7th CPC: Travelling Allowance Rules - Implementation of the Recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission

7th CPC: Travelling Allowance Rules - Implementation of the Recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission

F.No.19030/1/2017-E.IV

Government of India

Department of Expenditure

E.IV Branch

North Block, New Delhi.

Dated 01st February, 2018

Office Memorandum

Sub: Travelling Allowance Rules - Implementation of the Recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission.

Consequent upon the issuance of this Department's O.M. of even number dated 13.07.2017 regarding implementation of recommendations of 7th CPC on Travelling Allowance (TA), various references are being received in this Department seeking clarification regarding admissibility of Daily Allowance (DA) in case Govt. employee avails free boarding and lodging.

2. The 6th CPC had changed the old concept of Daily Allowance by introducing reimbursement of Hotel Accommodation, Food Bill and Taxi Charges on production of vouchers for the same. Since this was a new concept, therefore, option was given to the employees to choose either the old 5th CPC single rate of DA or the new system of DA based on reimbursement of expenses as per 6th CPC. The 7th CPC has recommended to continue the concept of reimbursement of Hotel Accommodation, Food Bill and Taxi Charges with the exception that vouchers are not required to be produced for Food Bills.

3. The matter regarding admissibility of DA in case of free boarding and lodging, has been considered in this Department. Daily Allowance is given to the Govt. employees as a reimbursement of the expenditure incurred by him on tour for his stay, food and travel at that station. ln case of free boarding and lodging, the Govt. employee, if incurring any expenditure on local travel, can claim the same as per para 2 E (i) and (iii) of the Annexure to 0.M. of even No. dated 13.07.2017. The earlier system of giving 25% of DA is being discontinued. Also, after implementation of 7th CPC recommendations, the facility of DA at 5th CPC rates is done away with.

4. This is issued with the approval of Secretary (Expenditure). Hindi version is attached.

sd/-

(Nirmala Dev)

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

To
All Ministries and Departments of the Govt. of India etc. as per standard distribution list.
Copy to: C&AG and U.P.S.C., etc. as per standard endorsement list.

Authority: www.doe.gov.in

Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance to Central Government Civil Pensioners residing in areas not covered under Central Government Health Scheme

Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance to Central Government Civil Pensioners residing in areas not covered under Central Government Health Scheme

 

F.No.4/34/2017-P&PW(D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated: 31/01/2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance to Central Government Civil Pensioners residing in areas not covered under Central Government Health Scheme -reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM No.38/99/99-P&PW(C) dated 17-4-2000 on the subject mentioned above and to say that in accordance with the instructions contained therein, Central Government Civil Pensioners, residing in an area not served by any CGHS dispensary or any corresponding Health Schemes administered by other Ministries/Departments, as the case may be, even though their places of residence may fall within the limits of a CGHS covered cities, are required to submit the following documents for claiming Fixed Medical Allowance:

a) An undertaking in the prescribed format.

b) A certificate from the Medical Authorities of CGHS or from authorities of corresponding Health Schemes of the concerned Ministries/Departments, as the case may be, that the area where the pensioner is residing is not served by any dispensary under CGHS or the corresponding Health Scheme administered by the Ministry/Department.

2. Keeping in view the difficulties being faced by the pensioners in obtaining the required certificate from the concerned Medical Authorities, the matter has been reconsidered in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It has now been decided that the pensioners, residing in areas not covered by CGHS or any corresponding Health Schemes administered by other Ministries/Departments, as the case may be, would no longer be required to submit a certificate referred to in para 1 (b) above.

However, such pensioners would continue to submit an undertaking in the following format:

I , a retired employee of ____ (Office Address) declare that I am residing at (Residential Address indicated in PPO) , which area is not covered under CGHS or any corresponding Health Scheme administered by the Ministry/Department of , (as the case may be). I have also not obtained and do not wish to obtain a CGHS Card for availing out-door facilities under CGHS/Corresponding Health Scheme of other Ministries/Departments from any dispensary situated in an adjoining area.

3. A Central Government Civil Pensioner is also required to fill the enclosed Form along with above mentioned undertaking.

4. All the pension disbursing authorities are required to obtain the above undertaking along with the Form, as mentioned in Para 3 above, from such pensioners before sanctioning Fixed Medical Allowance. An entry to this effect should also be made in their PPOs.

sd/-
(Sanjay Wadhawan)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

Authority: www.pensionersportal.gov.in

Budget disappointing for the Labour - Press Statement Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)

Budget disappointing for the Labour - Press Statement Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)

Ref-BMS/D-20/37/2018

Dated-01-02-2018

Press statement issued by Sri Virjesh Upadhyay , General Secretary, BMS on 1st February 2018.

