Government mulls no LPG subsidy for people above Rs 10 lakh income

Government mulls no LPG subsidy for people above Rs 10 lakh income

Hyderabad: The NDA government is mulling to lift the subsidy on LPG cylinder for consumers whose annual income is above Rs 10 lakh, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said here on Saturday.

“Dharmendra Pradhan (Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas) told me that the Government has found many of illegal gas connections and is saving thousands of crore of rupees by stopping supply to those consumers,” the Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs said.

“They (the government) are also planning that the consumers whose income is above Rs 10 lakh, gas subsidy will not be given. Why do they need subsidy? Why ministers need subsidy? So far, 30 lakh people have given up LPG subsidy.

That subsidy will be given to poor people,” he said.

Naidu was speaking at an awards function organised by Federation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Chambers of Commerce.

He said the government has so far brought out about 35 changes in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy across 15 sectors.

Seeking support from the opposition parties for passing some crucial Bills such as GST Bill, the Union Minister said the government is willing to talk to them on pursuing its agenda.

“Our government agenda is development, good governance, elimination of poverty and empowerment of youth and women. The opposition should also cooperate with the government in pursuing these reforms. People want politics of development.

We seek support of all political parties in pursuing developmental agenda in the larger interest of the country,” he said.

Taking a dig at those criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naidu said they should respect the mandate of the people with tolerance.

“Knowingly or unknowingly, some incidents took place in the country and one should not magnify them and show the country in poor light,” he said.

He said India is moving on the path of development and attracting investments from outside.

PTI

Fixation of range of seniority for promotion from PA to PS Grade of CSSS-Select List Year 2014

Fixation of range of seniority for promotion from PA to PS Grade of CSSS-Select List Year 2014-reg

REMINDER-V

No.4/15/2015-CS-II (A)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market,
New Delhi -110003.
Dated the 13th November, 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: – Fixation of range of seniority for promotion from PA to PS grade of CSSS - Select List Year 2014 – regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Departments’ O.M. of even number dated 07.08.2015 and subsequent reminders dated 03.09.2015, 06.10.2015, 19.10.2015 and 27.10.2015 on the above mentioned subject. The requisite information regarding  recommendation of DPC for promotion of eligible PAs to PS Grade of CSSS for the Select List Year-2014 was required to be furnished in the prescribed proforma by 31.08.2015 by the Cadre Units of CSSS.

2. The requisite information from the Cadre Units as per Annexure, has not so far been received despite several reminders. The non-receipt of the said information is delaying the process of finalization of the panel of eligible officers for appointment to PS Grade of CSSS for the Select List Year-2014. The defaulting Cadre Units are once again requested to furnish the requisite information immediately without any further delay.

(AK Saha)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Tel.No.24622365

Source: http://ccis.nic.in

Enhancement of Income Tax exemption limit in the case of Running Staff in Railways

Enhancement of Income Tax exemption limit in the case of Running Staff in Railways

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055
Affiliated to
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

Dated: 13/11/2015

No. II/58/Part II
The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi
Dear Sir,

Sub: Enhancement of Income Tax exemption limit in the case of Running Staff in Railways-reg.

Ref: (i) NFIR’s PNM item no. 39/2012.
(ii) Railway Board’s O.M. No. F(X)I-2014/23/4 dated 23/05/2014 & 08/05/2015.
(iii) Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, CBDT (TPL Division)’s O.M No. 149/21/2013 TPL dated 23/07/2015 addressed to Railway Board.

On perusal of contents of O.M. dated 23/07/2015, (addressed to the Railway Board by Department of Revenue, CBDT TPL Division), copy handed over to the NFIR during the PNM meeting held on 819`” October 2015, Federation felt disappointed that the view of CBDT is unconvincing as the points raised by the Federation in the PNM agenda Item No, 39/2012 have not been taken into consideration. As a matter of fact, the CBDT has generalized the issue ignoring the Federation’s demand seeking revision of tax exemption to the specific category of Running Staff of Railways.

