recommendation of the 7th Central Pay Commission - Transport Allowance to the Railway employees - Deprival of higher rate to those working in pay Level 1 & 2

NFIR

No.IV/NFIR/7CPC(Imp)/Allowance/2016/Part I

Dated: 05/04/2018

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Government's decision on recommendation of the 7th Central Pay Commission - Transport Allowance to the Railway employees - Deprival of higher rate to those working in pay Level 1 & 2-reg.

Ref:
(i) Railway Board's letter No.PC/V/2017/A/TA/1 dated 17/08/2017 (RBE No.9612017).
(ii) NFIR's letter No.IV/NFIR/7CPC/Allowance/2016/Part I dated 28/08/2017.
(iii) Railway Board's letter No.PC-V/2015/PNM/NFIR/4 dated 17/20-1l-2017.

Federation does not agree with the view taken by the Railway Ministry in this case as conveyed to NFIR vide Board's letter dated 17/20-11-2017. Federation wants that the Railway Ministry should prepare proper case based on the facts and contentions of NFIR as explained in our letter dated 28/08/2017 tobe placed before DoP&T/MoF.

1. Federation reiterates that as a result of issuance of instructions dated 17/08/2017, a situation has arisen wherein the Railway employees in Pay Level 3, drawing pay Rs. 21,700/- and above upto Level 8 hitherto entitled for Transport Allowance @ Rs. 3600 + DA thereon (in A1/A class cities and in other cities @ Rs.1800 + DA thereon) have been deprived of the said rate due to the new norm for entitlement only when their pay reaches Rs.24,2001/-.

III. Further it is relevant to take note that pursuant to acceptance of the recommendations of 5th CPC and 6th CPC, the rates revised as follows:-

(a) Recommendations of 5th CPC - Transport Allowance RBE No. 179/1997 (rates w.e.f. 01/08/1997)

S.No.	Pay Scale of the Employees	A1/ A class city	Other Places
1	Rs.8000-13500 or above	800	400
2	Rs.6500-10500 or above but below Rs.8000-13500	400	200
3	Below Rs.6500-10500	100	75

Above position reveals that all the employees working in pay scale below Rs. 6500-10500 i.e. upto Rs. 6000-9800 (S1 to S10A) were allowed Transport Allowance at the uniform rate of Rs. 100/- p.m. in A1/A class cities irrespective of their pay.

(b) The Railway Board vide circular (RBE No.111/2008 - effective from 01/09/2008 and RBE No.95/2015) had prescribed following rates for payment of Transport Allowance to the  Railway employees.

Employees drawing Grade Pay of Rate of	Transport Allowance for A1/ A class cities
GP 5400 & above	3200 + DA
GP 4200 - 4800, GP below 4200 and pay in pay band: Rs.7440	1600 + DA
GP below 4200 and Pay below Rs.7440	600 + DA

1. From the comparison of two tables mentioned above, it could be seen that the Railway employees were allowed higher rate of Transport Allowance on drawing pay Rs. 7440/- irrespective of Grade Pay/Pay Band. The modified Board's instructions issued vide letter dated 03/08/2017 and I7/08/2017, have deprived the Transport Allowance @ Rs. 3600+DA thereon to those in Pay Level 1 and 2 (7th CPC) due to imposition of restriction i.e. reaching the pay Rs.24700/- ignoring the fact that the staff were already drawing pay @ Rs.7440 in 6th CPC Pay Band/Grade Pay.

Federation, therefore requests the Railway Ministry to kindly arrange to make out case in the light of NFIR's contentions for rendering justice to those staff of Pay Level 1 & 2 for granting Transport Allowance at rate i.e. 3600/- + DA thereon when they reach the corresponding pay @ Rs.21700/- and not 24200/- to meet the ends of justice and refer to MoF.

A copy of the reference made to the MoF may be endorsed to the Federation for taking follow up action.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Representation of OBCs in the Central Government Services

Representation of OBCs in the Central Government Services

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

04-April-2018

Strength of Employees

As per information received from 77 Ministries/Departments including their attached/subordinate offices, the representation of SCs, STs and OBCs in the posts and services under the Central Government as on 01.01.2016 is 17.49%, 8.47% and 21.57% respectively.

Representation of OBCs in the Central Government services is less as compared to the percentage of reservation for them because reservation of OBC started in September, 1993.

As per available information, representation of OBCs as on 01.01.2012 was 16.55% which has now increased to 21.57% as on 01.01.2016. Therefore, there is an increasing trend in the representation of OBCs in the posts and services of Central Government.

Department of Personnel & Training has issued instructions to all Ministries/Departments to constitute an in-house Committee to identify backlog reserved vacancies, study of the root cause of backlog reserved vacancies, initiation of measures to remove such factors and to fill up such vacancies through Special Recruitment Drive.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Schemes for welfare of Women and Children

Schemes for welfare of Women and Children

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Women and Child Development

Schemes for welfare of Women and Children

05 APR 2018

Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) implements several schemes supporting for the welfare of the women and children including SC/ST and minority of different age groups.

