7% DA from July 2014 – Prompt decision is worth appreciating..!

7% DA from July 2014 – Prompt decision is worth appreciating..!

The Centre has announced an additional 7% DA hike for the Central Government employees and Pensioners from July 2014.

Usually, agendas for central government employees’ DA hike are presented at the Cabinet meeting only on the third or fourth Thursdays of the month. There are times when these decisions were made during the last cabinet meeting of the season. Sometimes, these decisions are not made even during the last meeting and are taken up only during special meeting or at critical times.

On the 4th of this month, out of the blue, the Government announced a 7% DA hike. The cabinet’s announcement gives a positive conclusion to the relentless waiting of the past few weeks.

DA is calculated twice a year (from January to June, and from July to December) based on the changes in the Consumer Price Index (IW) BY 2001=100. The AICPIN numbers of the month are released by the Labour Bureau the following month.

In the month of August, the Labour Bureau sends the AICPIN data for the months of January to July, to the Finance Ministry. Based on the data, the Finance Ministry calculates the DA hike and the additional expense likely to be incurred, and presents the findings and reports towards the end of August to the Cabinet for its approval. The final decision is made in the month of September. This is the usual procedure.

Irrespective of the date of the Cabinet approval in the month of September, the DA hikes are calculated and given along with the salary for the month of September. Increase for the month of July and August are calculated and given as arrears to the employees and pensioners too.

Although 7% hike has been confirmed already, the prompt decision is worth appreciating!

Source : www.cgstaffnews.in

DoPT Order on Search/Selection Committees

DoPT Order on Search/Selection Committees

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

05-September-2014 18:12 IST

DoPT Order on Search/Selection Committees

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has directed that the Search Committee/Search-cum-Selection Committee should recommend panels in the order of merit. The ACC has, however, observed that in some of the cases submitted by various Ministries/Departments, the Selection Committees/Search-cum-Selection Committees are not recommending the panel in order of merit/preference.

In view of the above, the ACC has reiterated that unless statutorily required not to arrange the names in the panel in the order of preference, the Selection Committee/Search-cum-Selection Committee must invariably indicate the order of preference.

Expected Dearness Allowance from January 2015

Expected Dearness Allowance from January 2015

As all of us expected, 7% DA hike has been approved by Cabinet on 4th September 2014. Necessary order for payment of DA with effect from 1st July 2014 will be issued by Ministry of Finance soon. Here after our focus will be moving on to next instalment of dearness allowance which will be paid from 1st January 2015. We just analyse the trend of Consumer Price Index with the past seven months AICPCIN to arrive the expected DA from January 2015.

Since 2006, the AICPIN has witnessed second highest ever increase in July 2014. In 2009 the AICPIN increased by 7 points from 153 to 160 in the month of July. After that, an increase of 6 points over 246 points was declared in July 2014. It is the second highest monthly increase on AICPIN records from 2006. See the table below…

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	MaxIncrease
2006	119	119	119	120	121	123	124	124	125	127	127	127	2
2007	127	128	127	128	129	130	132	133	133	134	134	134	2
2008	134	135	137	138	139	140	143	145	146	148	148	147	3
2009	148	148	148	150	151	153	160	162	163	165	168	169	7
2010	172	170	170	170	172	174	178	178	179	181	182	185	3
2011	188	185	185	186	187	189	193	194	197	198	199	197	4
2012	198	199	201	205	206	208	212	214	215	217	218	219	4
2013	221	223	224	226	228	231	235	237	238	241	243	239	4
2014	237	238	239	242	244	246	252						6

What is the impact of this highest increase of AICPIN on expected Dearness Allowance from January 2015?
It is observed that when it was 7 points increase in July 2009, it influenced very much on increasing the rate of DA to be paid from 1st January 2010 and 1st July 2010. The rate of Dearness Allowance had been enhanced by 8% from 25% to 35% with effect from 1.1.2010 and 10% increase from 35% to 45% was declared with effect from 1.7.2010. Though there was no considerable increase after those 7 points in that particular 12 months from July 2009 to June 2010, the rate of DA had been reached 8% and 10% increase level for  successive two instalments.

