Housing Facilities to Defence Personnel

Housing Facilities to Defence Personnel

Government has sanctioned construction of 1,98,881 Dwelling Units (DUs) for the Married Military officers / soldiers. Apart from construction of DUs, hiring of houses is also undertaken for Defence personnel to meet the deficiency of housing. In addition, Service personnel are authorized to House Rent Allowance (HRA) / Compensation in Lieu of Quarter (CILQ) / Family Accommodation Allowance (FAA).
Married Accommodation Project (MAP) was approved in 2002 for providing 1,98,881 Dwelling Units (DUs) to serving defence personnel. Under this project DUs with improved specifications are being constructed. Besides, under Annual Major Works Programme (AMWP) residential accommodation projects are undertaken as per special needs from time to time.

Phase-I comprising 57875 DUs has been completed. Out of 69904 DUs meant for Phase-II, 38811 DUs have been constructed & balance 31093 DUs are under construction. Balance 71102 DUs are planned for phase- III projects. Provision exists for construction of Field Area Family Accommodation (FAFA) in peace stations for the families of Officers / soldiers serving in field areas. In view of shortfall of FAFA accommodations, Defence Personnel are provided HRA / CILQ / FAA at the rate of selected place of residence of family.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Kunwar Pushpendra Singh Chandel in Lok Sabha today.

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Pension to IAF Veterans

Pension to IAF Veterans 

Pension of pre-2006 retired Junior Commissioned Officers/ Other Ranks (JCOs / ORs) have been assessed on the basis of rank continuously held for 10 months or more. However, protection of minimum of fitment table under 6th Pay Commission for the last rank held has been provided.

A Junior Warrant Officer (JWO) who has not served for 10 months or more continuously in the rank is entitled to receive initial pension in the rank of Sergeant. However, where the revised pension as on 01.07.2014 worked out in terms of OROP order, happens to be less than the existing pension as on 01.07.2014, the pension has not been revised to the disadvantage of the pensioner.

Further, the issue whether in the case of JCOs / ORs, the pension is to be paid on the basis of the last rank held instead of last rank pensioned under OROP was referred to the Judicial Committee on OROP. The Committee has submitted its report to the Ministry which is under examination.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Dr. P. Venugopal in Lok Sabha today.

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NPS: Extension of benefits of Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity to the Central Government employees covered by New Defined Contribution Pension System (National Pension System) - regarding.

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSION)
DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD-211

Circular No C-170

No.G1/C/MISC/NPS-II/Tech
O/o the PCDA (P), Allahabad
Dated: 13-07-2017

Sub: NPS: Extension of benefits of Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity to the Central Government employees covered by New Defined Contribution Pension System (National Pension System) - regarding. 

Ref:- This office Circular No. 79 dated 29/10/2010 and No. 110 dated 12/08/2013

Benefits of Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity to the Central Government employees covered by New Defined Contribution Pension System (National Pension System) has been extended vide Govt. of India, Ministry of PPG & P, Deptt. of P&PW in their O.M. No. 7/5/2012- P&PW (F)/B dated 26.08.2016 (copy enclosed)on the same terms and conditions as are applicable to employees covered by Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972. The Ministry has further clarified vide O.M.No.28/03/2017-P&PW(B) dt. 18/05/2017, that CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 are otherwise not applicable to the Central Government employees covered under NPS. Hence, they would obviously not be eligible for Service Gratuity or Pension under the CCS (Pension) Rules.

2. The phrase 'terms and condition' in the ibid O.M. dated 26.08.2016 refers to the requirement of qualifying service, the rates on which retirement gratuity is to be paid, the limit of amount of gratuity, nominations, disciplinary provisions, etc. in the CCS(Pension) Rules. All these condition would be equally applicable for grant of gratuity to employees covered under NPS. The decision to extend retirement gratuity and death gratuity vide the O.M. dated 26.08.2016 is absolute and not provisional. Separate rules on gratuity for Central Government employees under NPS would be framed in due course.
3. Now, it has been decided that to submit the claims of above beneficiaries for Retirment Gratuity and Death Gratuity, the following procedures shall be adopted by HOO and Pay Audit Controllers:-

i. H.O.O. will prepare a claim in case of NPS beneficiaries going to retire in accordance with the procedure as prescribed for Defence Civilian Personnel appointed before 01.01.2004 and will submit the same along with service boom and all the relevant documents (Which is required in case of pre 01.01.2004 Cases) to PAO concerned i.e.LAO/RAO. The Permanent Retirement account No. (PRAN) of the concerned Government Servant Allotted by National Security Depository limited (NSDL) will also be indicated. In cases where PRAN has not been allotted by NSDL to a NPS subscriber being non-effecting account as on 0104.2008, permanent pension account No.(PPAN) allotted to subscriber will be indicated.

