Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2018

Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2018: DoPT Order

F.No.12/3/2017-JCA-2
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)
Establishment (JCA-2) Section

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 14th June, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2018- reg.

It has been decided that the holidays as specified in the Annexure -I to this OM. will be observed in all the Administrative Offices of the Central Government located at Delhi/ New Delhi during the year 2018. In addition, each employee will also be allowed to avail himself / herself of any two holidays to be chosen by him / her out of the list of Restricted Holidays in Annexure - II.

2. Central Government Administrative Offices located outside Delhi / New Delhi shall observe the following holidays compulsorily in addition to three holidays as per para 3.1 below:

1. REPUBLIC DAY
2. INDEPENDENCE DAY
3. MAHATMA GANDHI’S BIRTHDAY
4. BUDDHA PURNIMA
5. CHRISTMAS DAY
6. DUSSEHRA (VIJAY DASHMI)
7. DIWALI (DEEPAVALI)
8. GOOD FRIDAY
9. GURU NANAK’S BIRTHDAY
10. IDU’L FITR
11 . IDU’L ZUHA
12. MAHAVIR J AYANTI
13. MUHARRAM
14. PROPHET MOHAMMAD’S BIRTHDAY (ID-E-MILAD)

3.1. In addition to the above 14 Compulsory holidays mentioned in para 2, three holidays shall be decided from the list indicated below by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee in the State Capitals, if necessary, in consultation with Coordination Committees at other places in the State. The final list applicable uniformly to all Central Government offices within the concerned State shall be notified accordingly and no change can be carried out thereafter. It is also clarified that no change is permissible in regard to festivals and dates as indicated.

1 . AN ADDITIONAL DAY FOR DUSSEHRA
2. HOLI
3. JANAMASHTAMI (VAISHNAVI)
4. RAM NAVAMI
5. MAHA SHIVRATRI
6. GANESH CHATURTHI / VINAYAK CHATURTHI
7. MAKAR SANKARANTI
8. RATH YATRA
9. ONAM
10. PONGAL
11. SRI PANCHAMI / BASANT PANCHAMI
12. VISHU/ VAISAKHI / VAISAKHADI / BHAG BIHU / MASHADI UGADI CHAITRA SUKLADI / CHETI CHAND / GUDI PADAVA /1ST NAVRATRA NAORAZ/ CHHATH POOJA/ KARVA CHAUTH.

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

4. The list of Restricted Holidays appended to this O.M. is meant for Central Government Offices located in Delhi / New Delhi. The Coordination Committees at the State Capitals may draw up separate list of Restricted Holidays keeping in View the occasions of local importance but the 9 occasions left over, after choosing the 3 variable holidays in para 3.1 above, are to be included in the list of restricted holidays.

5.1 For offices in Delhi / New Delhi, any change in the date of holidays in respect of Idu'l Fitr, Idu'l Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad, if necessary, depending upon sighting of the Moon, would be declared by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions after ascertaining the position from the Govt. of NCT of Delhi (DCP, Special Branch, Delhi Police).

5.2 For offices outside Delhi / New Delhi, the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committees at the State Capitals are authorised to change the date of holiday, if necessary, based on the decision of the concerned State Governments / Union Territories, in respect of Idu'l Fitr, ldu'l Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad.

5.3 It may happen that the change of date of the above occasions has to be declared at a very short notice. In such a situation, announcement could be made through P.I.B/T.V. /A.I.R. / Newspapers and the Heads of Department / Offices of the Central Government may take action according to such an announcement without waiting for a formal order, about the change of date.

6. During 2018, Diwali (Deepavali) falls on Thursday, October 19, 2017 (Ashvina 28). In certain States, the practice is to celebrate the occasion a day in advance, i.e., on "Narakachaturdasi Day". In view of this, there is no objection if holiday on account of Deepavali is observed on "Naraka Chaturdasi Day (in place of Deepavali Day) for the Central Government Offices in a State if in that State that day alone is declared as a compulsory holiday for Diwali for the offices of the State Government.

