NPS to OPS - Extension of old pension scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972 to the employees who were selected During the year 2003 and who had joined service On or after 01-01-2004

NPS to OPS - Extension of old pension scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972 to the employees who were selected During the year 2003 and who had joined service On or after 01-01-2004

Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary

National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employees
13C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi - 110001
E-Mail : nc.jcm.np@gmail.com
No.NC-JCM-2019/Pension/NPS

April , 2019

The Secretary
Government of India
Department of Pension and Pensioners welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan.
Khan Market, New Delhi.

Sub: Extension of old pension scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972 to the employees who were selected During the year 2003 and who had joined service On or after 01/01/2004.

Ref: 1) Judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi
Judgment in WP (C)3834/2013 & in WP(C) 28/10/2016 dtd. 27/03/2017.
2) Min. of Home Affairs (Pay & Accounts Office)
CRPF Lt. No.PAO/CRPF/MHA/NPS/DA-9(1)/ 2018-19/797, dtd. 15th March 2019.

Sir,
You are aware that the Staff Side of National Council(JCM) is representing in various forums to withdraw the National Pension System and to restore the old Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972, to the Defence Civilian Employees recruited on or after 01/01/2004, since the NPS is determental to the employees as there is no defined guarantee for Pension during the old age. This was one of the important demand, for which the NJCA has served Strike notice on the Govt. For observing In-definite Strike. However due to the assurance given by the Group of Ministers, the proposed In-Definite Strike was deferred.

Sir, at present based on the Judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in the above referred cases, the Ministry of Home Affairs have decided to extend the benefits of the old pension scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972, to the Para-Military forces who were selected during the year 2003, but joined service on or after 01/01/2004. In this regard your kind attention is drawn to the letter of Ministry of Home Affairs, dtd. 15th March 2019 referred at (2) above (copy enclosed for ready reference). The Ministry of Home Affairs have decided to transfer the NPS contribution of the concerned employees to the GPF Scheme and also to bring the employees who were selected during 2003 on the basis of notification issued during 2002/2003 and joined service on or after 2004, under the coverage of CCS(Pension) Rules 1972.

A large number of Central Govt. Employees in various Departments Like Railways, Defence, Postal and other Departments are similarly placed. These employees were selected for appointment during the year 2003, based on the employment notification issued during 2002/2003 however due to delay in receiving the Attestation Forms(Police Verification Report), Medical fitness etc., they were forced to join service on or after 01/01/2004. Due to no mistake of theirs’ they were brought under the coverage of NPS, thereby denying them the benefit of GPF and Defined Guaranteed Pension under the CCS(Pension) Rules 1972. These employees also have now started representing for extending the benefit given to the Home Ministry Staff for them, and their demand is fully justified and is covered under the Judgment of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi.

Sir, in view of the above, it is requested that you may kindly look into the matter and arrange to issue instructions for extending the benefit given to the Para-Military forces in the Home Ministry to the similarly placed Central Govt. Employees by extending them the benefit of Old Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972. A copy of your instruction may please be endorsed to this office.

Thanking you

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary

Encl: 1) Copy of Ministry of Home Affairs Lt. Dtd. 15th March 2019.
2) Copy of the Judgment of High Court of Delhi, dtd. 12th Feb. 2015 and 27 March 2017.

GPF benefit to the employees who are governed under the NPS scheme recruited on or after 1-1- 2004

GPF benefit to the employees who are governed under the NPS scheme recruited on or after 1-1- 2004

No.NC-JCM-2019/Pension/NPS

April 23 , 2019

The Secretary
Government of India
Department of Pension and Pensioners welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan.
Khan Market, New Delhi.

Sir,
Sub : GPF for those who have been recruited on or after 1-1-2004.

Ref : Item No. 5 of the agenda point discussed in the 47th meeting of National Council (JCM) held under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary on 13th April 2019.

