DoE: Festival Advance, Dearness Allowance, Transport Allowance, Pension Revision for Autonomous Bodies, Pay Scale parity with CSS, Bonus Ceiling etc.: Minutes of meeting of Standing Committee

DoE: Festival Advance, Dearness Allowance, Transport Allowance, Pension Revision for Autonomous Bodies, Pay Scale parity with CSS, Bonus Ceiling etc.: Minutes of meeting of Standing Committee

[GoI, Min P,PG & P, DoPT’s OM No. 3/1/2018-JCA dated 08.07.2019]

Subject: Minutes of the Standing Committee Meeting held on 07.03.2019 under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Personnel) - reg.

(xxii) Item No 10: Restoration of Interest Free Advances, withdrawn by the Government based on 7th CPC Recommendations :

Joint Secretary (Personnel) stated that Seventh Pay Commission in its report had recommended that all interest free advances should be abolished. The recommendations of the Commission relating to the abolition of interest free advances have been accepted by the Government with the exception of interest free Advances for Medical Treatment and Travelling Allowance for the family of the deceased. Travelling Allowance on tour or on transfer and Leave Travel Concessions have also been retained.

Staff Side also raised the demand for the restoring Festival Advance. Joint Secretary (Personnel) agreed to reconsider the issue of restoring the Festival Advance.

Staff Side thanked JS (Pers.) for agreeing to reconsider the issue of restoration of Festival Advance to the Central Govt. Employees.

(xxiii) Item No. 19 : Dispense with the practice of ignoring the fraction while computing Dearness Allowance :

Joint Secretary (Personnel) stated that the present formula for calculation of DA where the whole numbers with fraction carried forward while calculating the percentage increase in DA was/is based on the recommendation of the 4th CPC. This method also saves the Government expenditure.

Secretary Staff raised his objection stating that the employee losses his benefit, when the fraction is ignored and carried forward. Therefore it is requested that Dearness Allowance should be paid on the actual DA raise, since DA is to compensate the inflation/price rise.

Joint Secretary (Personnel) though agreed to re-examine the matter, also informed that this may have financial implications and may increase Government expenditure.

(xxiv) Item No. 21 : Removal of conditions of being at the CHQ for few days in a month to claim the Transport allowance :

Joint Secretary (Personnel) stated that the Transport Allowance is granted for full month, even if an employee attend office for one day in a calendar month. However, when an employee remains away from Headquarters for full calendar month(s) on duty / tour, he does not get any Transport Allowance. Since the employee has no occasion to commute between place of duty/Headquarters and residence during such calendar month(s), grant of Transport Allowance for that calendar month(s) is not admissible and also not justified. Further, for such period when employee is sent away on duty/tour from his Headquarters to any other place, he gets adequately compensated by grant of Daily allowance for that period. As per 6th and 7th CPC recommendations, Daily allowance is being given as reimbursement for hotel accommodation, food bill and local travel charges.

Staff Side demanded that being at the CHQ for one day, as a condition may be removed similar to the removal of one kilometer condition earlier. The Staff Side further stated that if an employee is away from headquarter for training or tour in a whole calendar month he does not get Transport Allowance. This is not justified because CCA has been abolished and it is subsumed in Transport Allowance implying that the Staff losses CCA as well. The Staff Side further stated that employees, who goes on Child Care Leave also does not benefit due to this condition. They demanded that the matter should be re-examined.

Joint Secretary (Personnel) agreed to re-examine the matter.

(xxv) Item No.24: Transport allowance in case of Physically handicapped person at double rate and deduction of the same if one is on short leave may be dispensed with :

Joint Secretary (Personnel) stated that as per Department of Expenditure’s OM No. 21/5/2017-E.II(B) dated 07.07.2017, Transport Allowance at double the normal rates is admissible to Physically disabled employees, viz. Visually impaired, orthopedically handicapped, deaf and dumb/hearing impaired and also to employees suffering from spinal deformity. Otherwise, the general conditions for drawal of Transport Allowance at normal rates apply equally to all Govt. employees. Hence, Transport Allowance at double the normal rates will not be admissible for the calendar months (s) wholly covered by leave for persons with disabilities. In this regard, the Department of Expenditure has not issued any other instructions. He further stated that there are no instructions with regard to having attendants for handicapped employees and if there is any such instances then that should be brought to the notice of Department of Expenditure. The Staff Side agreed to this suggestions.