Budget disappointing for the Labour - BMS to hold countrywide demonstrations on 2nd February

Even though today’s budget for the first time has given more thrust to rural development, agriculture, health, infrastructure etc., it has totally neglected the woes of labour. Anganwadi workers, ASHA karmis and other scheme workers who belong to the poorest paid workers appointed under the Central Government have nothing as relief in the budget. Middle class employees are unhappy with no increase in their ceiling for tax exemption; at the same time the cess on income tax is increased from 3% to 4%. This was done at a time when the budget claimes 41% increase in the tax payers’ net.
Moreover the Government treasury has been hugely benefitted by the new GST regime, demonetization and digitalized bank transactions. Now there is a system by which last paise to be paid as direct or indirect tax will reach the Govt. treasury.

The unorganized sector workers' Social security fund is also not given any support in the budget. Budget says the women employees need to pay only 8% contribution to EPF in startups. The increase in take home salary for women will reduce 16% of their future savings in the EPF when they leave their establishment within few years. The burden of merger of Insurance Companies also will be on the workers, and there is no Government’s assurance on their job security, transfer, promotion etc.

There is also no provision for revival of viable sick CPSUs, instead the Government is focusing its attention on Strategic sale of 24PSUs; increase in EPF pension from the current Rs.1000/- and budget allocation for cess withdraw from 9 labour welfare funds. Budget also omitted to increase allocation for MGNREGA so that it can increase the wage and number of working days.

Budget unilaterally announces fixed term employment to be extended to all employment. All labour related changes in law has to be discussed in the tripartite forum and then finalized. Now the draft notification on fixed term employment issued on 8th January is pending consultation with trade unions. In the meanwhile it is totally unfair on the part of Government to unilaterally announce it in Budget.

All these shows the total neglect of Government on labour. It is a labour unfriendly budget.

Hence, BMS decided to protest against Budget. It directs all its units to hold demonstrations demanding review on budget proposals.

its future course on unsettled issues related to labour will be decided in the coming National  Executive Committee meeting to be held on 6-8 February .

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Virjesh Upadhyay)
General Secretary

Source: Confederation

DoPT: Filling up of outstation vacancies of CSSS at some outstation offices of some Ministries/Departments

DoPT: Filling up of outstation vacancies of CSSS at some outstation offices of some Ministries/Departments

MOST IMMEDIATE

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

3rd floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi-110003
Dated: 01st Feb 2018

Subject: Filling up of outstation vacancies of CSSS at some outstation offices of some Ministries/Departments-reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. of even number dated 13.11.2017 on the above mentioned subject and to say that this Department proposes to fill up the following outstation posts:-

S. No.	Department	Name of the office/location	Name of the post	No. of vacancies
1.	Legal Affairs	Branch Secretariat, Mumbai	(i) PPS (ii) PS	(i) 01 (ii) 03
2.	Agriculture & Cooperation	DMI, Faridabad	PS	04
		PPQ&S, Faridabad	PS	01
		DMI, Nagpur	PS	01

2. All the cadre units are requested to give wide publicity to this OM and forward the applications of willing CSSS officers along with their personal particulars in the enclosed proforma latest by 19.02.2018.
3. Before sending the particulars, it may be assured that the web based dat in respect of the official(s) are updated.

(Chirabrata Sarkar)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

To
The Under Secretary(Admn)
All Cadre Units of CSSS

BIO-DATA

1. NAME:
2. DESIGNATION:
3. CSL No.:
4. DATE OF BIRTH:
5. PRESENT MINISTRY/DEPARTMENT:
6. POST FOR WHICH APPLIED:
7. PERSONAL CONTACT NUMBER:
8. EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
9. EXPERIENCE (INCLUDING DEPUTATION DETAILS):

S.No.	Grade	Ministry/Department	From	To	Attached With

10. MEDIUM:
11. Reasons for seeking outstation post:

DATE:

(Signature of the applicant)

Source: DoPT

Defence - Budget 2018-19 - Allocate 12.10 percent of the total Central Government Expenditure

Defence - Budget 2018-19 - Allocate 12.10 percent of the total Central Government Expenditure

Union Budget for the financial year 2018-19, presented by the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley in the Parliament today, envisaged a total outlay of Rs. 24,42,213 crore. Out of this, Rs 2,95,511.41 crore has been earmarked for Defence. This accounts for 12.10 percent of the total Central Government expenditure for the year 2018-19.

The allocation of Rs. 2,95,511.41 crore represents a growth of 7.81 percent over Budget Estimates (Rs. 2,74,114.12 crore) and 5.91 percent over Revised Estimates (Rs. 2,79,003.85 crore), respectively for the financial year 2017-18.

Out of Rs. 2,95,511.41 crore allocated for the financial year 2018-19, Rs. 1,95,947.55 crore has been allocated for Revenue (Net) expenditure and Rs. 99,563.86 crore for Capital expenditure for the Defence Services and the Organizations/ Departments under Ministry of Defence. The amount of Rs. 99,563.86 crore, allocated for Capital expenditure, includes modernization related expenditure. The Capital allocation for Ministry of Defence under BE 2018-19 is 33.1 percent of the total Central Government Expenditure on Capital Account, which is Rs 3,00,441 crore.