From this point of view, it is quite obvious that this one month increase on AICPIN is enough to play a vital role to have a considerable hike in rate of Dearness Allowance for forth coming two instalments. So this 6 points increase of AICPIN in July 2014, we can expect, will have a profound impact on increasing the rate of Dearness allowance to be paid, not only from 1st January 2015, but also from July 2015.

Let us see the three probabilities of  AICPIN trend, through which we can figure out approximately the expected DA from January 2015 

Probabilities (with AICPIN-IW points)	Expected DA from Jan 2015
Average increase of 3 points for remaining 5 months	9%
Average increase of 2 points for remaining 5 months	8%
If same points (252)continues for remaining  5 months	6%

Source: http://www.gservants.com

Dopt Notification - Addition of time limit for submission of Assest Declaration

Dopt Notification - Addition of time limit for submission of Assest Declaration

Department of Personnel and Training issued an important notification regarding the time limit for filing return of assests on its portal today. The time limit has been extended upto December 2014 to submitting of information and annual returns of assests and liabilities of Government servant.

Asset Declaration Amendment Rules

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(Department of Personnel and Training)

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi. the 8th September. 2014

G.S.R. 638(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-secrion (1) read with clause (k) and clause (1) of sub section (2) of Section 59 read with Section 44 and Section 45 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules to amend the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules. 2014. namely :-

I. (I) These rules may he called the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Amendment Rules, 2014.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules, 2014. in rule 3. in the proviso to sub-rule (2), for the words on or before the 15th day of September, 2014’, the words “on or before the 31st day of December, 2014 shall he substituted.

[ F.No. 407/12/2014-AVD-lV(B) Pt.-I ]
BHASKAR KHULBE, Addl. Secy.

Note : The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary vide notification number G.S.R. 501(E). dated the 14th July. 2014.

Source : www.persmin.gov.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02ser/Not_Assetrulesamendmentgazt.pdf]

Revision of maximum limit of subscription in a financial year of PPF Account

Revision of maximum limit of subscription in a financial year of PPF Account

No. F.No. 113-01/2011-SB
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi-110001, Dated: 21.08.2014

To
All Heads of Circles/Regions
Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi.

Subject:- Revision of maximum limit of subscription in a financial year of PPF Account.

Sir / Madam,

The undersigned is directed to convey the decision of the Min. of Finance (DEA) for revision of existing maximum limit of subscription in a financial year in the existing PPF accounts as well as new PPF account to be opened on or after 13.08.2014. Now the subscription in a financial year shall be Rs 1,50,000/- in "place of Rs 1,00,000/- in PPF accounts. The copy of Gazette Notification No. G.S.R. 588 (E) dated 13.08.2014 issued by MOP (DEA) is enclosed.


2. it is requested to circulate this instruction to all field units and ensure that the instruction is strictly followed.

3. This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.

Read/download: Notification

Prime Minister's National Relief Fund - Reg.

Prime Minister's National Relief Fund - Reg.

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

New Delhi

Subject: Prime Minister's National Relief Fund - Reg.

Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was constituted in January,1948 to assist displaced persons from Pakistan.The resources of the PMNRF are now utilized primarily to render immediate relief to the affected families of those killed/injured in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc. or in the major accidents/riots. The fund is also utilized to provide financial assistance for medical treatment like heart surgeries, kidney transplantatiory cancer treatment,etc. The fund consists entirely of voluntary public contributions and does not get any budgetary support. Prime Minister  is the Chairman of the fund'

2. The undersigned is desired to convey that arrangements may be made to display a caption "All donations towards the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) are notified for 100% deduction from  taxable income under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961" by your Department at its home webpage. Besides, Department may also request the PSUs concerned with the Department to carry out this exercise also.