(xxvi) Item No. 26 : Extension of benefits of revised pension rules - 2016 in respect of pensioners of Central Government employees in autonomous bodies :

Joint Secretary (Personnel): stated that Department of Expenditure has issued orders only for Central Government Employees and not in respect of employees belonging to autonomous bodies. In case of Dearness Allowance the orders are issued by administrative Ministries/Departments.

Secretary (Staff Side) pointed out that the employees of autonomous bodies were getting pay scales of Central Government; the problem arose when the Department of Expenditure imposed the condition that 25% of the expenditure will be borne by the administrative Ministries/Department. It is imperative that these Central Government employees in autonomous bodies should be kept on equal footing with Central Govt. employees for the purpose of pay scales and pension.

Joint Secretary (Personnel) stated that there are as many as 680 autonomous bodies where Central Government employees are working and if this demand is accepted the repercussion will be huge. Joint Secretary (Personnel) stated that the Staff Side may keep this demand as a separate issue.)

(xxvii) Item No. 27 & Item No. 38 : Parity in pay scale of all stenographers, assistants and Ministerial staffs in subordinate offices and in IA&AD and organized accounts cadre with Central Secretariat staffs by upgrading their pay scales :

Joint Secretary (Personnel) stated that in cases where 7th CPC has recommended downgrading of pay scales of Assistants and Section Officers of CSS, Assistant Nursing Superintendent etc., the Government after considering the recommendations of the Commission decided that those recommendations related to down-grading of posts may not be accepted and normal replacement may have to be allowed in such cases. He further said that a committee has been formed by Department of Personnel & Training to examine the matter.

Staff Side reiterated that considering the nature of the job of Stenographers or Assistants, the Ministerial Staffs of subordinate offices and Central Secretariat are the same. It is justified that pay parity is maintained

while considering the matter related to pay scale. The staff side also demanded that the Committee constituted for this purpose may consult the Staff side also before finalizing its recommendation.

(xxviii) Item No.29: Enhancement of Bonus Ceiling Limit of Casual Labourers, consequent on enhancement of bonus calculation ceiling of Central Govt. Employees :

Joint Secretary (Personnel) informed that the details have been sought from different Ministries/Departments mainly from Ministry of Defence, M/o Labour, M/o Housing & Urban Affairs etc. and the information is awaited. Once the information is received from these Ministries, the rates of bonus will be enhanced, accordingly. The item has been considered closed.

Restoration of Old Pension Scheme – Loksabha Q & A

Restoration of Old Pension Scheme – Loksabha Q & A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
*****
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:3569
TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 15.07.2019

Restoration of Old Pension Scheme

Rakesh Singh
Rodmal Nagar

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the demand is being made by trade unions/Government employees to restore the old pension scheme for the Central Government employees as the pension amount is lower and uncertain under the new pension scheme which was implemented in the year 2004;
(b) if so, whether the Government is considering the aforesaid demand of the employees; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

The Minister of State (Finance)
(Shri Anurag Singh Thakur)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) and (c) Due to rising and unsustainable pension bill, the Government had made a conscious move to shift from the defined benefit, pay-as-you-go pension scheme to defined contribution pension scheme now called as National Pension System (NPS). The transition also helped in freeing the limited resources of the Government for more productive and socio-economic sectoral development.

There is no proposal to replace the NPS with old pension scheme in respect of Central Government employees recruited on or after 01.01.2004.

******

Source: Loksabha

7th CPC HRA : Grant of House Rent Allowance to Central Government employees on basis of Census-2011

7th CPC HRA

Grant of House Rent Allowance to Central Government employees on basis of Census-2011

2/5/2017-E.II(B)

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi

Dated the 15th July, 2019

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Re-classification / Upgradation of Cities / Towns on the basis of Census-2011 for the purpose of grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to Central Government employees -reg.

Reference is invited to this Department’s OM No. 215/2014-E,II(B) dated 21.07.2015 relating to re-classification of cities/towns on the basis of Census-2011 for the purpose of grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to the Central Government employees. Orders with regard to grant of HRA on implementation of the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) were subsequently issued vide OM No. 2/5/2017-E_II(B) dated 07.07.2017.