7. Central Government Organisations which include industrial, commercial and trading establishments would observe upto 16 holidays in a year including three national holidays viz. Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, as compulsory holidays. The remaining holidays / occasions may be determined by such establishments/ organisations themselves for the year 2018, subject to para 3.2 above.

8. Union Territory Administrations shall decide the list of holidays in terms of Instructions issued in this regard by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

9. In respect of Indian Missions abroad, the number of holidays may be notified in accordance With the instructions contained in this Department's O.M. No.12/5/2002-JCA dated 17th December, 2002. In other words, they will have the option to select 16(Sixteen) holidays of their own only after including in the list, three National Holidays and Idu'l Fitr, in the list of compulsory holidays with the Idu'l Fitr falling on day of weekly off (Saturday).

10. In respect of Banks, the holidays shall be regulated in terms of the extant instructions issued by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.

11. Hindi version will follow.

Sd/-
(D. K. SenGupta)
Deputy Secretary (JCA)

Encl.: List of holidays

ANNEXURE-I

LIST OF HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR 2018 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT LOCATED AT DELHI / NEW DELHI

S.No.	Holiday	Date		Saka Date		Day
1939 SAKA ERA
1	Republic Day	January	26	Magha	06	Friday
2	Maha Shivaratri	February	14	Magha	25	Wednesday
3	Holi	March	02	Phalguna	11	Friday
1940 Saka Era
4	Mahavir Jayanti	March	29	Chaitra	08	Thursday
5	Good Friday	March	30	Chaitra	09	Friday
6	Buddha Purnima	April	30	Vaisakha	10	Monday
7	Idu'l Fitr	June	16	Jyaishtha	26	Saturday
8	Independence day	August	15	Sravana	24	Wednesday
9	Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid)	August	22	Sarvana	31	Wednesday
10	Janmashtami	September	03	Bhadra	12	Monday
11	Muharram	September	21	Bhadra	30	Friday
12	Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday	October	02	Asvina	10	Tuesday
13	Dussehra	October	19	Asvina	27	Friday
14	Diwali (Deepavali)	November	07	Kartika	16	Wednesday
15	Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e- Milad (Birthday of Prophet Mohammad)	November	21	Kartika	30	Wednesday
16	Guru Nanak's Birthday	November	23	Agrahayana	02	Friday
17	Christmas Day	December	25	Pausha	04	Tuesday

ANNEXURE-I

LIST OF RESTRICTED HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR 2018 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT LOCATED AT DELHI , NEW DELHI

S.No	Holiday	Date		Saka Date		Day
SAKA ERA 1939
1	New Year's Day	January	01	Pausha	11	Monday
3	Makar Sankranti	January	14	Pausha	24	Sunday
4	Pongal	January	14	Pausha	24	Sunday
5	Basant Panchami/Sri Panchami	January	22	Magha	02	Monday
6	Guru Ravidas's Birthday	January	31	Magha	11	Wednesday
7	Swami Dayananda Sarawati Jayanti	February	10	Magha	21	Saturday
8	Shivaji Jayanti	February	19	Magha	30	Monday
9	Holika Dahan/Dolyatra	March	01	Phalguna	10	Thursday
10	Chaitra Sukladi/Gudi Padava/Ugadi/Cheti Chand	March	18	Phalguna	27	Sunday
SAKA ERA1940
11	Ram Navami	March	25	Chaitra	04	Sunday
12	Easter Sunday	April	01	Chaitra	11	Sunday
13	Hazarat Ali's Birthday	April	01	Chaitra	11	Sunday
14	Vaisakhi/Vishu/Mesadi	April	14	Chaitra	24	Saturday
15	Vaisakhadi(Bengal)/ Bahag Bihu (Assam)	April	15	Chaitra	25	Sunday
16	Guru Rabindranath's Birthday	May	09	Vaisakha	19	Wednesday
17	Jamat-Ul-Vida	June	15	Jyaishtha	25	Friday
18	Rath Yatra	July	14	Ashadha	23	Saturday
19	Parsi New Year's day/Nauraj	August	17	Sravana	26	Friday
20	Onam or Thiru Onam Day	August	25	Bhadra	03	Saturday
21	Raksha Bandhan	August	26	Bhadra	04	Sunday
22	Vinayaka Chaturthi/ Ganesh Chaturthi	September	13	Bhadra	22	Thursday
23	Dussehra (Maha Saptami) (Additional)	October	16	Asvina	24	Tuesday
24	Dussehra (Maha Ashtami) (Additional)	October	17	Asvina	25	Wednesday
25	Dussehra (Maha Navmi)	October	18	Asvina	26	Thursday
26	Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday	October	24	Kartika	02	Wednesday
27	Karaka Chaturthi (Karva Chouth)	October	27	Kartika	05	Saturday
28	Deepavali (South India)	November	06	Kartika	15	Tuesday
29	Naraka Chaturdasi	November	06	Kartika	15	Tuesday
30	Govardhan Puja	November	08	Kartika	17	Thursday
31	Bhai Duj	November	09	Kartika	18	Friday
32	Pratihar Sashthi or Surya Sashthi (Chhat Puja)	November	13	Kartika	22	Tuesday
33	Guru Teg Bahadur's Martyrdom Day	November	24	Agrahayana	03	Saturday
34	Christmas Eve	December	24	Pausha	03	Monday