You are aware that the Staff side of the National Council JCM is repeatedly demanding for withdrawing the NPS and re introduce the defined Guaranteed pension scheme under the CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 to the employees who have been recruited on or after 1-1-2004. However pending the same the staff side has represented for extending the benefit of GPF for those employees who have been appointed on or before 1-1-2004 and governed under NPS on an optional basis. In the 47th National Council JCM meeting held on 13-4-2019, the Staff side reiterated their demand and requested that the GPF scheme may be extended to the NPS employees who opt for the same as an additional saving benefit. The Cabinet Secretary desired that the demand of the Staff Side may be considered favorably. Your good self has also assured that the demand of the Staff side would be considered and decision taken at the earliest.

In view of the above we submit the following justification for extending the GPF benefit on optional basis to the employees who are governed under the NPS scheme.

The advantage of GPF to the employees is as follows:

(1) The interest rate for GPF accumulation is 8% as on date.
(2) Advances from GPF is permissible for the following purposes.

• Illness of self, family members or dependants.
• Education of family members or dependant of the subscriber. Education will include primary, secondary and higher education, covering all streams and educational institutions.
• Obligatory expenses, viz. betrothal, marriage, funerals or other ceremonies.
• Cost of legal proceedings
• Cost of defence
• Purchase of consumer durables
• Pilgrimage and visiting places of eminence. This will include any travel and tourism related activities.

(3) Apart from the advances as mentioned above GPF subscribers are entitled for withdrawals from GPF for the following purposes.

(i) Education : This will include primary, secondary and higher education covering all streams and institutions.
(ii) Obligatory expenses, viz. betrothal, marriage, funerals, or other ceremonies of self or family members and dependants.
(iii) Illness of self, family members or dependants.
(iv) Purchase of consumer durables.
(v) Housing including building or acquiring a suitable house or a ready built flat for his residence.
(vi) Repayment of outstanding housing loan.
(vii) Purchase of house site for building a house.
(viii) Constructing a house on a site acquired.
(ix) Reconstructing or making additions on a house already acquired.
(x) Renovating, additions or alterations of ancestral house.
(xi) Purchase of motor car/ motor cycle/ scooter etc. or repayment of loan already taken for the purpose.
(xii) Extensive repairs / overhauling of motor car.
(xiii) Making deposit to book a motor car / motor cycle / scooter, moped, etc

Apart from the above tax deduction under section 80C is also available. Annual statements will be issued on the 1st of April every year.

From the above it is amply clear that the GPF is more advantages to the employees than the Tier-II scheme of NPS. Therefore as stated by the staff side in the National Council JCM meeting held on 13 -4-2019 it is once again reiterated that the GPF scheme may be extended to the willing NPS employees who opt for the same. Necessary orders in this regard may please be issued at the earliest.

A copy of your instructions may please be endorsed to this Office.

Thanking you

Yours faithfully,
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary

Source: NPS

Minimum educational qualification for recruitment to the post of Pharmacist Gr. III in the Medical Department on the Railways

Minimum educational qualification for recruitment to the post of Pharmacist Gr. III in the Medical Department on the Railways

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

No.II/1/2019

Dated: 22/04/2019

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Minimum educational qualification for recruitment to the post of Pharmacist Gr. III in the Medical Department on the Railways.

Ref: (i) NFIR's PNM Item No. 52/2018.
(ii) Railway Board's letter No. E(NG)II/2001/RR-1/45 dated 22/05/2015 (RBE No. 49/2015) and 05/04/2018 (RBE No. 54/2018).
(iii) NFIR's letter No. II/1/2018 dated 08/05/2018.
(iv) Railway Board's letter No. E(NG)II/2001/RR-1/45 dated 21/01/2019 addressed to GS/NIFIR.

Federation does not accept the reply of Railway,Board vide letter dated 21/01/2019 on minimum educational qualification for Open Market Recruitment to the post of Pharmacist Grade-III in the Medical Department on Railways as the reply being misleading, illogical and not in conformity with the instructions issued by the nodal ministry viz., Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through the Gazette of India dated 14th March, 2015, wherein notification issued by the CGHS Division dated 11th March, 2015 under G.S.R. 51 has been circulated to all the Ministries/Department to adopt and implement the same.

