Revised rates of ECHS contribution and entitlement of Ward in Empanelled Hospitals/Medical Facilities

Revised rates of ECHS contribution and entitlement of Ward in Empanelled Hospitals/Medical Facilities.Dated 29.12.2017.

Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex- Servicemen Welfare
Sena Bhavan, New Delhi

Dated 29th Dec., 2017

To,

The Chief of Army Staff
The Chief of Naval Staff
The Chief of Air Staff
Subject : Revised rates of ECHS contribution and entitlement of Ward in Empanelled Hospitals Medical Facilities.
Sir,

In supersession of the Government of India, Ministry of Defence letter No.22(16)/05/US/(WE)/D(Res) dated 19 July 2005 and dated August, 2011, I am directed to convey the sanction of the Government to revise rates of ECHS contribution to be paid by ESM and ward entitlement as under :

S.No.	Category	One time Contribution	Ward Entitlement
(a)	Recruit to Havs & equivalent in Navy & AF	Rs.30,000/-	General
(b)	Nb Sub/Sub/Sub Maj or equivalent in Navy & AF (including Hony Nb Sub/MACP Nb Sub and Hony Lt/Capt.	Rs.67,000/-	Semi Private
(c)	All Officers	Rs.1,20,000/-	Private

2. The revised order will be effective from the date of issue of this letter.

3. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Finance) vide their ID No.32(09)/2016/Fin/Pen dated 22-11-2017.Yours faithfully,

sd/-
(A.K.Karn)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Authority: http://www.desw.gov.in/

Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) celebrated its 29th Foundation Day today in the service of the Central Civil Pensioners

Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) celebrated its 29th Foundation Day today in the service of the Central Civil Pensioners. 

The Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) celebrated  here today its 29th Foundation Day in the service of the Central (Civil) Pensioners. CPAO   (website www.cpao.nic.in) was established on 1st January, 1990; primarily to cater to the needs of central civil pensioners and other stakeholders in the Ministries/ Departments and Banks. The Central (Civil) pensions are authorized through Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) functioning under the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

CPAO is administering the 'Scheme for Payment of Pensions to Central Government Civil Pensioners by Authorized Banks (both Public Sector and some Private sector Banks).  Its functions include, issue of Special Seal Authorisations (SSAs) for pension payments to Authorised Banks, preparation of budget for the Pension Grant and accounting thereof, reconciliation with and performance review of banks with respect to pension payments and disbursements & maintenance of the database of the Central Civil Pensioners etc.

CPAO was created with the primary objective of simplifying procedure and reducing the number of agencies for pension payment and to expedite the process of authorization, revision and transfer of pension through Authorized Banks.  The working of CPAO is fully computerized and it maintains a database of over 12 lakh Central (Civil) pensioners through Pension Authorisation, Retrieval and Accounting System (PARAS). These pensioners are being provided pension related services by the CPAO through more than 70,788 paying bank branches all over the country.

CPAO has Pension Tracking System to check the latest status of the pension processing and SMS facility is also being provided to the pensioners at each stage. CPAO has taken many steps under Digital India Mission like e-Scroll, e-SSA, e-PPO project etc. to reduce the paper movement and creation of digital record of the Special Seal Authorities (SSAs), PPO (Pension Payment Order) etc.  CPAO is also handling the grievances of the Central (Civil) Pensioners through its Grievance Redressal Mechanism which includes Web Responsive Pensioners Service (WRPS) facilitating information to pensioners on pension payments, facility to view and download latest orders and special seal authorities (SSAs) issued by CPAO among others.

 PIB

Government announced 8% GOI Savings (Taxable) Bonds

Government announced 8% GOI Savings (Taxable) Bonds

The Government of India (GoI) announced here today that 8% GOI Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003 shall cease for subscription with effect from the close of banking business on Tuesday, the 02nd January, 2018.

The Government of India (GoI) announced here today that 8% GOI Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003 shall cease for subscription with effect from the close of banking business on Tuesday, the 02nd January, 2018.

PIB

Direct Recruitment to Group C - Reservation Fixed on the basis of Population

Direct Recruitment to Group C - Reservation Fixed on the basis of Population

"In case of direct recruitment to Group C posts normally attracting candidates from a locality or a region, the percentage of reservation is generally fixed on the basis of proportion of their population in the respective States/Union Territories"

Reserve category representation
Article 16(4) of the Constitution enables provision of reservation to backward class of citizens, who are not adequately represented in the services under the State.

As per extant instructions, reservation is provided to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes at the rate of 15%, 7.5% and 27% respectively in case of direct recruitment on all India basis by open competition. In case of direct recruitment on all India basis otherwise than by open competition, the percentage fixed is 16.66% for Scheduled Castes, 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes and 25.84% for Other Backward Classes.

In case of direct recruitment to Group C posts normally attracting candidates from a locality or a region, the percentage of reservation is generally fixed on the basis of proportion of their population in the respective States/Union Territories.