Source: DoPT

Online generation and recording of APAR on SPARROW for all Organised Group A services - Extension of timelines for completion of APAR for the year 2016-17

Online generation and recording of APAR on SPARROW for all Organised Group 'A' services - Extension of timelines for completion of APAR for the year 2016-17.

No.21011/02/2015-Est(A-II)-Part II
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel. Public Grievances and Pension
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi - 110001
Dated the 13th June 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Online generation and recording of Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR) on SPARROW (Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Window) for all Organised Group 'A' services - Extension of timelines for completion of APAR for the year 2016-17.

As all the Cadre Controlling Authorities of Organised Group 'A' Services are aware that it has been decided to implement online generation and recording of Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR) of officers under their cadre from the reporting year 2016-17, through SPARROW platform.
2. Some of the Cadre Controlling Authorities have intimated practical difficulties in switching over from manual to online mode of recording of APARs. In view of this, the cadre authorities have expressed apprehensions that target dates prescribed in DoPT O.M.No.21011/02/2009-Estt.(A) dated 23rd July, 2009 may not be met and have requested for extension of timelines.

3. The matter has been examined in this Department and it has been decided that the target dates prescribed in O.M. dated 23rd July, 2009 be relaxed as one time measure only for online generation, filling up self- appraisal, reporting, reviewing and acceptance of APAR for the year 2016-17 through SPARROW portal. The revised target dates for recording of APAR online for the year 2016-17 is enclosed as Annexure. This relaxation is subject to the condition that no remarks shall be recorded in the APAR for the year 2016-17 after 31.12.2017. Where the reporting, reviewing and the accepting authority fail to record their comments within the time frame, the officer may be assessed on the basis of the overall record and self-assessment for the year, if he has submitted his self- assessment within stipulated time.

4. This has the approval of Secretary, DoPT.

Sd/-
(N. Sriraman)
Director(E-II)

Annexure

Annexure to Do PT O.M. No.21011/02/2015-Est(A-II)-Part II dated 13th June 2017
Time schedule for generation and recording of APAR for the year 2016-17 through SPARROW web portal.

S.No.	Activity	Date by which to be completed
1.	Submission of self-appraisal to the reporting officer.	31st July, 2017
3.	Forwarding of report by reporting officer to reviewing officer	16th August, 2017
4.	Forwarding of report by Reviewing Officer to Administration/APAR Cell or the accepting authority (wherever provided)	31st August, 2017
5.	Appraisal by accepting authority, wherever provided	15th September, 2017
6.	(i) Disclosure of APAR to the officer reported upon where there is no accepting authority	10th September, 2017
	(ii) Disclosure of APAR to the officer reported upon where there is accepting authority	25th September, 2017
7.	Receipt of representation, if any, on APAR	15 days from the date of communication
8.	Forwarding of representation to the competent authority
	(i) where there is no accepting authority for APAR	30th September, 2017
	(ii) Where there is accepting authority for APAR	31st October, 2017
9.	Disposal of representation by the competent authority	Within one month of the date of receipt of representation by the competent authority
10.	Communication of the decision of the competent authority on the representation by the APAR Cell	Within 15 days of finalization of decision by competent authority.
11.	End of entire APAR process, after which the APAR will be finally taken on record	31st December 2017