SwadharGreh Scheme
MWCD implements SwadharGreh Scheme which targets the women victims of unfortunate circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity. The Scheme envisages providing shelter, food, clothing and health as well as economic and social security for the women victims of difficult circumstances which includes widows, destitute women and aged women. The total women benefitted under SwadharGreh scheme during 2016-17 is 16,530 and during 2017-18 is 17,291.

Ujjawala Scheme
Ujjawala Scheme is being implemented for Prevention of trafficking and for Rescue, Rehabilitation, Re-integration and Repatriation of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. The number of beneficiaries under the scheme in the year 2017-18 and 2016-17 each is 6,175.

'Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) Scheme'
The Ministry is administering 'Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) Scheme' to provide skills that give employability to women and to provide competencies and skill that enable women to become self-employed/entrepreneurs. The Scheme is intended to benefit women who are in the age group of 16 years and above across the country.

National Nutrition Mission (NNM)
Government of India has approved for setting up of National Nutrition Mission (NNM) on 30.11.2017, which aims to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children, pregnant women and lactating mothers and reduce anemia among children and women. It strives to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and low birth weight babies. It will create synergy, ensure better monitoring, issue alerts for timely action, and encourage States/UTs to perform, guide and supervise the line Ministries and the States/ UTs to achieve the targeted goals.

Scheme for Adolescent Girls
The Government on 16.11.2017 approved continuation of the Scheme for Adolescent Girls for out of school adolescent girls of age 11-14 years for a period of one year i.e. up to 30.11.2018. The scheme aims at providing supplementary nutrition containing 600 calories, 18-20 grams of protein and micronutrients per beneficiary per day for 300 days in a year, motivating out of school girls to go back to formal schooling or skill training under non-nutrition component of the scheme. The cost norms for nutrition have also been revised from existing rates of Rs.5.00 per beneficiary per day to Rs.9.5 per beneficiary per day. Government has also approved phased expansion and universalisation of the Scheme for Adolescent Girls i.e. in additional 303 districts in 2017-18 and the remaining districts in 2018-19 with the simultaneous phasing out of Kishori Shakti Yojana. The scheme has been extended to all the districts of the country w.e.f. 01.04.2018.

Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)
Further, under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), 1,82,68,917 pregnant women and lactating mothers got benefit during the year 2016-17 and 1,63,10,379 during the year 2017-18 (as on 31.12.2017). Also, the number of Children (6 Months-6 years of age) including girl child who got benefit under ICDS Scheme during the year 2017-18 (as on 31.12.2017) is 6,81,38,809.

One Stop Centre (OSC)
One Stop Centre (OSC) scheme is being implemented by the Ministry to support women affected by violence w.e.f. 1st April, 2015, which aims to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid/case management, psychosocial counseling and temporary support services. At present, 170 OSCs are functional in various districts in 32 States. 97,961 cases have been registered as on 07.02.2018.

Universalisation of Women Helpline
The Ministry also implements the scheme of Universalisation of Women Helpline through States/UTs Government since 1st April, 2015 to provide 24-hour emergency and non-emergency response to women affected by violence. Women Helplines are functional in 28 States. As on date, a total of 12,14,763 complaints have been addressed from the Women Helplines.

This information was given by Union Minister for Women and Child Development, SmtManeka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Source : PIB

CBDT notifies Income Tax Return Forms for Assessment Year 2018-19

New Income Tax Forms for AY 2018-19 - CBDT Notification

Ministry of Finance

CBDT notifies Income Tax Return Forms for Assessment Year 2018-19

The Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT) has notified Income Tax Return Forms (ITR Forms) for the Assessment Year 2018-19. For Assessment Year 2017-18, a one page simplified ITR Form-1(Sahaj) was notified. This initiative benefited around 3 crore taxpayers, who have filed their return in this simplified Form. For Assessment Year 2018-19 also, a one page simplified ITR Form-1(Sahaj) has been notified. This ITR Form-1 (Sahaj) can be filed by an individual who is resident other than not ordinarily resident, having income upto Rs.50 lakh and who is receiving income from salary, one house property / other income (interest etc.). Further, the parts relating to salary and house property have been rationalised and furnishing of basic details of salary (as available in Form 16) and income from house property have been mandated.

ITR Form-2 has also been rationalised by providing that Individuals and HUFs having income under any head other than business or profession shall be eligible to file ITR Form-2. The Individuals and HUFs having income under the head business or profession shall file either ITR Form-3 or ITR Form-4 (in presumptive income cases).

In case of non-residents, the requirement of furnishing details of any one foreign Bank Account has been provided for the purpose of credit of refund. Further, the requirement of furnishing details of cash deposit made during a specified period as provided in ITR Form for the Assessment Year 2017-18 has been done away with from Assessment Year 2018-19.

There is no change in the manner of filing of ITR Forms as compared to last year. All these ITR Forms are to be filed electronically. However, where return is furnished in ITR Form-1 (Sahaj) or ITR-4 (Sugam), the following persons have an option to file return in paper form:-

(i) an Individual of the age of 80 years or more at any time during the previous year; or
(ii) an Individual or HUF whose income does not exceed five lakh rupees and who has not claimed any refund in the Return of Income.

The notified ITR Forms are available on the official website of the Department www.incometaxindia.gov.in.

Source: PIB