CPSEs - Revision of scales of pay w.e.f. 01.01.2017 - Payment of IDA at revised rates

CPSEs - Revision of scales of pay w.e.f. 01.01.2017 - Payment of IDA at revised rates

F.No. W-02/0039/2017-DPE(WC)-GL-V/20
Government of India
Ministry of Heavy Industry & Public Enterprises
Department of Public Enterprises

Public Enterprises Bhawan
Block 14, CGO Complex,
Lodi Road, New Delhi-1 10003
Dated: 3 April, 2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Board level and below Board level posts including Non-unionised Supervisors in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) - Revision of scales of pay w.e.f. 01.01.2017 - Payment of IDA at revised rates - regarding.

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The undersigned is directed to refer to the para 7 and Annexure-III (B) of DPE’s OM dated 03.08.2017 wherein the rates of DA payable to the Board level and below Board level executives and non-unionized supervisors of CPSEs have been indicated. The next installment for revision of rates of DA is due from 01.04.2020. Accordingly, the rate of DA payable to the executives and non-untonized supervisors of CPSEs is as follows :-

Also check: AICPIN for the month of January 2020 - Expected DA from July 2020 - Central Government Employees News

(a) Date from which payable: 01.04.2020
(b) Average AICPI (2001=100) for the quarter Dec '2019 - Feb '2020

Dec., 2019 330
Jan., 2020 330
Feb., 2019 328

Average of the quarter 329.33
(c) Link Point - 277.33 (as on 01.01.2017)
(d) Increase over link point - 32 (329.33 minus 277.33)
(e) DA Rate w.e.f. 01.04.2020 - 18.7% [52 /277.33) x 100)

2. The.above rate of DA i.e. 18.7% would be applicable in the case of IDA employees who have been allowed revised pay scales (2017) as per DPE O.Ms. dated 03.08.2017, 04.08.2017 & 07.09.2017.
3. All administrative Ministries / Departments of the Government of India are requested to bring the foregoings to the notice of the CPSEs under their administrative control for necessary action at their end.

(Naresh Kumar)
Under Secretary

To
All administrative Ministries / Departments of the Government of India.
Copy to:

1. The Chief Executives of Central Public Sector Enterprises.
2. Financial Advisers in the Administrative Ministries / Departments.
3. Department of Expenditure, E-I] Branch, North Block, New Delhi.
4. The Comptroller & Auditor General of India, 9 Deen Dayal Upadhayay Marg, New Delhi.
5. NIC, DPE with the request to upload this OM on the DPE website.

(Naresh Kumar)
Under Secretary

Source: dpe.gov.in

Pension claim submission during lock-down of Defence civilian

O/o The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension),
Draupadighat, Allahabad - 211014

Circular No.C- 207

No.G1/C/MISC/Vol-X/Tech
O/o the PCDA(P), Allahabad

Dated: 03/04/2020

To,
……………
……………
(All Head of Department under Min. of Defence)

Sub:- Submission of pension claim during lock-down in respect of Defence civilian

Government of India has declared lock-down as a precautionary measure in view of COVID-19. Some Head of office have expressed their inability in forwarding of pension claim in hard copy due to lockdown. Matter has been considered by the competent authority and it has been decided that till then lockdown, superannuation/retiring pension claim whose date of retirement is on or before 30.04.2020 and all death cases pension claim may also be forwarded as a soft copy i.e. scanned copy to PCDA (Pension) Allahabad email address cda-albd@nic.in. This arrangement is optional for those HOO who are not in position to forward pension claim in hard copy. Subject of email should be "Pension claim- G1/Civil".

2. In view of the above, you are requested to issue suitable instructions (along with copy of this circular) to all the head of the Offices under your administrative control to ensure the submission of pension claim as stated above.

(Navpreet Kaur)
Dy.CDA (P)

EPFO Issues Revised Instructions to Facilitate PF Members to Rectify their Birth Records

Ministry of Labour & Employment

EPFO Issues Revised Instructions to Facilitate PF Members to Rectify their Birth Records

05 APR 2020

In a move to extend the availability and reach of online services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, EPFO has issued revised instructions to its field offices to facilitate PF members to rectify their date of birth in EPFO records, thus ensuring that their UAN is KYC compliant.