Source: www.dopt.gov.in

First meeting of Departmental Anomaly Committee (DAC) to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of 7th CPC - Change in date of meeting

First meeting of Departmental Anomaly Committee (DAC) to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of 7th CPC - Change in date of meeting

7th CPC Pay Anomaly: First Meeting of Railways Departmental Anomaly Committee to held on 20.06.2017

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
No.PC-VII/2016/DAC/1

New Delhi, dated: 12/06/2017

The General Secretary,
All India Railwaymen's Federation
4, State Entry Road,
New Delhi- 110055

The General Secretary,
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen,
3-Chemsford Road,
New Delhi-110055

Dear Sir,
Sub : First meeting of Departmental Anomaly Committee (DAC) to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of 7th CPC - Change in date of meeting.

I am directed to bring to your kind consideration to Board's letter No.PC/VII/2016/DAC/I dated 06.06.2016 wherein it was decided to hold first meeting of DAC on 23.06.2017. However, the date and time of holding the first meeting of DAC has now been revised to 20.06.2017, 11.00 AM in consultation with federation. Venue of the Meeting will remain same.

Yours Sincerely,
sd/-
For Secretary Railway Board

Source: NFIR/AIRF

The Union Finance Minister to chair the 17th Meeting of the GST Council on Sunday, 18th June, 2017

The Union Finance Minister to chair the 17th Meeting of the GST Council on Sunday, 18th June, 2017

The Union Minister for Finance, Defence and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley will chair the 17th Meeting of the GST Council scheduled to be held on Sunday, 18th June, 2017 at Vigyan Bhavan in the national capital. The one day Meeting will also be attended among others by the Finance Ministers of different States and UTs (having elected assembly) being the members of the GST Council.

Main agenda items of the 17th GST Council Meeting include confirmation of the minutes of the 16th GST Council meeting held on 11th June, 2017, approval of draft GST Rules and related Forms for (i) Advance Ruling, (ii) Appeals and Revision, (iii) Assessment and Audit, (iv) E-Way Bill & (v) Anti-Profiteering, and Fitment/adjustment of GST Rates on certain items among others.

PIB

Workshop on Defence Procurements Ex-Import: Important issues concerning contractual payments

Workshop on "Defence Procurements (Ex-Import): Important issues concerning contractual payments"

The Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) organised a workshop, here today, to discuss various important issues for bringing high degree of efficiency into the process leading to payments of imported stores, for the Defence Services like fighter aircraft, advance weapon systems and platforms, etc. from foreign countries like United States, France, Israel, Russia, etc.

Speaking at the function, CGDA Ms Veena Prasad, highlighted the necessity of developing better understanding amongst all the agencies on complexities of foreign contracts and payments for evolving a seamless system for ensuring prompt payments in terms of contractual provisions and thus ensuring timely delivery of the imported stores by the foreign vendors to our Defence Forces.

Other distinguished dignitaries who expressed their views on the occasion were Financial Advisor (Defence Services) Shri Sunil Kohli, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Sarath Chand, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal S B Deo, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Karambir Singh and Deputy MD, State Bank of India Shri Siddhartha Sen Gupta.

The recommendation of the workshop would be presented to the Ministry of Defence for its consideration.

The workshop was attended by senior officers from the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Officers from the CGDA Headquarters, Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA), New Delhi and State Bank of India also participated. It gave an opportunity to all participants to discuss payment related multiple aspects in order to bring efficiency in the entire system so as to ensure prompt payments and consequential delivery of the systems

PIB

Recommendations of the 7th Central pay Commission - bunching of stages in the revised pay structure under Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016

Recommendations of the 7th Central pay Commission - bunching of stages in the revised pay structure under Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016.