3. This issues with the approval of competent authority.

(Santosh D.Vaidya)
Director

Secretary, Department of Posts, New Delhi
Source:  http://www.indiapost.gov.in

Unfortunate rumour-mongering about 7th Central Pay Commission’s visit to Ladakh

Unfortunate rumour-mongering about 7th Central Pay Commission’s visit to Ladakh

There were messages doing the rounds to the effect that Members of the 7th CPC are visiting Ladakh not for the purposes of analysing the conditions under which our men and women in uniform are deployed, but to enjoy a picnic at Pangong Tso lake at tax payers’ expense.

These messages are patently incorrect, malicious and unfortunate. Members of Pay Commission would, in fact, be visiting Siachen, Kargil, Mushkoh Valley, Chushul and Leh.

Similar whispers are at times heard about officers in the military hierarchy manning key positions related to pay, personnel and pensionary issues, including the pay commission cells of the three services. That too is demoralising.

Such rumours not only spread discontentment but also antagonize people who are working day and night for the betterment of serving personnel and veterans. Though change is the only constant and there is requirement of transformation of attitude at various ends, it can be said with great responsibility that the current military leadership and key appointments are extremely sensitised and sensitive towards the needs, requirements and aspirations of the military community and there is a consequent responsibility imposed on all of us to lend support to move towards the ultimate aim of betterment rather than creating an environment of negativity, that too based on a foundation of gossip.

Here is the official statement released by the Army on the subject of the visit of Members of 7th CPC to Ladakh:

We have noticed a number of malicious and ill informed comments being circulated on Social Media with regard to the visit of Justice Mathur, Chairman, 7th Central Pay Commission and other members of the Commission to Ladakh.
The Army wishes to clarify that Justice Mathur, Chairman, 7th Central Pay Commission and other members of the Commission are taking out very valuable time from their busy schedule to visit forward areas where our soldiers are serving in extremely difficult terrain, at our request.
Justice Mathur and members of the Commission would be visiting the Northern Glacier (Siachen), Kargil, Mushkoh Valley, Chushul apart from Leh, where they would be staying with various Army Detachments.

We are grateful to the 7 Pay Commission Team for personally experiencing the difficulties being faced by Army deployed in Ladakh.

On a lighter note though, I do feel we should not be so servile so as to thank Members of the Commission for “taking out very valuable time from their busy schedule”, since that my friends is their duty for what they are paid for and appointed, and not a favour extended to the society at large.

Source: www.indianmilitary.info

‘Facilitation Fee’ levied by authorised travel agents on air tickets booked on Government account — Withdrawal regarding.

‘Facilitation Fee’ levied by authorised travel agents on air tickets booked on Government account — Withdrawal regarding.

No. 19024/1/2012-E-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi.
Dated the 5th September, 2014.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- ‘Facilitation Fee’ levied by authorised travel agents on air tickets booked on Government account — Withdrawal regarding.

Attention is invited to this Department’s O.M. of even number dated 10th October, 2013 wherein the authorised travel agents namely M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC), were allowed to levy ‘Facilitation Fee’ @ 100/- per ticket for domestic sector and .7300/- per ticket for international sector for air travel, wherein Government of India bears the cost of air passage.

2. The issue has been re-examined in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Department of Legal Affairs, in the light of provisions of the Aircrafts Rules, 1937, as amended from time to time, and it has been decided to withdraw this Department’s O.M. of even number dated 10th October. 2013 with immediate effect. Consequently, no fee/service charges (by whatever nomenclature), which are not included in the ‘tariff’ charged by Air India/Airlines, are required to be paid to the authorised travel agents.

3. Payment to the authorised travel agents for the Bills raised by them for air tickets procured/purchased till date, in respect of air travel already undertaken or due to be undertaken, would be regulated as per O.M. of even number dated 10.10.2013. It is reiterated that, as far as possible, air tickets on Government account may be obtained directly from Air India/Airlines (booking counters/offices/website) and if obtaining tickets directly from Air India/Airlines is not possible, should the services of authorised travel agents be availed of.