2. Federation however re-iterates below the key points for making proper reference by the Railway Ministry to the MoF/CBDT:-

• In para 1507 of IREC-Vol II (sixth Edition 1987/2″ Reprint Edition 2005), it has been stipulated that the Running Allowance is granted to the Running Staff for the performance of duty directly connected with charge of moving trains and includes “kilometerage allowance” or “allowance in lieu of kilometerage” and is paid on the kilometerage basis.
• The argument of CBDT that the exemption limit was raised from Rs. 6000 to 10,000 p.m. which takes care of progressive requirement of employees working in the different transport sector including Railway employees is not relevant as the revision of exemption sought pertains to Running Staff. Federation’s demand is that when the rates of kilometerage allowance of Running Staff on Indian Railways have been enhanced on DA reaching 50% of pay w.e.f. 01/01/2011 and again on reaching 100% as on 01/01/2014, the exemption limit of Income Tax correspondingly needs to be enhanced retrospectively as there is T.A. component in the kilometerage amount. Therefore, the present exempteq. amount of Rs. 10,000/- is grossly insufficient particularly in the context of upward revision of the rates of T.A which are not taxable.
• The CBDT’s view that moderation of tax rates by way of increase in the basic exemption limits and widening of tax slabs has raised every individual’s exemption limit is not relevant to the issue raised by NFIR seeking revision of exemption limit in the case of Running staff in Railways.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to write back to MoF/CBDT duly highlighting that “kilometerage amount paid to Running staff includes T.A. component towards out of pocket expenses” and urging for approval for upward revision of tax exemption limit from the existing Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 20,000/-

Yours faithfully,

(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR – https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B40Q65NF2_7UNjRyY0p1NFdlM2c/view?pli=1

Use of modified format of Life Certificate by all banks

Use of modified format of Life Certificate by all banks

CENTRAL PENSION ACCOUNTING OFFICE
TRIKOOT-II, BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE,
NEW DELHI-110066
PHONES : 26174596, 26174456, 26174436

CPAO/IT&Tech/Jeevan Praman/2015-16/1680

dated 09.11.2015

Office Memorandum

Subject:- Use of modified format of Life Certificate by all banks

Attention is invited to this office OM No. CPAO/IT&Tech/Scheme Booklet/2015-16/1666 dated 16.10.2015 directing the banks to ensure that modified format of Life Certificate is used by all paying branches which also provides for acknowledgment to Pensioners. Vide Correction slip no. 24, dated 12.10.2015, the Life Certificate has been modified and circulated to all concerned. The updated format of Life Certificate has also been provided on CPAO’s website i.e. www.cpao.nic.in.

It has been noticed that some banks are still using their own or old format of Life Certificate which is not proper. Therefore, Heads of Government Accounts/Business Department/Head of CPPCs of all the banks are requested once again to issue urgent instructions to all their branches to use only modified format of Life Certificate prescribed by CPAO and provide acknowledgment to Pensioners.

This issues with the approval competent authority.

(Vijay Singh)
Sr. Accounts Officer (Tech)

Signed copy Click here

Inaugurate Workshop on discontinuation of Interview for recruitment to the Junior-level posts in the Government

Inaugurate Workshop on discontinuation of Interview for recruitment to the Junior-level posts in the Government

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

Dated:13-November, 2015

Dr. Jitendra Singh to inaugurate Workshop on discontinuation of Interview for recruitment to the Junior-level posts in the Government

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh will inaugurate a one-day Workshop of the Principal Secretaries of the General Administration Department (GAD) of various States/Union Territories looking after the work of recruitment of employees, in New Delhi on Monday, November 16, 2015.

The daylong Workshop will focus upon the Central Government’s directions calling for discontinuation of Interview for recruitment to the Junior-level posts in the Government. Presentations will be made by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), representatives of State Government from Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Uttarakhand besides the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT).

Dr. Jitendra Singh had last month appealed to the Chief Ministers of all the States to take steps to abolish interview for recruitment to lower posts wherever possible. As a prompt follow up to the suggestion made by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address to abolish interview for recruitment to such posts where it is not required, the DoPT took up the matter with the State Governments of all States on September 4, 2015 following which the matter was discussed with the Secretaries of General Administration Department (GAD)/Personnel from States during the two-day workshop held in New Delhi on September 8-9, 2015.