The date of birth recorded in 'Aadhaar' will now be accepted as valid proof of date of birth for the purpose of rectification, provided that the difference in the two dates is less than 3 years. The PF subscribers can submit the correction requests online.

This will enable EPFO to validate the date of birth of members online with UIDAI instantaneously, thus authenticating and reducing the processing time of change requests.

EPFO has instructed field offices to expedite disposal of online requests, enabling PF members in financial distress, to apply online for availing non refundable advance from their PF accumulations to tide over the COVID-19 pandemic.

PIB

Health professional workers fighting COVID-19 in Government Hospitals and the health Care Centers to Defence Civilian employees

Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh
(An All India Federation of Defence Workers)

Ref:B PMS/ MoD/ Insurance Cover/ 186 (8/1/R)

Dt: 31/3/2020

To,
Shri Rajnath Singhji
Hon’ble Minister of Defence
Govt. of India, Ministry of Defence
South Block, DHQ PO

Subject: Extension of benefit of Insurance Scheme as announced by Hon’ble Finance Minister on 26 March 2020 for health workers fighting COVID-19 in Government Hospitals and the health Care Centers to Defence Civilian employees engaged in various essential services for supporting the front warriors of war against Covid-19.

Respected Sir,
With due regards, your kind attention is drawn to the announcements made by Hon’ble Minister of Finance and Corporate affairs Smt.Nirmala Sitharaman on 26/March/2020 whereby it was made public that

“Safai Karmacharis, Ward boys, Nurses, Asha workers, Paramedics, Technicians, Doctors, Specialists and other health workers would be covered by a special Insurance Scheme.

Any health professional, who while treating Covid-19 patients, meet with some accident, then she/he would be compensated with an amount of Rs 50 lakh under the scheme.

And all government health centres, wellness centres and hospitals of Centre as well as States would be covered under this scheme. Approximately 22 lakh health workers would be provided insurance cover to fight this pandemic.

Further, it is for your kind information that employees of various Ordnance factories have been deployed to manufacture essential equipment like mask, coverall, sanitizer etc for our front warriors viz. Health professionals, Police personnel, Sanitation workers to protect them from this pandemic.
Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has designated 285 beds as isolation wards for handling Covid -19 cases in various Ordnance Factories hospitals located in different parts of the country. Sufficient staff has also been engaged for the task.

DRDO employees are also serving the establishment as well as the Nation by manufacturing ventilators and sanitizer.

Besides above, essential duty employees like Durwan, Firefighting staff, Electrical and Maintenance staff etc are being deployed in various defence establishments like MES Depots ,Workshops under Army HQ, Civilian employees under AIR HQ and Naval HQ, DGQA & DGAQA so as to maintain the establishments properly and prepare them for any untoward situation. They are continuing their services/support to Armed forces of India in this vulnerable time so as to prove them “ the strongest” at any situation.

In above circumstances, these employees may expose/ fall prey to this pandemic. Yet they are feeling proud of being part of this war against Covid-19.

Though these employees do not seek any additional favour/ remuneration from their employers, yet in case of any mishappening /accident happens with employees attributed to Covid-19 their families will have to face misery and sufferings.

Therefore, you are requested to extend the benefit of Rs 50 lakhs under Special Insurance Scheme as announced by Hon’ble Finance Minister to Defence Civilian Employees too so as to mitigate the hardships of families of the employees, if any accident attributed to Covid-19 occurs with them while performing their duties.

Thanking you,

Sincerely yours
(Mukesh Singh)
General Secretary

Source: BPMS

Hon'ble High Court Order of Delhi - Breath Analyser (BA) test and Bio-metric verification of Running staff

Hon’ble High Court Order of Delhi

Breath Analyser (BA) test and Bio-metric verification of Running staff during signing On/Off in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.2016/M(L.)/467/1

New Delhi, Dated 28.03.2020

General Managers,
All Zonal Railways.

Sub: Breath Analyser (BA) test and Bio-metric verification of Running staff during signing On/Off in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic.

Ref: Order of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi dated 27.03.2020 in case no. ‘W.P.(C) URGENT 4/2020 (to be numbered subsequently)’.