No.1-6/2016-IC(Pt.)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Implementation Cell, 7th CPC

Room No.215, The Ashok
New Delhi, the 13th June, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Recommendations of the 7th Central pay Commission - bunching of stages in the revised pay structure under Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016.

With reference to the subject mentioned above and in continuation of this Department's OM of even number dated 07.09.2016, the undersigned is directed to inform that, a large number of references have been received from Ministries/Departments seeking clarifications relating to the application of the benefit on account of bunching of stages while fixing the pay in the revised pay structure.

2. It has also been brought to the notice of this Department that some offices have extended the benefits on account of bunching based on subjective interpretation of the provisions of OM dated 07.09.2016, which may not be consistent with the principles and philosophy of the 7th CPC recommendations on bunching. Implementation of such pay fixation orders are not in conformity with the 7th CPC principles on bunching and may create further anomalies. In order to ensure consistency of approach in applying the provisions relating to bunching and to address the queries on various aspects of bunching, it has been decided to issue detailed guidelines on bunching.

3. All Ministries/Departments are , therefore. advised that the implementation of the provisions on bunching in OM dated 07.09.2016 may be put on hold till the time the detailed instructions in this regard are issued by Department of Expenditure. It is also requested that if orders on account of bunching have already been issued by Ministries/Departments but not implemented, the same may not be given effect to.

sd/-
(V.K Singh)
Director (IC)

Authority: www.doe.gov.in

Annual Report on Pay and Allowances

Annual Report on Pay and Allowances

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Pay Research Unit

The Pay Research Unit brings out a publication entitled Brochure on Pay and Allowances of Central Government Civilian Employees.

The Brochure provides statistical information regarding expenditure incurred by the different Ministries / Departments of Central Government on pay and various types of allowances such as Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Compensatory (City) Allowance, Overtime Allowance etc. in respect of its regular employees. It also provides information on Ministry / Department- wise and Group-wise number of sanctioned posts, number of incumbents in position and vacant posts as on 1st March. The Brochure contains information about disparity ratio i.e. the ratio of the maximum to minimum pay of different State Government Employees.

Authority: http://doe.gov.in/

7th Pay Commission: Latest Developments On Allowances, HRA

7th Pay Commission: Latest Developments On Allowances, HRA
The government had last year accepted the recommendation of Justice AK Mathur-headed Seventh Pay Commission in respect of the hike in basic pay and pension.

The Union Cabinet today did take up proposals related to 7th pay commission allowances, including HRA, as it was not part of the meeting’s agenda, sources told NDTV. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is on an official visit to South Korea. Nearly 50 lakh central government employees could get revised allowances under 7th pay commission award, including HRA or house rent allowance, from July, Financial Express in a report said last week. The report, citing sources, said that the Cabinet may decide on 7th pay commission allowances this month.
The Ashok Lavasa committee, which examined the 7th pay commission's recommendations on allowances, submitted its report to the finance minister on April 27. An Empowered Committee of Secretaries was set up screen the report and firm up proposals for the Cabinet.
The Lavasa committee suggested some modifications in some allowances that are applicable universally to all employees as well as certain other allowances which apply to specific employee categories, the finance ministry had said in a statement. Economists say that disbursement of 7th pay commission allowances is expected to give a further boost to consumer spending and thus the broader economy.

The Reserve Bank has however flagged upside risks to inflation from disbursement of revised 7th pay commission allowances. "At the current juncture, global political and financial risks materialising into imported inflation and the disbursement of allowances under the 7th central pay commission's award are upside risks. The date of implementation of the latter is still not announced and as such, it is not factored into the baseline projections," the RBI said in its latest monetary policy statement last week.
The government had last year accepted the recommendation of Justice AK Mathur-headed Seventh Pay Commission in respect of the hike in basic pay and pension. The 7th Pay Commission's recommendations relating to allowances were referred to the Ashok Lavasa committee.

The 7th pay commission had recommended that house rent allowance be paid at the rate of 24 per cent, 16 per cent and 8 per cent of the new basic pay, depending on the type of city. The 7th pay commission had also recommended that the rate of HRA be revised to 27 per cent, 18 per cent and 9 per cent when DA or dearness allowance crosses 50 per cent, and further revised to 30 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent when it crosses 100 per cent. With regard to allowances, employee unions have demanded HRA at the rate of 30 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent.