2. This Department is in receipt of references from a few Ministries/ Departments, seeking clarification with regard to continuation of special dispensation allowed in the past to cities/towns for grant of HRA at higher rates. In this context, it is clarified that any special dispensation allowed in the past to cities/towns for grant of HRA at higher rates, not specifically mentioned in aforesaid OMs No. 2/5/2014-E.11(B) dated 21.07.2015 and No. 2/5/2017-E.II(B) dated 07.072017 shall continue to apply, if the same has not been superseded/dispensed with or the existing classification of such city has not been revised to a higher classification on account of the population criteria, vide aforesaid OMs dated 21.07.2015 and 07.07.2017.

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

(Nirmala Dev)

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source: DoE

Doppw – Revision of pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006 of Pre-2006 pensioners who retired from the 5th CPC scale of Rs. 6500-10500 or equivalent pay scale in the earlier Pay Commission periods

DoPPW

Revision of pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006 of Pre-2006 pensioners who retired from the 5th CPC scale of Rs. 6500-10500 or equivalent pay scale in the earlier Pay Commission periods

Revision of Concordance Tables for Pre-2006 Pensioners

No. 38/33/12-P&PW (A)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi-110 003
Dated the 9th July, 2019

Office Memorandum

Sub :- Revision of pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006 of Pre-2006 pensioners who retired from the 5th CPC scale of Rs. 6500-10500/- or equivalent pay scale in the earlier Pay Commission periods.

Instructions have been issued vide this Department’s OM of even number dated 4.1.2019 that for the purpose of revision of pension/family pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006 under para 4.2 of the O.M. dated 1.9.2008, the Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/- may be considered as the corresponding Grade pay in the case of pre-2006 pensioners who retired/died in the 5th CPC scale of Rs. 6500-10500/- or equivalent pay scale in the earlier Pay Commission periods.

It was also provided that the revised pension w.c.f. 1,1.2006 in terms of para 4.2 of OM dated 1.9.2008, for the pre-2006 pensioners who retired from the pay scale of Rs, 6500-10500/- in the 5 th CPC or equivalent pay scales in the earlier Pay Commissions would be Rs. 8345/-.

The entries at serial number 13 in the annexure of this Department’s OM No. 38/37/08- P&PW(A) dated 28.1.2013 were also revised accordingly.

2. This Department has issued concordance tables for revision of pension, w.e.f. 1.1.2016, of pre-2016 pensioners by notional fixation of pay in the 7th CPC vide this Departments OM dated 6.7.2017, Tables No.24 & 25 in these concordance tables indicated the revised pension/family pension based on the corresponding 6th CPC grade pay of Rs. 4200/- in respect of pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners who retired/died in the 5th CPC scale of 6500-10500/- or equivalent pay scale in the earlier Pay Commission periods. Consequent on the decision to consider the Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/- as the corresponding Grade pay in the case of pre-2006 pensioners who retired/died in the 5th CPC scale of Rs. 6500-10500/- or equivalent pay scale in the earlier Pay Commission periods and based on the fitment tables provided by Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure), Tables No.24 & 25 have been revised. Accordingly, revised concordance Tables No.24 & 25 arc enclosed herewith.

3. All the Ministries/Departments are requested to revise pension/family pension w.e.f. 1.1.2016 in respect of pre-2006 pensioner family pensioners who retired/died in the 5th CPC scale of Rs. 6500-10500/- or equivalent pay scale in the earlier Pay Commission periods using the concordance tables enclosed herewith. The other provisions / instructions for revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners, as contained in this Department’s OM of even number dated 12.5.2017 and 6.7.2017 will remain unchanged.

4. This issues with the approval of Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) vide their OM No. 30-1/33(c)/ 2016-1.C./E.III,A dated 28.6.2019

5. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-
(Ruchir Mittal)
Deputy Secretary

Source: Doppw

Withdrawal of Minimum Balance Penalty by Banks

Ministry of Finance

Withdrawal of Minimum Balance Penalty by Banks

16 JUL 2019

According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, banks do not have any Minimum Balance requirement for Basic Savings Bank Deposit accounts (BSBD), including accounts opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan DhanYojana (PMJDY). As on March 2019, there were 57.3 crore BSBD accounts across the country including 35.27 crore (61.6%) Jan-Dhan accounts. Hence, for these accounts there are no charges for not maintaining minimum balance. BSBD accounts are considered normal banking services available to all and it offers certain basic minimum facilities free of charge.