The services under the State come under the List II of the Seventh Schedule i.e. State List of the Constitution. The information on the state-wise provisions for reservation is not centrally maintained.
As per the 9 Judge Bench Constitutional judgment of the Supreme Court in Indira Sawhney case, total reservation cannot exceed the limit of 50%. In the same judgment, the Supreme Court has also observed that clause (4) of Article 16 of Constitution speaks of adequate representation and not proportionate representation.

This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.

Issuing of Aadhaar cards through post offices and banks

Issuing of Aadhaar cards through post offices and banks

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-900

ANSWERED ON-22.12.2017

Issuing of Aadhaar cards through post offices and banks
900 . Shri Dharmapuri Srinivas

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the Government is contemplating on handing over the work of issuing of Aadhaar Cards to Post Offices and Banks in the country; and

(b) if so, the details thereof

ANSWER

(a) and (b): Department of Post, as Registrar of UIDAI, has been mandated to set up Aadhaar enrolment and update facility in designated post offices throughout the country. In addition, banks have also been mandated under Regulation 12A of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2017 (No. 2 of 2017) and the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) (Third Amendment) (No. 3 of 2017) to set up Aadhaar enrolment and update facility in a minimum one out of every ten bank branches.

Restriction in conduct rules on investments by employees

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1223
ANSWERED ON-28.12.2017

Restriction in conduct rules on investments by employees

1223 . Shri Narayan Lal Panchariya

(a) whether there are any restrictions under relevant conduct rules on investments by Central Government employees in stock market/financial market instruments;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether Government is considering any proposal for giving greater freedom to Central Government employees to invest in such instruments; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) & (b): Yes Sir. Rule 16 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, is relevant for investment by Central Government employees in stock/ financial market instruments. The provisions of Rule 16 are reproduced as under:

"(1) No Government servant shall speculate in any stock, share or other investment: Provided that nothing in this sub-rule shall apply to occasional investments made through stock brokers or other persons duly authorised and licensed or who have obtained a certificate of registration under the relevant law. Explanation - Frequent purchase or sale or both, of shares, securities or other investments shall be deemed to be speculation within the meaning of this sub-rule."

(2) (i) No Government servant shall make, or permit any member of his family or any person acting on his behalf to make, any investment which is likely to embarrass or influence him in the discharge of his official duties. For this purpose, any purchase of shares out of the quotas reserved for Directors of Companies or their friends and associates shall be deemed to be an investment which is likely to embarrass the Government servant.

(ii) No Government servant who is involved in the decision making process of fixation of price of an Initial Public Offering or Follow-up Public Offering of shares of a Central Public Sector Enterprise shall apply, either himself or through any member of his family or through any other person acting on his behalf, for allotment of shares in the Initial Public Offerings or Follow-up Public Offerings of such Central Public Sector Enterprise.

(3) If any question arises whether any transaction is of the nature referred to in sub-rule (1) or sub-rule(2), the decision of the Government thereon shall be final.

(4) (i) No Government servant shall, save in the ordinary course of business with a bank or a public limited company, either himself or through any member of his family or any other person acting on his behalf,

(a) lend or borrow or deposit money, as a principal or an agent, to, or from or with, any person or firm or private limited company within the local limits of his authority or with whom he is likely to have official dealings or otherwise place himself under any pecuniary obligation to such person or firm or private limited company; or

(b) lend money to any person at interest or in a manner whereby return in money or in kind is charged or paid:

Provided that a Government servant may give to, or accept from, a relative or a personal friend a purely temporary loan of a small amount free of interest, or operate credit account with a bona fide tradesman or make an advance of pay to his private employee:

Provided further that nothing in this sub-rule shall apply in respect of any transaction entered into by a Government servant with the previous sanction of the Government.

(ii) When a Government servant is appointed or transferred to a post of such nature as would involve him in the breach of any of the provisions of sub-rule (2) or sub-rule (4), he shall forthwith report the circumstances to the prescribed authority and shall thereafter act in accordance with such order as may be made by such authority.

2. Further, vide O.M. No. 11013/6/91-Ests.(A) dated 8.04.1992 (copy enclosed), it was clarified that shares, securities, debentures etc. are treated as movable property for the purpose of Rule 18 (3) of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, which provides for intimation/ permission of an individual transaction, if the value of such transaction exceeds two months of basic pay of the Government servant.

(c) & (d): At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government for giving greater freedom to Central Government employees to invest in stock market/ financial market instruments.

Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes for 4th Quarter of FY 2017-18 (Jan, 18 to Mar, 18) - MoF

Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes for 4th Quarter of FY 2017-18 (Jan, 18 to Mar, 18) - MoF

F.No.01/04/2016-NS
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Economic Affairs
(Budget Division)

 North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 27.12.2017

  Office Memorandum

Subject: Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's OM of even number dated 16th February, 2016, vide which the various decisions taken by the Government regarding interest fixation for small savings schemes were communicated to all concerned.