The government’s view is that the interviews should be discontinued for recruitment to junior-level posts where personality or skill assessment is not absolutely required. The objective behind abolition of interviews for such posts is that it will curb corruption, ensure more objective selection in a transparent manner and substantially ease the problems of the poor and resourceless aspirants. This will not only enable giving more weightage to the merit but also supplement the government’s resolve for “Maximum Governance, Minimum Government”.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Ministers last month, Dr. Jitendra Singh had informed that several Group ‘B’ (Non-Gazetted) and Group ‘C’ (Non-Technical) posts in various Ministries/Departments and other organisations under Central Government have already been identified where the selections can be made through a competitive examination without conducting the interview. The Chief Ministers of different States have been requested to involve the Public Service Commission and other recruiting agencies in their respective States where interview can be discontinued and selection can be done only through examination. This would be a major step towards achieving the goal of citizen-centric transparent governance.

The DoPT and the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DAR&PG) and the Department of Pensions and Pensioners Welfare have recently undertaken several path breaking decisions including abolition of attestation of certificates and instead introduced self-attestation of certificates, introduction of pension portal to abolish the requirement for a written life-certificate and decision to revisit and revise the pattern and syllabus of Civil Services Examination.

PIB

West Bengal public holiday during the year 2016

West Bengal public holiday during the year 2016

Government of west Bengal
Finance Department
Audit Branch

Notification

No. 7690-F(p2)

Dated: 3rd November, 2015

In exercise of the power conferred by the explanation to section 25 of the Negotiable instrument Act, 1881 (XXVI of 1881), read with Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Notification No.20/25/56=pub(I) dated the 8th June, 1957 the Governor is pleased to declare the following days to be public holidays during the year 2016.

Birth Day of Swami Vivekananda	12th January	Tuesday
** Birth day of Netaji	23rd January	Saturday
Republic Day	26th January	Tuesday
** Saraswati Puja (Sree Panchami)	13th February	Saturday
Dolijatra	23rd March	Wednesday
Good Friday	25th March	Friday
Birth day of B.R.Ambedkar & Bengali New Year’s Day	14th April	Thursday
ID-UL-Fitre	6th July	Wednesday
Independence Day	15th August	Monday
ID-Ud-Joha	12th September	Monday
Mahalaya	30th September	Friday
Drugapuja ** Saptami      Nabami      Vijaya Dasami	8th October 10th October 11th October	Saturday Monday Tuesday
Muharram	12th October	Wednesday
** Lakshmi Puja	15th October	Saturday
** Kalipuja	29th October	Saturday
Birth day of Guru Nanak	14th November	Monday

NOTE:
1.Sundays are holidays under the Negotiable Instrument Act.
2.In the year 2016, the following festivals/occasions fall on Sundays which are public holidays under N.I Act and hence have not been included in the list of holidays:

I	May Day	1st May	Sunday
II	Birth Day of Rabindra Nath Tagore	8th May	Sunday
III	Bith Day of Gandhiji	2nd October	Sunday
IV	Astami of Durgapuja	9th October	Sunday
V	Christmas Day	25th December	Sunday

3.The holiday with double asterisk marks i.e. (**) is applicable to those Government Offices only where Saturday are not observed as full holiday.

4.General Instructions as laid down below in this Notification 7694-F(P2) dated – 3rd November 2015 are to be followed in case of Muslim Festivals.

No. 7691 – F (P2)

Dated: 3rd November, 2015

In exercise of the power conferred by the explanation to Section 25 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 (XXVI of 1881), read with Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Notification No.20/25/56-Pub(I) dated the 8th June, 1957 the Governor is pleased to declare the following day to be public holiday during the year 2016.

1. Yearly closing of Bank – 1st April, Friday

Note: All the State Government Offices including treasuries, Sub-Treasuries shall remain open on the 1st April 2016 which has been declared as public holiday under N.I.Act, under this Notification.
No. 7692-F(P2)

Dated: 3rd November, 2015

The Governor is pleased to notify that on the following days during the year 2016, which are not declared to be public holidays, the offices under the Government of West Bengal with the exception of the offices of the Registrar of Assurances, Kolkata and Collector of the Stamp Revenue, Kolkata shall be closed.

New Year’s day (2016 A.D)	1st January	Friday
Day after Doljatra (Holi)	24th March	Thursday
Birth day of Poet Bhanu Bhakt	13th July	Wednesday (for Darjeeling Dist only)
Janmastami	25th August	Thursday
Mahasasthi of Durgapuja	7th October	Friday
Additional day in connection with Durga puja	13th October	Thursday
Additional day in connection with kali puja	31st October	Monday
Bhatridwitiya	1st November	Tuesday
Fateha – Dwaz – Daham	13th December	Tuesday

NOTE:
1.In the year 2016, the following festivals/occasions fall on Sundays which are public Holidays under N.I.Act and hence have not been included in the list of holidays:

1. i) Additional day in connection with Laxmipuja – 16th October, Sunday
   ii) Additional day in connection with Kali Puja – 30th October, Sunday
2. Ekadashi of Durgapuja falls on 12th October which is a public holiday under N.I. Act for Muharram and hence has not been included here.