Federation re-iterates that through Gazette Notification dated 11th March, 2015, recruitment Rules (with the approval of the President) to the post of Pharmacist Grade-III from Open Market were published which superseded all previous instructions. The revised recruitment rules are as follows:-

(a) 12th Class Pass with Science subjects (Physicso Chemistry and Biology), or equivalent from a recognized Board or University.

• Diploma in Pharmacy from recognized institution and registered as Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948; and
• Two years' experience as Pharmacist in any recognized Hospital or Pharmacy after duly registered as Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948; and

OR

(b) Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy (B. Pharm.) from a recognized University or equivalentq and

• Registered as a Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.

Though the Federation communicated with regard to revision in the academic/technical qualification and experience for recruitment to the post of Pharmacist vide Federation's letter dated 28/05/2015, Railway Board failed to take corrective action.

Despite NFIR's letter dated 08/05/2018 and PNM Agenda Item No. 52/2018 (sent to Railway Board on 26/06/2018), Railway Board again failed to modify its instructions dated 05/04/2018 (RBE No. 54/2018) and not incorporated the following provision.

Two years experience as Pharmacist in any recognized Hospital or Pharmacy after duly registered as Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
(portion of part (a) above)

2. Further, the views expressed by the Railway Board that the pay structure of GP 2800/Level-5 is appropriate to the Pharmacist category Grade-III at entry level in Railways is unjustified in view of the fact that the DoP&T vide O.M. No. AB-14017/27/2014-Estt. (PR). dated 20th January, 2015 issued detailed guidelines for prescribing educational qualification and requisite experience in respect of various posts for appointment by direct recruitment etc. On going through these guidelines, it is noted that the two years period of experience when attached to a post having Bachelor's Degree/Diploma qualification in the professional area, the incumbents are to be placed in GP 4200 + PB-2 and not in GP 2800/- in PB-1.

NFIR again requests the Railway Board to kindly review its decision and issue modified instructions duly improving the minimum educational qualification for Open Market Recruitment to the posts of Pharmacists Grade-II in the Medical Department on Railways and also consider grant of entry GP 4200 to the Pharmacists Grade III.

DA/As above

Yours faithfully,
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Total subscribers that contribute throughout the month - NPS - NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM

Total subscribers that contribute throughout the month - NPS - NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM

Age Band	Total Existing Subscribers contributing during the month (Table A)
-	Male	Female	Transgender	NON IRA	Total
18-21 Years	22,501	7,514	-	-	30,015
22-25 Years	2,80,574	74,554	-	-	3,55,128
26-28 Years	5,91,061	1,52,324	3	-	7,43,388
29-35 Years	17,03,030	4,79,873	9	-	21,82,912
>35 Years	16,94,343	5,48,911	10	-	22,43,264
NON- IRA	-	-	-	15,976	15,976
Total	42,91,509	12,63,176	22	15,976	55,70,683

New Subscribers contributing during month (Table B)
Central Govt
Male	Female	Transgender	NON- IRA	Total
462	63	-	-	525
2,569	347	-	-	2,916
2,319	382	-	-	2,701
2,012	393	-	-	2,405
869	260	-	-	1,129
-	-	-	-	-
8,231	1,445	-	-	9,676

New Subscribers contributing during month (Table B)
State Govt
Male	Female	Transgender	NON- IRA	Total
2,606	1,459	-	-	4,065
10,164	4,310	-	-	14,474
7,298	3,571	-	-	10,869
11,830	7,079	-	-	18,909
13,001	6,258	-	-	19,259
-	-	-	2	2
44,899	22,677	-	2	12,381

New Subscribers contributing during month (Table B)
Non-Govt (Corporate Sector)
Male	Female	Transgender	NON- IRA	Total
85	60	-	-	145
2,313	1,158	-	-	3,471
1,987	629	-	-	2,616
3,374	475	-	-	3,849
4,622	539	2	-	5,163
-	-	-	-	-
12,381	2,861	2	-	15,244