The 7th pay commission had recommended that of a total of 196 allowances, 52 be abolished altogether and 36 be abolished as separate identities by subsuming them in another allowance.

The Cabinet had earlier approved modification in recommendations of the 7th pay commission relating to the method of revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners and family pensioners based on recommendations of a high-level panel. The decision will benefit over 55 lakh pre-2016 civil and defence pensioners and family pensioners.

7th CPC Allowance Committee took almost 12 months for examining only 52 allowances, Government is deliberately delaying the revised allowances to deny arrears: Confederation

7th CPC Allowance Committee took almost 12 months for examining only 52 allowances, Government is deliberately delaying the revised allowances to deny arrears: Confederation

HUMAN CHAIN OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS

AT ALL IMPORTANT CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

MASSIVE PROTEST AGAINST THE BETRAYAL OF THE BJP-LED NDA GOVERNMENT

High Level Committee, assured by the Group of Minsters, not yet constituted. First anniversary of the Hon'ble Cabinet Minister’s assurance will be on 30.06.2017. No increase in Minimum Pay and fitment formula.

7th CPC took 18 + 2 months only for submitting report after examining the entire service conditions, pay scales, allowances, Pensionary benefits of about one crore Employees and Pensioners including military personnel. Allowance Committee took almost 12 months for examining only 52 allowances!! BJP Government is deliberately delaying the revised allowances to deny arrears.

Option-I parity for pensioners recommended by 7th CPC and accepted (??) by cabinet, mercilessly rejected by appointing a feasibility Committee.

NPS Committee is for further strengthening NPS and not for withdrawal of NPS or for guaranteeing minimum pension as 50% of last pay drawn.

MACP promotion denied to thousand of employees by imposing stringent conditions on bench mark.
Gramin Dak Sevak Committee Report submitted to Government on 24.11.2016 (Seven months over) still under process.

Exploitation of casual and contract workers continues. Equal pay for equal work denied.

Autonomous body employees and pensioners cheated by Government by denying their legitimate wage revision and pension revision.

No negotiated settlement on the charter of demands submitted to Government by JCM (staff side) and Confederation.

ORGANISE HUMAN CHAIN TO DEMONSTRATE OUR STRONGEST PROTEST, ANGER AND DISCONTENTMENT

M. Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob & Whatsapp - 09447068125
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/

7th Pay Commission: Higher allowances dropped from today's cabinet meeting agenda

7th Pay Commission: Higher allowances dropped from today's cabinet meeting agenda
 

New Delhi: The Union government has dropped higher allowances proposal under the 7th Pay Commission from its today's cabinet meeting agenda at the last minute, the Finance Ministry officials involved with the process of higher allowances source told on condition of anonymity.

The officials said recommendation of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha on higher allowances, was due to come before the Union cabinet at its meeting today for formal approval.

However, the item was dropped from the agenda at the last minute, as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is on an official visit to South Korea, they added.

However, they said that the Cabinet may decide on 7th pay commission allowances this month.

In June 2016, the Cabinet approved 14% pay and pension hike for central government employees and pensioners under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations with effect from January 1, 2016.

The decision on higher allowances was postponed by the Cabinet on that time because the 7th Pay Commission wanted abolition of 52 allowances and subsuming of another 36 allowances into larger existing ones out of total 196 allowances.

Employee unions were opposed it, which government complied with formation of the Committee on Allowances headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa in June 2016 to review the allowances.
The Committee on Allowances submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on April 27.

The report was then taken up by the Department of Expenditure for examination, following which it was passed on to the Empowered Committee of Secretaries set up to screen the 7th Pay Commission recommendations and to firm up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet.

The Empowered Committee of Secretaries was in the process of preparing the Cabinet note on higher allowances, which was completed on June 1.

The central government employees are now getting no new allowances (except Dearness Allowance) with their new pay structure till the cabinet nod.