For accounts other than BSBD accounts, as per RBI’s Master Circular on “Customer Service in Banks” dated July 1, 2015, banks are permitted to fix service charges on various services rendered by them, as per their Board approved policy, while ensuring that the charges are reasonable and not out of line with the average cost of providing these services. Further, banks have been advised to identify basic services and the principles to be adopted/ followed by them for ensuring reasonableness in fixing such charges. Banks are also advised to take steps to ensure that customers are made aware of the service charges upfront and changes in the service charges are implemented only with the prior notice to the customers.

This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Scheme for providing immediate relief to the families of Railway Servants who die while in service

NFIR

Scheme for providing immediate relief to the families of Railway Servants who die while in service

Government of India

Ministry of Railways

Railway Board

No. E(W)2019/FU-1/6

New Delhi, dated 27.06.2019

The General Managers
All Indian Railways and
Production Units.

Sub: Scheme for providing immediate relief to the families of Railway Servants who die while in service

Ref: Board’s letter No.E(W) 1998/WE-6/6 dated 05.08.1999
Board’ s letter No. E(W) 2004/WE-6/9 dated 04.12.2009

Sanction of the President is hereby communicated to the following modification to the Ministry of Railways letter No.E(W)72/WE-6/15 dated. 21.04.1973 on the above subject as amended from time to time:-

“In Para-I (ii) of the letter ibid, substitute the figure of Rs.15,000/- by the figure Rs.25,000/-“.

2. This amendment takes effect from the date of issue of this letter.

3. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

4. Please acknowledge receipt.

(D.V Rao)

Director Estt. (Welfare)

Railway Board

Source: NFIR

Strengthening of administration Periodic review of Central Government Employees under Fundamental Rule (FR) 56(j)/(l) and Rule 48 of CCS (pension) Rules, 1972

NFIR

No.25013/3/2019-Estt.A-IV

Government of India

Ministry of personnel, public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

Establishment A-IV Desk

North Block, New Delhi

New Delhi, 20th June, 2019

Office MEMORANDUM

Subject: Strengthening of administration Periodic review of Central Government Employees under Fundamental Rule (FR) 56(j)/(l) and Rule 48 of CCS (pension) Rules, 1972

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M No.25013/1/2013-Estt.A dated 21.3.2014, OM No.25013/1/2013-Estt.A-IV dated 11.9.2015, 11.03.2016 and 10.8.2017 for periodic review of Central Government Employees for strengthening of administration under Fundamental Rule (FR) 56(j)/(l) and Rule 48 of CCS (pension) Rules, 1972.

The detailed guidelines on the above sunjeci are already in public domain at http://dopt.gov.in under Notifications -> OM & Orders -> Establishment -> Premature Retirement.

All Ministries / Departments are requested to undertake the periodic reviews in letter and spirit, including in public sector undertakings (PSUs) / Banks and Autonomous institutions, under their administrative control. Department of Public Enterprises will also compile and countercheck with all concerned Ministries / Departments.

The Ministries / Departments should ensure that the prescribed procedure like forming of opinion to retire a Government employee prematurely in public interest is strictly adhered to, and that the decision is not an arbitrary one, and is not based on collateral grounds as per the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of UOI & Col, J.N.Sinha [1571 SCR (1) 791].

All the Ministries / Departments shall furnish a report to Dop&T in the format given below by 15th day of each month starting from 15th July, 2019. Department of Public Enterprises are requested to also compile and countercheck the data with all concerned administrative Ministries / Departments in respect of PSUs before furnishing the report to DoP&T.

Number of employees to be reviewed under FR 56 (j) group-wise (A/B/C) – 1

Number of employees reviewed under FR 56 (j) group-wise (A/B/C) – 2

Number of employees reviewed and against whom FR 56 (j) invoked/ recommended group-wise (A/B/C) – 3

Number of employees retired prematurely under FR 56 (j) group-wise (A/B/C) – 4

(Surya Narayan Jha)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: NFIR

General – Elections from 96 – Putkura Assembly Constituency in the State Legislative Assembly of Odisha and 8 – Vellore Parliamentary Constituency of Tamil Nadu

DoPT Orders 2019

F. No. 12/3/2016-JCA-2

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

(Department of Personnel & Training)

Establishment (JCA-2) Section

North Block, New Delhi

Dated the July 16 2019

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: General – Elections from 96 – Putkura Assembly Constituency in the State Legislative Assembly of Odisha and 8 – Vellore Parliamentary Constituency of Tamil Nadu – regarding

The undersigned is directed to state that, as informed by the Election Commission of India vide their letter No. 437/ 6/ ECI/ INST/ FUNCT/ MCC/ 2019/ 515 dated 04.07.2019, General Election from 96 – Putkura Assembly Constituency in the State Legislative Assembly of Odisha will be held on 20.07.2019 (Saturday) and Election to 8- Vellore Parliamentary Constituency of Tamil Nadu will be held on 05.08.2019 (Monday).