1. PRAN association with respective sectors is as on March 31, 2019
2. Central Govt and State Govt includes Central and State Autonomous Bodies respectively.
3. All types of Contribution credit is considered in the above data.
4. As DOB and Gender of Subscriber is not available for NON IRA PRANs, additional category "NON IRA" is included in the above tables.
5. Table A refers to unique PRANs receiving credit (in the reporting month) for Central/State and Corporate Subscribers, irrespective of type of contribution.
6. Table B refers to unique PRAN receiving first credit (in the reporting month) in respective sectors, irrespective of type of contribution. This data is subset of data in Table A.
7. NPS was launched on 01 Jan'04 and was aimed at individuals newly employed with central and state government, but excluding. ones in the armed forces.
8. "Non-Govt" refers to Corporate sector employees".
9. Includes NSDL CRA & KARVY CRA data.
10. Non - Govt PRAN data may not necessarily represent new employment as there may be some persons who were in employment earlier but have opened PRAN now.

Railways - Retired Employees Liberalized Health Scheme RELHS-97

Railways - Retired Employees Liberalized Health Scheme RELHS-97

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI . 110055

Affiliated to :
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers' Federation (lTF)

No.II/13A/Part II,
The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Retired Employees Liberalized Health Scheme (RELHS-97) - reg.

Ref: Railway Board's letter No. 2011/H/28/1/RELHS/Court Case dated 31/05/2012.

Kind attention of Railway Board is invited to the instructions issued vide Board's letter dated 31/05/2012 wherein the Railway Board had decided to allow pre-March 2009 retirees to be members of the RELHS-97 and also for post March 2009 onwards, the retirees shall be the Members of the Scheme. The Railway Board while allowing pre-March 2009 retirees the RELHS-97 Membership without any time limit, had imposed restriction of one year for March, 2009 onwards retirees to become Members of the Scheme.

Instances have been brought to the notice of the Federation by our affiliated Unions that on many Zonal Railways/PUs there are good number of retired Railway employees or their dependent family members belonging to the period post March 2009 and upto 3110512012 who could not avail the opportunity during the one year period, are now requesting to joining the Scheme. These retired employees or their dependent families have been living in rural areas and were unaware of the provision for joining RELHS-97 at that point of time. Some of our affiliated Unions took up the issue aI Zonal level in the PNM forum where the same has been pending for more than two years due to the reason that decision on this subject is required to be given by the Railway Board. Federation feels that the Railway Board would appreciate the circumstances under which the retired employees could not join the Scheme when opportunity was provided.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to kindly consider the above points and issue modified instructions to enable the retired employees/ widows who retired during the period March, 2009 upto 31/05/2012 to join as members of RELHS-97 without any time limit. A copy of the instructions issued may be endorsed to the Federation.

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Copy to the Director General (RHS), Railway Board, DFCC Building, Tilak Bridge, Pragati Maidan, Metro Bhavan, New Delhi for information and necessary action please.

Copy to the General Secretary, NCRES, Allahabad with reference to letter No. 104A/NCRES/19 dated 07/04/2019.

Copy to the General Secretaries of affiliated Unions of NFIR (expect NCRES).
Media Centre / NFIR.

Source : NFIR

Revision of Pension/ Family Pensioners of Pre 01.01.2016 and Post 01.01.2016 retired employees of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study

Revision of Pension/ Family Pensioners of Pre 01.01.2016 and Post 01.01.2016 retired employees of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla

F.NO.6-1/2019-U.3
Government of India
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Department of Higher Education
U.3 Section

Room No. 519, 'C -Wing
Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated: April 12th, 2019

To,
The Director,
Indian Institute of Advanced Study,
Rashtrapati Nivas,
Shimla -171005

Subject:Revision of Pension/ family pension of Pre-01.01.2016 and Post 01.01.2016 retired employees of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla -reg

Sir,

I am directed to refer to the Government's decision regarding provisions regulating pension including the revision of pension/ family pension of Pre-01.01.2016 retired employees of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (HAS), Shimla on the recommendations of 7th Central pay Commission issued vide Department of Pension and Pensioner's Welfare O.M. No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) dated 04.08.2016, 12.05.2017, 06.07.2017,18.07.2017 and 13.09.2017.