2. On the basis of the decision of the Government, interest rates for small savings schemes are to be notified on quarterly basis. Accordingly, the rates of interest on various small savings schemes for the fourth quarter of financial year 2017-18 starting 1st January, 2018, and ending on 31st March, 2018, on the basis of the interest compounding payment built-in in the schemes, shall be as under:

Development of Software for inter cadre transfer / deputation and fixation of Seniority of promotee IAS officers

F. No. 13017/33/2016-AIS-I
Department of Personnel and Training
AIS - I 

Date: 27th December, 2017

Sub: Development of Software for inter cadre transfer / deputation and fixation of Seniority of promotee IAS officers - reg.

Seniority Desk (AIS-I) vide ID note dated 09.09.2016 and reminder dated 20.01.2017 (copies enclosed) has requested NIC, DoPT to develop software to process all cases of inter cadre transfer / deputation online and to fix Seniority of promotee IAS officers online. However, no progress in the matter has been intimated to this Desk.

2. In this connection, NIC, DoPT is requested to expedite the matter as this item has been included in the Annual Action Plan 2017.

3. This issues with the approval of JS(Admin).

(Udai Bhan Singh)
Under Secretary(AIS-I)
Seniority Desk
I/c - 274

To,
Director (NIC),
NIC, DoPT

Source: DoPT

AICPIN for the Month of November 2017

AICPIN for the Month of November 2017

No.5/1/2017-CPI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
LABOUR BUREAU

CLEREMONT, SHIMLA-171004
DATED: 29th December, 2017

Press Release

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) - November, 2017

The All-India CPI-IW for November, 2017 increased by 1 point and pegged at 288 (two hundred and eighty eight). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 0.35 per cent between October, 2017 and November, 2017 when compared with the decrease of (-) 0.36 per cent for the corresponding months of last year.

The maximum upward pressure to the change in current index came from Food group contributing (+) 1.10 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Wheat Atta, Eggs (Hen), Goat Meat, Milk (Cow), Onion, Tamarind, Bitter Gourd, Cabbage, Carrot, Coconut, Potato, Tomato, Cooking Gas, Electricity Charges, Firewood, Kerosene Oil, Private Tuition Fee, Petrol, Barber Charges, etc. are responsible for the increase in index. However, this increase was checked by Arhar Dal, Gram Dal, Masur Dal, Urd Dal, Groundnut Oil, Fish Fresh, Poultry (Chicken), Chillies Green, Garlic, Ginger, Brinjal, Cauliflower, French Bean, Green Coriander Leaves, Methi, Palak, Radish, Apple, Banana, etc., putting downward pressure on the index.

The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 3.97 per cent for November, 2017 as compared to 3.24 per cent for the previous month and 2.59 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 3.91 per cent against 2.26 per cent of the previous month and 1.66 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.

At centre level, Giridih reported the maximum increase of (7 points) followed by Salem and Puducherry (6 points each) and Rourkela, Sholapur, Mercara and Ghaziabad (5 points each). Among others, 4 points increase was observed in 5 centres, 3 points in 16 centres, 2 points in 13 centres and 1 point in 12 centres. On the contrary, Kolkata recorded a maximum decrease of 3 points followed by Munger-Jamalpur, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Doom Dooma Tinsukia (2 points each). Among others, 1 point decrease was observed in 7 centres. Rest of the 13 centres’ indices remained stationary.

The indices of 34 centres are above All-India Index and 42 centres indices are below national average. The indices of Vishakhapathnam and Ghaziabad centres remained at par with All-India Index.

The next issue of CPI- IW for the month of December, 2017 will be released on Wednesday, 31st January, 2018. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureaunew.gov.in.

(AMRITLALJANGID)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR

PIB

Gramin Dak Sevaks - Lok Sabha Q&A

Gramin Dak Sevaks - Lok Sabha Q&A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1427

ANSWERED ON: 27.12.2017

Gramin Dak Sevaks

BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL

Will the Minister of
COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has constituted any Committee to look into the salary structure, other service matters and problems of Gramin Dak Sevaks and if so, the details and the composition thereof;
(b) whether the said Committee has since submitted its report and if so, the recommendations thereof; and
(c) the time by which these recommendations are likely to be implemented?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) Yes, Madam. A One Man Committee has been constituted to look into the salary structure, other service matters and problems of Gramin Dak Sevaks under the Chairmanship of Shri Kamlesh Chandra.
(b) Yes, Madam, the Committee has submitted its report to the Government. The salient features are given in the Annexure.
(c) The recommendations of the Committee have been considered by the Department. After getting the necessary approvals from all concerned, the recommendation of the Committee will be implemented.

Source - loksabha