ii. PAO will carry all necessary checks with reference to the entries in service book and as admissible under the OM No.38/41/06 P&PW (A) dated 05.05.2009 (already circulated under this office circular no.79 dt. 29-10-2010) to ensure that entries made in claim are in as per records in the service book of the individual. After signing and affixing the seal, the PAO concerned i.e.LAO/RAO will pass on the claim to the PCDA(P) Allahabad. The service book will be returned by PAO to HOO concerned.

iii.HOO will also maintain a separate register for recording entries for PRAN /PPAN No., Name of Government Servant, PPO No. and awards notified.
iv. On receipt of PPO from PCDA(P) Allahabad, HOO will check the same and after recording the entries in the register retransmit PDA's copy to PDA, Pensioner copy to Pensioner and retain
HOO copy for their own record.

v. Other procedures prescribed for pre 01-01-2004 pensioner will also be followed by the HOO in case of NPS beneficiaries.

4. In view of the foregoing, you also are requested to issue suitable instructions (along with copy of this circular) to all the Head of Offices under your administrative control to ensure that claim on the subject matter henceforth are floated in accordance with instructions given in above Para.

(Rajeev Ranjan Kumar)
Dy.CDA (P)

Source: [PCDA.nic.in]

Extension of CGHS facilities to the pensioners of post and Telegraph Department

Extension of CGHS facilities to the pensioners of post and  Telegraph Department

No.S-11016/2/2015-CGHS(P)/EHS
Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Department of Health & Family Welfare
CGHS(P)/EHS

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi 110011
Dated the 19th July, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Extension of CGHS facilities to the pensioners of post and  Telegraph Department

With reference to the above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to draw attention the Memorandum No.S-11011/46/95-CGHS D- II/CGHS(P) dated 1st August 1996 and state it has now been decided to revoke OM dated 1.8.1996, in  compliance of the Orders of Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Ernakulam Bench dated 12th  July 2005 in O.A.N0. 563/2004 and 590/2004 and dated 01.06.2017 in C.P/180/21/2017 arising aut of OA No.180/563/2004 between Central Government Pensioners’ Association (Kerala) and Ors. Vs UOI & Others.

2. The retired employees of Post and Telegraph Department shall hereinafter, be entitled to  the CGHS facility, irrespective of whether they were members of CGHS prior to retirement or  not, subject to the payment Of prevalent subscription for availing themselves of this facility as  per rules as in the case of other Central Government pensioners.

3.  This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.

(Sunil Kumar Gupta)
Under Secretary to Government of India

Source: Confederation

Inclusion of more holidays in national calendar

Inclusion of more holidays in national calendar 

The Government has received proposal to make Patriots Day, observed on 13th August, and Ningol Chakkouba, which coincides with Bhai Duj, as restricted holidays and include them in the National Calendar.
As per existing policy, the Central Government administrative offices observe 17 holidays in a year. Out of these 17 holidays, 14 are pre-notified, compulsory holidays, which include three National holidays, namely, Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. The remaining three holidays are required to be selected, by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee (CGEWCC), functioning in respective states, from another list of 12 occasions. In addition, individual employees are allowed two restricted holidays in a year to be selected from a notified list of such Restricted Holidays.

In view of the ceiling on the total number of holidays that can be declared in a year by the Government, it has not been found possible to declare additional Restricted Holiday for the above occasions.
As per policy, the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee in the State Capitals choose three holidays keeping in view the occasions of local importance. The Coordination Committees at the State Capitals may draw up separate list of Restricted Holidays keeping in view the occasions of local importance.