2. The DoP&PW (as per aforesaid OMs) has provided for following manner of revision of pension/family pension:

As per 2nd formulation (recommended by 7th CPC), vide para - 4.1 of O.M. dated 04.08.2016, as follows:

For existing pensioners, who have retired before 01.01.2016 the revised pension/ family pension with effect from 01.01.2016 shall be determined by multiplying the existing pension/family pension, as had been fixed at the time of implementation of 6th Central pay Commission (CPC) recommendations, by 2.57. The amount of revised pension/family pension so arrived at shall be rounded off to next higher rupee.

As per 1st formulation (recommended by 7th CPC), vide para - 4 of O.M. dated 12.05.2017,as follows:

The pension/family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016 may be revised by notionally fixing the pay of pensioners in the pay matrix recommended by the 7th CPC in the level corresponding to the pay in the pay scale/ pay band and grade pay at which pensioners retired/ died. This will be done by notional pay fixation under each intervening Pay Commission based on the Formula for revision of pay. While fixing pay on notional basis, the pay fixation formulae approved by the Government and other relevant instructions on the subject in force at the relevant time shall be strictly followed. 50% of the notional pay as on 01.01.2016 shall be the revised pension and 30% of this notional pay shall be the revised family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016 as per the first formulation. In the case of family pensioners who were entitled to family pension at enhanced rate, the revised family pension shall be 50% of the notional pay as on 01.01.2016 and shall be payable till the period up to which family pension at enhanced rate is admissible as per rules. The amount of revised pension/family pension so arrived at shall be rounded off to next higher rupee.

3. The DoP&PW's above mentioned OM dated 12.05.2017 vide para-5,further maintains that higher of the two Formulations i.e. the pension/family pension already revised in accordance with this Department's OM No.38/37/2016-P&PW(A) (ii) dated 04.08.2016 or the revised pension/family pension as worked out in accordance with para 4 of OM dated 12.05.2017, shall be granted to pre- 01.01.2016 pensioners as revised pension/family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016. In cases where pension/family pension being paid w.e.f. 01.01.2016 in accordance with this Department's OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) (ii) dated 04.08.2016 happens to be more than pension/family pension as worked out in accordance with para 4 of OM dated 12.05.2017, the pension/family pension already being paid shall be treated as revised pension/family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016.

4. Accordingly, the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (HAS), Shimla may workout the pension/family pension of its pre-01.01.2016 pensioners/family pensioners as per the formulations discussed above read with other principles enunciated in Department of Pension and Pensioner's Welfare's O.M. No. 38/37/2016- P&PW(A) (ii) dated 12.05.2017 and 06.07.2017 and subsequent OMs dated 18.07.2017 & 13.09.2017.

5. In the case of those employees who retired/died before 01.01.1986, the pension may be worked out on lines with these concordance tables given in Department of Pension and Pensioner's Welfare OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) dated 06.07.2017 based on their notional pay as on 01.01.1986, which was fixed in accordance with this Department's OM No. 45/86/97- P&PW(A) (iii) dated 10.02.1998.

6.The revision of pension and pensionary benefits such as gratuity etc. to those pensioners who retired on or after 01.01.2016 shall be done as per Department of Pension and Pensioner's Welfare O.M. No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) (I) dated 04.08.2016. The revision of pension and pensionary benefits such as gratuity etc. are to be made applicable to only those who are already covered with the schemes which are in accordance with the similar schemes for Central Government employees.

7. This order is applicable in only those cases where such pension schemes have already been adopted with prior approval of Government of India/Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the benefits was applicable as per Sixth CPC.

8. In case the Institute has fixed the pension in a manner different from the above formulations, the same may have to be reworked by the Institute and necessary adjustment be made.

9. Any excess payment made on account of incorrect fixation of pension or any other excess payment made shall be adjusted/ recovered against the future payments due or otherwise to the beneficiary.

10.The Indian Institute of Advanced Study (HAS), Shimla is hereby advised to review its user charges for increase in its internal revenue generation to take up a part of the pensionary burden.

11.This issues with the approval of the Integrated Finance Division vide its note Diary No. 1143 dated 02.04.2019.

12.Hindi Version will follow.