4. All Ministries/Departments are advised to bring these instructions to the notice of all concerned for compliance.

sd/-
(Subhash Chand)
Director

Source: http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/air_travel/facilitaionFee_AirTicket_withdrawal05092014.pdf

NC JCM Secretary writes to PM regarding the revision of ceiling of Bonus

Secretary of NC (Staff Side) JCM writes to Prime Minister about the ceiling of payment of minimum bonus should be revised to all eligible employees…

Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary

National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001

No.NC/JCM/2014

Dated: August 23, 2014

Shri Narendra Modi Ji,
Hon’ble Prime Minister,
Government of India,
New Delhi

Respected Sir,
Sub: Revision of ceiling for payment of Bonus in Bonus Act 1965

Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 was amended in the year 2007. This Act was called as Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2007.

In Section 12 of the Principal Act (1965), payment of minimum bonus was revised from Rs.2500 to Rs.3500 w.e.f. 1st April, 2006 through Payment of Bonus(Amendment) Ordinance 2007(8 of 2007) and subsequently passed by the Parliament through Bill No.89/2007.

The Central Trade Unions and also the Constituent Organizations of Joint Consultative Machinery for Central Government employees raised the issue of amendment to the Section 12 of the Bonus Act, 1965 to remove the Ceiling of Rs.3500, mentioned in the Section 12 of the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act 2007.

But so far the Government has not amended the Act to pay real wages to the workers as Bonus, which is causing lot of hardship to the workers due to high escalation of prices of all commodities after the enactment of the amendment to the Bonus Act 1965 in the year 2007.

You are, therefore, requested to consider the pleas made by the Central Trade Union Organizations and also the JCM Constituent Organizations for Central Government employees and amend the Section 12 of the Bonus Act, duly removing the ceiling mentioned in the Section 12 of the Payment of Bonus(Amendment) Act, 2007.

As Pooja Festival is fast approaching and orders for payment of Productivity Linked Bonus to Railway employees and Ex. gratia to other Central Government employees are likely to be issued shortly, you are further requested to propose to issue an ordinance with the approval of the President to amend Section 12 of the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2007 so as to enable the Railwaymen and other Central Government employees to get real wages as Bonus.

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

Source: NC JCM STAFF SIDE

Centre May Drop Mandatory Police Verification for Government Jobs

Centre May Drop Mandatory Police Verification for Government Jobs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently sought minimum use of affidavits and a shift to self-certification, so as to benefit the common man.

Centre May Drop Mandatory Police Verification for Govt Jobs

NEW DELHI: The Centre is considering a move to drop mandatory police verification of candidates selected for government jobs and may accept self-attestation certificates from them.

The issue of omitting the need of police verification of people getting selected for government jobs and applying for passports is under consideration of the Ministry of Home Affairs, official sources said. The MHA is likely take a view of state governments and other stakeholders in the matter, they said.

A concept note on the matter by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions also favoured replacement of police verification in various works including for the purpose of issuance of passport and for government jobs.

It needs to be considered if this can be eliminated as

(i) the police check is only about any criminal cases for which the persons concerned do provide necessary declarations and remain liable for false declaration;
(ii) the police report is perfunctory as it covers the last place of residence only;
(iii) in any case, neighbours’ affirmation appears to have little meaning, the note says.

As part of its effort to reform the public service delivery system and bridging the governance deficit, the Centre is promoting self attestation in place of notarized affidavits for a big chunk of government-related work.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently sought minimum use of affidavits and a shift to self-certification, so as to benefit the common man.

“In a citizen-friendly initiative, all ministries and departments of the union government, and all state governments, have been asked to make provision for self-certification of documents in place of affidavits.
“The requirement of attestation by gazetted officer is also sought to be replaced by self-certification by the citizen,” the Prime Minister’s Office has said in a release.

The 12th report – ‘citizen centric administration-the heart of governance’ – of the second Administrative Reforms Commission has also suggested simplifying procedures for self-certification provision.

Source : www.deccanherald.com