No. 7693 –F(P2)
Dated: 3rd November, 2015

The Governor is pleased to declare that the following days may be observed as sectional holidays in the year 2016 for the employees of different communities mentioned against each:

** Easter Saturday	26th March	Saturday ( for Christians Only)
Baisakhi	13th April	Wednesday ( for Sikhs Only)
Mahabirijayanti	19th April	Tuesday ( for Jains Only)
** Buddha Purnima	21st May	Saturday (for Buddhist Only)
Sab-e-Barat	23rd May	Monday (for Muslims Only)
Karam Puja	To be notified later on

NOTE:
1.In the year 2016, the following festival/occasion falls on Sunday which are public holidays under N.I.Act and hence has not been included in the list of holiday

1. i) Chat Puja – 6th November, Sunday
2. The holiday with double asterisk marks i.e. (**) is applicable to those Government Offices only where Saturday are not observed as full holiday.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO BE FOLLOWED IN ALL TYPES OF HOLIDAY INCLUDING HOLIDAYS FOR THE MUSLIM FESTIVALS

1.No substitute holiday should be allowed if any of the festival – holidays initially notified subsequently happens to fall on a weekly off or any other non-working day or in the event of more than one festival falling on the same day.

2.If there is any change in the date of ID-Ul-Fitre, ID-Ud-Zoha, Muharram, Fateha-Dwaz-Daham, sab-e-Barat depending upon the sighting of the moon, holiday will be declared by a separate order for the date on which the festival would be actually observed in lieu of the date originally notified as holiday for this festival.

3.It may happen that the change of date of above occasions has to be notified at a very short notice. In such a situation, announcement would be made through T.V./A.I.R/News papers and heads of Department/Offices of the State Government may take action according to such announcements without waiting for formal order about the change of date.

By order of the Governor,

Sd/-
O.S.D. & E.O. Joint Secretary to the
Government Of West Bengal

Signed Copy Click here

Let veterans prove OROP stir is not politically motivated, says Parrikar

Let veterans prove OROP stir is not politically motivated, says Parrikar

Arakkonam (TN): Terming the attempts by war veterans to burn medals as an insult to the nation and armed forces, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said it was for protesting ex-service personnel to prove there was no political motive behind the OROP stir.

“If I say something, it will become an allegation. Let them prove that it is not political,” he told reporters in Arakkonam when asked if he saw a political link to continuing agitation despite the government’s response and notification on one rank, one pension (OROP) scheme.

“Medals are a recognition of the nation for the sacrifice done by the armed forces,” he said in reply to another query. “Burning and returning them is an insult to the nation and the defence forces,” Parrikar said.
The minister’s comments come in the wake of a section of the ex-service personnel expressing dissatisfaction on the ground that the OROP notification has not fully met their demands.

The government had on Saturday formally notified the OROP scheme for over 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh war widows in the country.

“Medals are a recognition of bravery, for the service to the nation. It has nothing to do with service conditions whereas OROP is about service conditions. It does not say you are entitled for medals, it talks about service conditions like your pay and entitlement,” Parrikar said.

On the issue of grievances of protesting ex-servicemen, he said, “Let them put the demands before the judicial committee, they will address it.”

He said implementing OROP was BJP’s electoral promise and it had been fulfilled.

PTI

31st Plenary Session of INTUC General Council Meeting and Election at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi – 4th to 6th December, 2015

31st Plenary Session of INTUC General Council Meeting and Election at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi – 4th to 6th December, 2015.

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055

Affiliated to:
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

No. IV/NrFIR/INTUC/Corres/Pt. II

Dated: 12/11/2015

All the General Secretaries of
Affiliated Unions of NFIR

Dear Brother,
Sub: 31st Plenary Session of INTUC General Council Meeting and Election at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi – 4th to 6th December,2015.