(Sanjay Kumar Singh)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Download the Order here

Music and Dance Competition for wards of Central Government Employees - DoPT Orders 2019

Music and Dance Competition for wards of Central Government Employees - DoPT Orders 2019

18/3/2017 -18-CCSCSB
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances & Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)

CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES CULTURAL AND SPORTS BOARD

Room No. 361 , B Wing, 3rd Floor
lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi
Date: 22.04.2019

CIRCULAR

Sub: Music and Dance competition for wards of Central Government Employees

Central Civil Services Cultural & Sports Board proposes to organise the Music and Dance competition for wards of Civilian Central Government Employees working at New Delhi at C.S.O.I. Auditorium on 21-22 May, 2019. The entry for the competition should be sent in the prescribed form to the Board's Office latest by 15th May, 2019 at Room No. 361 , 3rd Floor, lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi-11 0003 or by email at sportsdopt@gmail.com .

2. The Competition will in held in the following categories:

S.No.	Category	Age Categories	Born Between	Duration
	Music	05-08 years	15.05.2011 to 14.05.2014	3-5 Minutes
1.	Instrumental Music
2.	Classical Music (light + vocal)	09-12 years	15.05.		2007 to 14.05. 2010
3.	Folk Music
	Dance	13-16 years	15.05.2003 to 14.05.2006
1.	Folk Dance
2.	Western Dance
3.	Classical Dance

3. Decision of the judges will be final and no appeal against their decision would be entertained.

4. For further queries, Ms. Neelu Suri (9910983139) Convener, CCSCSB (Music, Dance and Short Play) may be contacted .

The circular may be given wide publicity.

(Kulbhushan Malhotra)
Secretary (CCSCSB)

To
The Welfare Officer of all Ministries/Departments
Area Welfare Officer of all Government colonies

Central Civil Services Cultural & Sports Board
(Department of Personnel & Training)

Application form for Music & Dance Competition

(Attach two Photograph)

1. Name of Participant :
2. Date of Birth/Age :
3. Name of Parents/Guardian :
4. Telephone number of Parents/Guardian:
5. Category in which to participate :
6. Official Address of Parents/Guardian:
   (Enclose copy of I.D. Card of the parent and copy of CGHS Card of children)
7. Residential Address:

(Signature of Parents/Guardian)

Undertaking

I understand that Board will take sufficient care about the general safety of the children during the competition. I shall not hold the CCSCSB responsible for any accident/casualty during the competition.

(Signature of Parents/Guardian)

Dated:

Note. The competition would begin at 10:00 AM on both the days

i. Each participant should be accompanied by his/her guardian during competition.
ii. Food/Eatables will not be available in the premises of auditorium. Parents are requested to make their own arrangements.
iii. All the parents may ensure that their wards are dressed decently.
iv. Participation/Merit Certificates may be collected from Board's Office after two weeks of the event.

Source: DoPT

Availability of option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in lower post and method of fixation of pay from DNI, if opted for, in context of RS(RP) Rules, 2016

Availability of option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in lower post and method of fixation of pay from DNI, if opted for, in context of RS(RP) Rules, 2016.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.PC-VII/2018/R-U/23

New Delhi, dated: 18.04.2019

To
The General Secretary
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, Chelmsford Road, New Delhi - 55.

Sub: Availability of option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in lower post and method of fixation of pay from DNI, if opted for, in context of RS(RP) Rules,2016.

Ref: NFIR’s letter No.1/2/Part IV dated 13.11.2018.

Please refer to NFIR’s letter quoted above requesting Board to give 90 days’ time for exercise of option for fixation of pay on DNI instead of ‘one month’ period as circulated vide Board’s letter RBE No. 142/2018 dated 20.09.2018 from the date of issue of these orders on the ground that these orders have not been circulated by the Zonal Railways and the Divisions to field units with the result that the staff are unable to exercise option in time.

With respect to above, it is stated that general instructions relating to revised pay structure which are applicable to all central government employees issued by Ministry of Finance (MoF) are adopted in Railways in mutatis mutandis manner. The letter under question was also uploaded on Board’s website on date itself and also circulated amongst all concerned including Zonal Railways/Production Units, Board’s branches, Members of the Staff Council, NFIR, AIRF and other, staff associations. Federation may appreciate that MoF’s circulars/orders already remains in circulation before adopted in Railways, as such Railway employees have even more time to go through such circulars/orders in comparison to other central government employees. Further, no Railway has made any reference bringing on record delayed circulation in this regard.