1. The Hon'ble High Court of Delhi, in the above-mentioned case, by order dated 27.03.2020 has stayed the operation of this office letter of even no. dated 20.03.2020 on the subject. Further Hon’ble High Court has given certain directions. Copy of Hon’ble High Court’s order is enclosed herewith for necessary action by all Zonal Railways.
2. Railway Board has vide letter of even no. dated 27.03.2020 (copy enclosed) already permitted zonal railways to issue relaxations regarding BA test and bio-metric verification. This letter was issued based on request of recognised federations and the same was perhaps not brought to the notice of Hon’ble High Court.
3. Many directions given vide Hon’ble High Court’s orders were already included in Railway Board letter dated 27.03.2020. This letter dated 27.03.2020 had given the relaxation till 14.04.2020 or till the end date of complete lockdown, whichever is earlier. However, in accordance with Hon’ble High Court’s orders, the applicability of such directions is extended till the next date of hearing in the case (to be listed on 16.04.2020). Hon’ble High Court has also specified the format for self-declaration to be taken from running staff, which is enclosed with the order.
4. Further, Hon’ble High Court has given the following additional directions, which may be noted by zonal railways for compliance (many of these are also being implemented by railways already) :

Whether MACP scheme entitles financial upgradation of pay to the next grade pay or to the grade pay of the next promotional post as envisaged under the ACP scheme

• Running staff while signing On/Off should use their own pen. Common pens, if any, may be removed.
• Special watch may be kept on the staff to eliminate drunkenness on duty.
• Sufficient Liquid soap and hand sanitizers should be made available in the lobbies and running/Rest Rooms.
• Equipments / apparatus and other commonly used items in the crew lobbies and running rooms may be frequently cleaned / sanitized.
• Sharing of linen and use of blankets is to be stopped in running rooms.
• The bed rooms / wash room areas, dining halls other common rooms/ halls, offices in the crew lobbies and running rooms may be kept frequently cleaned, sanitized and well ventilated by keeping the windows and doors open.

This issues with the approval of Board (MTR & MT)

Encl: As above.

(Manish Jain)
EDME(Traction)

Relaxation in counting of various Limitations period under AIS Rules

Latest DoPT Orders 2020

F.No.14062/01/2020 - AIS-III
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training

North Block, New Delhi
Dated 31st March, 2020

To,
The Chief Secretaries of States/ UTs

Subject: Counting of the limitation period for diverse purposes under various All India Service/ IAS/ IPS/ IFS Rules and Regulations / instructions made under the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the All India Services Act 1951- reg.

Sir / Madam,
The undersigned is directed to refer to All India Services/ IAS/ IPS / IFS Rules, inter-alia. AIS (DCRB) Rules 1958, AIS (D&A) Rules,1969, AIS(Conduct) Rules,1968, Pay Rules for IAS / IPS/ IFS and Regulations/ Instructions issued there-under, prescribing certain time-limits for specific activities /events relating to procedures under the said Rules / Regulations/Instructions. For instance, in the said Rules/ Regulations / Instructions, time-limits have been prescribed for the following:

Also check: AIS Conduct Rules 1968 Proposal to amend Rule 11 by inserting a new-sub Rule 4

• Validity period of suspension including its confirmation by Central Government, review of order of suspension and communication of
  suspension to Central Government by State Governments, etc. under Rule 3 of AIS (D&A) Rules 1969
• Submission of written statement of defence. completion of Inquiry and submission of report by the Inquiring Authority under AIS (D&A) Rules 1969
• Submission of representation on advice of UPSC under Rule 9 of AIS (D&A) Rules, 1969
• Period of Limitation for appeal under Rule 17 of AIS (D&A) Rules 1969
• Revision and Review under Rule 24 of AIS (D&A) Rules 1969
• Disciplinary proceedings initiated; against a Pensioner as per Rule 6 of AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958
• Acceptance of notice of VRS under Rule 16 of AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958
• Concurrence of vacancy to state Governments Under Respective Pay Rules of IAS/ IPS/ IFS Scanned with CamScanner
• Intimation of Movable / Immovable Property under Rule 16 of AIS (Conduct) Rules,1968 including other time limits prescribed under ibid rules