A copy of circular of INTUC, National Head Quarters, New Delhi dated 30/10/2015 is
enclosed.
The programme is given below briefly:

4th December, 2015

1. INTUC Working Committee Meeting at 10:00 hrs at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
2. Immediately after Working Committee Meeting the General Council (Subject Committee) will meet and thereafter Industrial Federations meeting will take place at same venue.

5th and 6th December, 2015

1. Shri Rahul Gandhi, MP & Vice President/AICC will inaugurate the Plenary Session at 10:00 hrs, on 5th December,2015.
2. The Plenary Session and other programme will continue till 6th December, 2015.

The members/delegates should deposit Rs.500/- each towards documentation charges including delegate/registration fee and collect their documents from the registration counter at INTUC office on 3rd & 4th December, 2015 morning i.e. before the Working Committee starts.

The affiliates are requested to ensure that all the members/delegates reach INTUC Office on 3rd December, 2015 to deposit Rs.500/- each towards documentation charges and collect documents for participating in the Plenary Session.

Yours fraternally,

(Dr M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Encl: INTUC Circular

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B40Q65NF2_7UakpLVEh5V0plVFJ1YlNvTi1neHNhMjJnclA4/view?pli=1

Anubhav : Retiring officers to write note on their achievements

Anubhav : Retiring officers to write note on their achievements

Retiring officers to write note on their achievements

In another new initiative “Anubhav”, inspired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions has advised officers retiring within a period of six months to leave behind a note or write-up on their achievements as well as outstanding work done by them which could have, according to them, contributed to efficient functioning of the government or any innovation introduced by them which could have led to improvement in work culture.

Disclosing this here today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that “Anubhav” will serve as a platform for retiring employees to showcase achievements made by them during their service tenure. While the retiring employees can look back with satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment, the written account left by them could serve as a vital database for future improvement, he added.

Ministry of Personnel has, through a circular dated November 5, 2015, sought to reiterate and remind all the Ministries and Departments to follow up this initiative seriously. The Link to “Anubhav” Portal is available on the homepage of Department’s website at http://persmin.nic.in → DoP&T → Anubhav, he informed and added that initially this facility is available only to retiring Central Government employees including Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and Central Secretariat Stenographers Services (CSSS) officials.

Earlier, on the advice of Prime Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled that DoPT had also introduced a new practice of senior IAS officers who had put in nearly 25 to 30 years of service to revisit the place of their first posting as District Collectors or SDMs and furnish feedback about the change over the years as visualized by them. The DoPT and the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DAR&PG) are infact the Research & Development (R&D) organs of the government and not merely responsible for carrying out only transfers, promotions and empanelments. To this extent, he expressed satisfaction that during the last 17 months of the present government, a number of new reforms have been introduced with regard to recruitment in Services, Pension Department, IAS/Civil Services training and other areas.

AR&PG, Shri Devendra Choudhary for their proactive approach which motivated the entire team of officers to carry forward the new initiatives.

PIB

Indian Railways: New Rail Refund Rules came into effect from 12.11.2015

Indian Railways: New Rail Refund Rules came into effect from 12.11.2015

Indian Railways today modified the refund system for train passengers. With accordance with the new refund rules, passengers will have to pay double for cancelling tickets.

As per the rule, the first AC or executive class has been increased from Rs 120 to Rs 240, for second AC or First Class the cancellation charge has been increased from Rs 100 to Rs 200 and for the Third AC/ ACC/3A economy goes up to Rs 180 from Rs 90.

Read the complete order issued by the Railway Board today

Amendments in the certain provisions of Refund Rules – Comprehensive Refund Rules.

Amendments in the certain provisions of Refund Rules have been made and Comprehensive Refund Rule shall be notified through Gazette Notification.

This will come into effect from 12.11.2015

The changes in the refund rule wherever required should be carried out in manual ticketing system and in PRS, UTS, SPTMs etc.

Special arrangements should be made to ensure that necessary instructions and the revised refund rules reach the staff well in time. Steps should also be taken to ensure that the staff fully understand these changes in the refund rule and implement them properly.

Wide publicity should be given through media at regular intervals and the same may also be displayed prominently at all stations at booking/reservation counters. Action should also be taken to make changes in Passenger Information Systems at all places including Enquiry office etc.

In case of any disparity in English and Hindi version, the English version shall prevail.

Source: http://irctcnews.net/