In this regard, the guidelines already issued by this Department vide OM No. 12/ 14/99- JCA dated 10.10.2001 would have to be followed for the Central Government Offices, including industrial establishments, in the concerned State.

The above instructions may please be brought to the notice of all concer ed.

Hindi version will follow.

(Juglal Singh)

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Tel. 2309 2338

Source: DoPT

DoPT Orders 2019 – Procedure to be followed in cases of disagreement on Recruitment Rules

DoPT Orders 2019 – Procedure to be followed in cases of disagreement on Recruitment Rules

DoPT Orders 2019

No.AB- 14017/11/2019-Estt.(RR)(3147397)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel. P.G. & Pensions

Department of Personnel and Training

Estt(RR) Section

North Block, New Delhi

Dated: July, 2019

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Procedure to be followed in cases of disagreement on Recruitment Rules – regarding.

The undersigned is directed to state that as per extant instructions, the process of framing / amending of Recruitment Rules for a post involves consultation with DoPT, UPSC and thereafter vetting by the Legislative Department. As per established procedure, the Administrative Ministries / Departments frame service rules/recruitment rules or propose amendments thereof, based mainly on the model RRs or instructions issued by DoPT from time to time and refer them to DoP&T for concurrence. After the receipt of concurrence from DoPT, the Ministries/Departments refer proposals to UPSC for advice. After receipt of concurrence of UPSC. with the approval of Competent Authority, RRs are finally notified, after vetting by the legislative Department.

UPSC brought certain instances to the notice of this Department, where post the advice of Commission, RRs have been notified incorporating substantial changes in the recruitment rules / service rules (RRs/SRs). without obtaining the concurrence of the Commission, which is not in order. On consideration of the matter, it has been decided that if substantial changes are effected in the RRs after the receipt of advice of UPSC. the same shall be brought to the notice of UPSC by the administrative Ministry for obtaining their advice / concurrence on the same. Non-adherence to this procedure may result in the case being treated as a case of disagreement with the Commission, and therefore administrative Ministries have to take a conscious decision in this regard. Substantial changes referred here are those changes having a bearing on the principles of recruitment, viz., change in the method of recruitment, eligibility criteria etc and does not include vetting changes made by the Legislative Department, spelling or grammatical corrections.

In light of the foregoing, all Ministries/ Departments are requested to refer the proposals back to UPSC for concurrence in cases where administrative Ministry / Department, after the receipt of advice of the Commission, want to carry out any change/s in the draft RRs/SRs, which is / are substantial in nature. All Ministries/Departments are requested to adhere to these instructions.

(K Prakasham)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

Tel: 23094254

To
All Ministries / Departments

Source: DoPT

Promotion of Sports among Female Students

Promotion of Sports among Female Students

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

Promotion of Sports among Female Students

Posted On: 15 JUL 2019

Khelo India Scheme inter-alia provides for bridging gaps in sports infrastructure. Sports Authority of India (SAI) also implements the Schemes of National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) and Extension Centres of SAI Training Centres (STC)/Special Area Games (SAG) Centres with the aim of promoting sports. These schemes are applicable for all, including girls schools and colleges. In financial year 2018-19 this Ministry spent Rs. 1297.39 crore for sports development details of which are as below:-

1.     Scheme: Development in sports Institutions Expenditure (Rs. in crore): 483.83
2.     Scheme: Encouragement and Awards to Sportsperson Expenditure (Rs. in crore): 312.32
3.     Scheme: Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports Expenditure (Rs. in crore): 501.24

“Sports” being a State subject the responsibility of development Sports, including among girls in schools and colleges across the country rests with the State / Union Territory (UT) Governments. Government of India supplements the efforts of State / UT Governments by providing financial assistance through National Sports Federations, training in Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centres and support under Khelo India Scheme.

This information was given by the Minister of State (I/C) Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

PIB