( The list is only illustrative and not exhaustive )

2. In view of the pandemic caused by spread of COVID-19 and unprecedented nation-wide lockdown, it may not be feasible to carry out time bound activities/events as mentioned above during the lockdown period and to adhere to the prescribed time-lines under various extant Rules, and/or the Regulations / Instructions issued under these Rules. It has accordingly been decided under the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the All India Services Act 1951. that intervening period of lockdown shall be excluded while reckoning the periods towards completion of activities within the time-limits prescribed for the purpose under various All India Service/ IAS/ IPS/ IFS Rules and/or the regulations / instructions there-under. For instance, if the due date for completing an activity / event at the start of lockdown falls after 20 days, then the due date is proposed to be postponed by the number of lockdown days and further that the same number of 20 days be available to complete the task after the lockdown is lifted.

3. Further, it has also been decided that after the lockdown is lifted, a minimum time of 15 days may be given for completing the activity / event, i.e., if the time left to complete any task is less than 15 days after the lockdown is lifted, then the task may be allowed to be completed within 15 days from the date that the lockdown is lifted.

4. The afore-mentioned relaxations in respect of activities / events covered under various All India Service/ IAS/ IPS/ IFS Rules and Regulations / instructions made there-under are applicable only in such cases where there is an intervening lockdown period; and will not be applicable otherwise. Further, these relaxations shall not be applicable also in cases where, in view of the pandemic caused by spread of COVlD-19, specific relaxations in timelines have separately been allowed under the relevant A18 and IAS /IPS /IFS Rules etc.

5. This issues with the approval of competent authority.

(Khushboo Chowdhary)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source: DoPT

Apprentices will continue to get their full stipend during COVID-19 Lockdown

Apprentices will continue to get their full stipend during COVID-19 Lockdown

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

31-March, 2020

"Apprentices will continue to get their full stipend during COVID-19 Lockdown": Dr MahendraNathPandey

• All establishments shall pay full stipend as applicable to the apprentices engaged under both designated and optional trade
• Reimbursement of stipend to establishments under NAPS shall be paid by the Government for the lockdown period as per the NAPS guidelines

As a part of the Government’s commitment to fight the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and fully support the public, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) today notified all the establishments under designated and optional trade to pay full stipend to apprentices engaged with them. Additionally, reimbursement of stipend to establishments under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) shall be paid by the Government for the lockdown period as per the NAPS guidelines.

Apprentices Act, 1961 and the Apprenticeship Rules under it state that if a trade apprentice is unable to complete the period of apprenticeship training due to strike or lockout or layoff in an establishment where he is undergoing training and is not instrumental for the same, the period of his apprenticeship training shall be extended for a period equal to the period of strike or lockout or layoff, as the case maybe, and shall be paid stipend during the period of such strike or lockout or layoff or for a maximum period of six months, whichever is less.

Dr.MahendraNathPandey, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurshipexpressed his views and shared, "This is the time when we all need to come forward and support each other completely. Even our honourable Prime Minister, Shri. NarendraModi appealed to businesses to act with empathy. And with this, we have decided that we will not let the morale of the country’s productive youth to be let down and will support them in every way possible. In view of this, we will ensure that apprentices continue to get their stipend during COVID-19 lockdown. I would also like to state that all the establishments have shown full commitment in this regard and are cooperating with the Government for the smooth delivery of services in a critical time like this."

Apprenticeship has been recognized as an effective way to empower young people to smoothly shift from school and college to work whilst at the same time improving links between industry and training institutions. The National Apprenticeship Programme plays a large part in the task of up-skilling India’s workforce, offering the opportunity to share costs among different parties (employers, individuals and the government) and to involve governments, employers and workers in partnership. Apprenticeship is a win-win situation both for industry and youth in coming together to help make the vision of ‘Skilled India’ a reality in future

Source: PIB

Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes

Interest rates for various Small Savings Schemes for the first quarter of the 2020-21 financial year from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020

F.No.1/4/2019-NS
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Economic Affairs
(Budget Division)

North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 31.03.2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes - reg.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 9(1) of the Government Saving Promotion General Rules 2018, the rates of interest on various Small Savings Schemes for the first quarter of financial year 2020-21 starting from 1st April, 2020 and ending on 30th June 2020 have been revised as indicated below:

Instruments	Rate of interest from 01.01.2020 to 31.03.2020	Rate of interest from 01.04.2020 to 30.06.2020	Compounding frequency *
Savings Deposit	4.0	4.0	Annually
1 Year Time Deposit	6.9	5.5	Quarterly
2 Year Time Deposit	6.9	5.5	Quarterly
3 Year Time Deposit	6.9	5.5	Quarterly
5 Year Time Deposit	7.7	6.7	Quarterly
5 Year Recurring Deposit	7.2	5.8	Quarterly
Senior Citizen Savings Scheme	8.6	7.4	Quarterly and paid
Monthly Income Account	7.6	6.6	Monthly and paid
National Savings Certificate	7.9	6.8	Annually
Public Provident Fund Scheme	7.9	6.8	Annually
Kisan Vikas Patra	7.6 (will mature in 113 months)	6.9 (will mature in 124 months)	Annually
Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme	8.4	7.6	Annually

Also check: Rate of interest on various National Small Savings Schemes with effect from 1st January 2020


2. This has the approval of Finance Minister.

(Rajesh Panwar)
Dy. Direétor (Budget)

PREMIUM PAYMENT PERIOD FOR POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE & RURAL POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE EXTENDED UPTO 30TH APRIL 2020

Ministry of Communications
PREMIUM PAYMENT PERIOD FOR POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE & RURAL POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE EXTENDED UPTO 30TH APRIL 2020

30 MAR 2020

In view of the threat posed by the outbreak of Corona Virus (COVID-19), and the complete lockdown across India, Directorate of Postal Life Insurance (PLI), Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications has given an extension of period for payment of their due premium of March 2020 upto 30th April 2020 without charging any penalty / default fee. Directorate of PLI said that although many Post Offices are functional as part of essential services, Postal Life Insurance / Rural Postal Life customers are facing difficulty in approaching post offices for payment of premium. Therefore, as a measure of convenience to all the PLI / RPLI customers, the period of payment has been extended.

The decision is likely to benefit approximately 13 lakh policy holders (5.5 Lakh PLI and 7.5 Lakh RPLI) who have not been able to pay premium for current month. As compared to about42 lakh policy holders who paid premium last month, only 29 lakh of them have been able to pay premium for this month till today.

Customers registered on portal have also been advised to pay premium online using PLI customer Portal.

PFRDA pledges to contribute to PM-CARES Fund to help fight COVID-19 outbreak

Ministry of Finance

PFRDA
PFRDA pledges to contribute to PM-CARES Fund to help fight COVID-19 outbreak

01 APR 2020

The pension sector regulator Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has pledged to contribute a part of the employee’s salary to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund, instituted recently under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to assist and provide relief measures to the citizens of the country following the global outbreak of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Alike other Government institutions, industry leaders, celebrities, individuals, PFRDA employees have decided to contribute part of their salary and PFRDA is committed to assist the government in its fight against the pandemic in India.

Shri Supratim Bandyopadhyay, Chairman PFRDA said “This is one of the most challenging period that our country is facing today. At this moment what matters most is sharing the responsibility of fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) in every way possible. The PFRDA is perceptive of the implications of this pandemic situation and would like to contribute towards the fight of this crisis”.

About PFRDA

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is the statutory Authority established by an enactment of the Parliament, to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the National Pension System (NPS) and pension schemes to which this Act applies. NPS was initially notified for central government employees joining service on or after 1st Jan 2004 and subsequently adopted by almost all State Governments for its employees. NPS was extended to all Indian citizens (resident/non-resident/overseas) on a voluntary basis and to corporates for its employees.

As on 31st March 2020, the total number of subscribers under NPS and Atal Pension Yojana has crossed 3.45 crores and the Asset under Management (AUM) has grown to Rs 4,17,478 crores. More than 68 lakhs government employees have been enrolled under NPS and 22 lakhs subscribers have subscribed to NPS in the private sector with 7,568 entities registered as corporates. More than 2.11 crores subscribers are presently covered under the GoI guaranteed pension scheme - Atal Pension Yojana.

PIB