This was stated by the 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 in a written reply to a question by Shri K. Bhabananda Singh in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Reservation for sportspersons in services

Reservation for sportspersons in services 

As per extant instructions, Ministries and Departments can recruit meritorious sportspersons to Group 'C' posts under the Government of India up to 5% of the vacancies in any year subject to the condition that these including all other reservations do not exceed 50% of the total number of vacancies proposed to be filled up by direct recruitment.

Consolidated instructions on incentives for sportspersons including recruitment under sports quota have been issued vide Department of Personnel and Training's OM No 14034/01/2013-Estt.(D) dated 3rd October 2013. At present no proposal to increase the quota is under consideration of the Government.

Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) lays down the policy for recruitment of meritorious sportspersons which is implemented by the administrative Ministries/Departments. The details regarding number of sportspersons recruited by various Ministries/Departments are not Centrally maintained.

As per extant instructions 43 sports disciplines have been identified for appointment of meritorious sportspersons. These instructions inter alia provide relaxation in upper age limit upto a maximum of 5 years (10 years in case of those belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) for the recruitment of meritorious sportspersons to Group 'C' posts. Government servants with medal winning performance in specified sports events are also eligible for out of turn promotion.

This was stated by the 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 in a written reply to a question by Shri Parimal Nathwani in the Rajya Sabha today.

Promotion of Sports - Lok Sabha

Promotion of Sports - Lok Sabha

The Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel said in the Lok Sabha today that as sports is a State subject, the primary responsibility for promoting sports including encouraging sports among students at primary and higher secondary school level is that of States. However, Department of Sports and the Sports Authority of India supplement the efforts of the States. School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and Association of Indian Universities (AIU) have been recognized by the Government of India as National Sports Promotion Organizations (NSPOs) and are eligible for the same level of assistance as are available to National Sports Federations (NSFs).

In a written reply he said, Ministry of Human Resource Development has, inter-alia, intimated that as per the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005, Health and Physical Education is a compulsory subject upto X Class and optional subject at Higher Secondary Stage. Health and Physical Education includes age appropriate games and sports including athletics, swimming and gymnastics. National Curriculum also focuses that to transact this areas effectively, it is essential that minimum physical space and equipment's are available in every school.

Further, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, has been enacted, making elementary education a Fundamental Right, which, inter alia, provides for

(i) a playground for each school;
(ii) A part time instructor for physical education in upper primary schools;
(iii) Supply of play material, games and sports equipment, as required, to schools.

In terms of the provisions of the RTE Act, no school shall be established or recognized unless it fulfils the norms specified in the Schedule attached to the Act.

A Scheme called "Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports" is being implemented by this Ministry as a Central Sector Scheme from the current financial year 2016-17. This Scheme, inter-alia, provides for holding of annual sports competitions in respect of priority and popular sports in two age groups of (i) under 14 and (ii) under 17 all over India to encourage mass participation of both boys and girls in Sports in both urban and rural areas including schools and identification of talented sportspersons. However, there is no proposal to implement schemes like 'slum-running' from district level to state level as of now.
Further, to promote various sports in the country apart from athletics, Sports Authority of India (SAI) is implementing the following Sports Promotional Schemes to identify talented sports person in the age group of 8-25 years and nurture them to excel at National and International level competition:

National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC)

1. Indigenous Games & Martial Arts, (IGMA)
2. Akharas

• Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC)
• SAI Training Centre (STC)
• Special Area Games (SAG)
• Extension Centre of STC/SAG
• Centre of Excellence (COE)
• National Sports Academies (NSA)

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Appointments under Central Staffing Scheme

Appointments under Central Staffing Scheme

The Central Staffing Scheme (CSS), which is in operation for decades, provides a systematic arrangement for selection and appointment of eligible officers from the participating services at the level of Deputy Secretary, Director, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary and Secretary in the Central Government. The appointment of officers from the participating services at the Centre is an ongoing process, which includes shift/elevation of officers from one Ministry/Department to another, due to empanelment, on administrative grounds, etc. During the last three years, 798 IAS officers and 578 Non-IAS officers were appointed under the CSS. 21 officers of the All India Services from Jharkhand cadre have been appointed during this period under the CSS.