In view of the above, unilateral deviation from MoF’s stipulation is not feasible.

sd/-
For Secretary, Railway Board

Source: NFIR

Income Tax department revises the (Form 16) TDS certificate format issued by employers

Income Tax department revises the (Form 16) TDS certificate format issued by employers

The Income Tax department has revised Form 16 by adding various details, including income from house property and remuneration received from other employers, thereby making it more comprehensive to help check tax avoidance.

It will also include segregated information regarding deductions under various tax saving schemes, investments in tax savings instruments, different allowances received by the employee as well as income from other sources.

Form 16 is a certificate issued by employers, giving details of employees’ TDS (tax deducted at source) usually by mid June and is used in filing I-T returns.

The revised Form, which has been notified by the Income Tax department, will come into effect from May 12, 2019. This means the income tax returns for financial year 2018-19 will have to be filed on the basis of revised Form 16.

Among other things, the revised Form 16 will also include details of deductions in respect of interest on deposits in savings account, and rebates and surcharge, wherever applicable.

The I-T department has already notified income tax return forms for fiscal 2018-19. Salaried class and those who do not have to get their accounts audited, will have to file their ITRs by July 31 this year.

Meanwhile, the income tax department has also modified Form 24Q, which is furnished by employer to the tax department. It will include additional details like Permanent Account Number (PAN) of non- institutional entities from whom the employee has taken loan for buying or constructing housing property.

Nangia Advisors (Andersen Global) Director Sanjoli Maheshwari said the Form 16 and 24Q have been amended with an intent to make them more elaborative and informative. The same has been done in order to bring the Forms in parity with latest changes made in ITR Forms such as disclosure of standard deduction and exemptions claimed under section 10.

“Earlier, where the disclosure of various deductions were mentioned in a consolidated manner, ranging from 80C, 80CCD, 80E, 80G would now be required to be disclosed separately. These specific disclosures would provide ease to the tax authorities in understanding the various components of income of the taxpayer and thereby, facilitating the conduct of scrutiny more precisely,” Maheshwari said.

The changes in Form 24Q will further help in identifying any fabricated transaction undertaken with an aim of tax avoidance, she added.

PTI

Government will soon be able to implement long - term demand for military personnel

Government will soon be able to implement long - term demand for military personnel.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has agreed to examine a long-standing demand by the army personnel to exempt ration money and the risk and burden of taxation in accordance with the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission. Changes to existing regulations are likely to benefit from paramilitary jawans of the CRPF, BSF, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

These changes can be announced by the Government in the next full 2019 Budget, tabled by the new government at the Center. In all, 9 lakh security staff will benefit from the move. In its report, the 7th Pay Commission stated that the allowance given to jawans as a free ration must be exempted from income tax.

Central government employee unions made several requests regarding the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, including increasing the basic pay rise fitting factor. While not all the requirements were met, the Center and state governments implemented several pay increases.

In addition, as part of the 7th Pay Commission's recommendations, the MP government increased the pensioner dearness allowance (DA). From May, the revised DA will apply. After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections the government will take a definitive decision on the delays from January 2018 to April 2019.

DA is a cost of living adjustment allowance, calculated to compensate for the rise in prices resulting from inflation, as a fixed percentage of a person's base salary or pension.

Under the 7th Pay Commission, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions approved recently an increase for highly skilled central government employees. The onetime incentive given to employees will result in a five-fold increase if they acquire a higher degree while serving in their own departments in accordance with the notification. Those with new higher education qualifications would be awarded a sum of Rs 2,000-Rs 10,000.

In March, the government of Uttarakhand also announced a 3% increase in the DA, which amounts to 12%. The decision would benefit more than 2.5 lakh public servants and pensioners. From 1 January 2019 the order will be retrospectively applicable. The state government also announced to waive off pending water bills estimated at Rs 70 crore of around 10,000 people rehabilitated at New Tehri due to the construction of the Tehri dam.

Via: Central Government News