To encourage officers from participating services, including the IAS, to come on CSS, circulars are issued twice a year requesting all cadre authorities to nominate eligible officers for deputation. Therein it is indicated that the movement of officers from State level to the Centre and back helps in building up capabilities at the State level and contributing towards developing national perspectives at the decision-making levels in the Government of India. Furthermore, for Foreign/Captive post circulated by DoPT, experience of 2 years under CSS is mandatory. For consideration for Additional Secretary level empanelment, officers should have worked for at least 3 years under the CSS.

This was stated by the 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 in a written reply to a question by Shri Sanjiv Kumar in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent - DoE Orders

Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent - DoE Orders

No.19024/22/2017-E.IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 19th July, 2017

Office Memorandum

Subject: Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Departments’ OM. No.19024/1/2005-E.IV dated 24.03.2006, OM. No.19024/1/2009- E.IV dated 16.09.2010 and OM. No.19024/1/2012-E.IV dated 09.07.2013 regarding guidelines on Air travel. As per these guidelines, in all cases of Air Travel where the Government of India bears the cost of air passage, Air Tickets may be purchased directly from Airlines (at Booking counters/office/website of Airlines) and if needed, by utilizing the services of three Authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC).

2. This Department is receiving a large number of proposals from various Ministries/Departments seeking ex-post-facto relaxation of the prescribed procedure for purchase of air tickets from authorized travel agents only.

3. The matter has been reconsidered in this Department. All Ministries/Departments are again directed to:

(i) Ensure strict compliance of extant guidelines for purchase of air ticket directly from Airlines (at Booking counters/office/Website of Airlines) or from three authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC only by all officials/offices under their control. Henceforth relaxation on account of ignorance/unawareness of these guidelines will not be considered by this Department.

ii) In case of non-availability of authorized agent at a particular place, ticket may be booked from website of Airlines or web portal of Balmer Lawrie & Company Ltd., M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and lRCTC.

iii) In respect of Non-officials of Committees/Boards/Panels, the concerned Ministry/Department have to mention in the meeting notice that the Non-official Member has to purchase the ticket from authorized travel agent only otherwise his claim will not be settled by that Ministry/Department.

iv) All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, etc. have to widely circulate this OM. in all offices including attached/subordinate offices/ autonomous bodies under their control with specific instructions to Heads of Departments concerned for strict compliance of these guidelines. Non- compliance of these guidelines by Ministries/Departments will be treated as lapse on the part of the concerned Ministry/Department.

sd/-
(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Click to view the order
Authority: www.doe.gov.in

Implementation of 7th CPC recommendations on Allownaces - Addlitional HRA for employees posted in North-East Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Ladakh

Implementation of 7th CPC recommendations on Allownaces - Addlitional HRA for employees posted in North-East Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Ladakh

No.28/1/2017-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, the 19th July. 2017.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Implementation of the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission - Additional HRA for civilian employees of the Central Government serving in the States of North Eastern Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Ladakh.

Consequent upon revision of the rates of HRA granted to the Central Government employees on implementation of the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission vide O.M. No. 2/5/2017 E.II(B) dated 07.07.2017, in modification of this Ministry's O.M. No. 11016/1/E.II(B)/84 dated 29.03.1984 and GM. No. 2(19)/E.II(B)/2008 dated 02.01.2009 on the subject mentioned above, additional HRA shall be granted to the civilian employees of the Central Government posted to States of North Eastern Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Ladakh, who leave their families behind at “their old duty station at revised rates as per OM. No. 27512017-E.II(B], dated 07.07.2017.

2. These orders, will not be applicable to such employees who were transferred out, of North Eastern Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands and Ladakh before 1 7.2017.

3. These orders shall take effect from 1st July, 2017.

4. These orders shall also apply to the civilian employees paid from the Defence Services Estimates and the expenditure will be chargeable to the relevant head of the Defence Services Estimates. In regard to Armed Forces personnel and Railway employees, Separate orders will be issued by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways, respectively.

5. In so far as the employees working in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued with the concurrence of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Hindi version is attached.

sd/-
(Annie George Mathew)
Joint Secretary to the Government of India.

Click to view the order
Authority: www.doe.gov.in