For Defence Pension, which is over and above the outlay mentioned above, an amount of Rs. 1,08,853.30 crore has been provided in BE 2018-19. This is 26.60 percent above the BE 2017-18 of Rs. 85,740 crore and 14.26 percent over RE 2017-18 of Rs. 95,000 crore.

The approval for the construction of Sela pass has given further impetus to the Defence preparedness.

Source: PIB

HIGHLIGHTS OF BUDGET 2018-2019

HIGHLIGHTS OF BUDGET 2018-2019

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

HIGHLIGHTS OF BUDGET 2018-19

New Delhi, 01th February, 2018

• Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley presents general Budget 2018-19 in Parliament.
• Budget guided by mission to strengthen agriculture, rural development, health, education, employment, MSME and infrastructure sectors
• Government says, a series of structural reforms will propel India among the fastest
  growing economies of the world. Country firmly on course to achieve over 8 % growth as manufacturing, services and exports back on good growth path.
• MSP for all unannounced kharif crops will be one and half times of their production cost
  like majority of rabi crops: Institutional Farm Credit raised to 11 lakh crore in 2018-19 from 8.5 lakh crore in 2014-15.
• 22,000 rural haats to be developed and upgraded into Gramin Agricultural Markets to protect the interests of 86% small and marginal farmers.
• "Operation Greens" launched to address price fluctuations in potato, tomato and onion for benefit of farmers and consumers.
• Two New Funds of Rs10,000 crore announced for Fisheries and Animal Husbandary
  sectors; Re-structured National Bamboo Mission gets Rs.1290 crore.
• Loans to Women Self Help Groups will increase to Rs.75,000 crore in 2019 from 42,500 crore last year.
• Higher targets for Ujjwala, Saubhagya and Swachh Mission to cater to lower and middle class in providing free LPG connections, electricity and toilets.
• Outlay on health, education and social protection will be 1.38 lakh crore. Tribal students to get Ekalavya Residential School in each tribal block by 2022. Welfare fund for SCs gets a boost.
• World‟s largest Health Protection Scheme covering over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families launched with a family limit upto 5 lakh rupees for secondary and tertiary treatment.
• Fiscal Deficit pegged at 3.5 %, projected at 3.3 % for 2018-19.. Rs. 5.97 lakh crore allocation for infrastructure
  
  
  
  
  
• Ten prominent sites to be developed as Iconic tourist destinations
• NITI Aayog to initiate a national programme on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Centres of excellence to be set up on robotics, AI, Internet of things etc
• Disinvestment crossed target of Rs 72,500 crore to reach Rs 1,00,000 crore.
• Comprehensive Gold Policy on the anvil to develop yellow metal as an asset class
• 100 percent deduction proposed to companies registered as Farmer Producer Companies
  with an annual turnover upto Rs. 100 crore on profit derived from such activities, for five years from 2018-19.
• Deduction of 30 percent on emoluments paid to new employees Under Section 80-JJAA
  to be relaxed to 150 days for footwear and leather industry, to create more employment.
• No adjustment in respect of transactions in immovable property where Circle Rate value does not exceed 5 percent of consideration.
• Proposal to extend reduced rate of 25 percent currently available for companies with turnover of less than 50 crore (in Financial Year 2015-16), to companies reporting turnover up to Rs. 250 crore in Financial Year 2016- 17, to benefit micro, small and medium enterprises.
• Standard Deduction of Rs. 40,000 in place of present exemption for transport allowance and reimbursement of miscellaneous medical expenses. 2.5 crore salaried employees and pensioners to benefit.
• Relief to Senior Citizens proposed:
  • Exemption of interest income on deposits with banks and post offices to be increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000.
  • TDS not required to be deducted under section 194A. Benefit also available for interest from all fixed deposit schemes and recurring deposit schemes.
  • Hike in deduction limit for health insurance premium and/ or medical expenditure from Rs. 30,000 to Rs.50,000 under section 80D.
  • Increase in deduction limit for medical expenditure for certain critical illness from Rs. 60,000 (in case of senior citizens) and from Rs. 80,000 (in case of very senior citizens) to Rs. 1 lakh for all senior citizens, under section 80DDB.
  • Proposed to extend Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana up to March, 2020. Current investment limit proposed to be increased to Rs. 15 lakh from the existing limit of Rs. 7.5 lakh per senior citizen.
    
    
    
    
• More concessions for International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), to promote trade in stock exchanges located in IFSC.
• To control cash economy, payments exceeding Rs. 10,000 in cash made by trusts and institutions to be disallowed and would be subject to tax.
• Tax on Long Term Capital Gains exceeding Rs. 1 lakh at the rate of 10 percent, without allowing any indexation benefit. However, all gains up to 31st January, 2018 will be grandfathered.
• Proposal to introduce tax on distributed income by equity oriented mutual funds at the rate of 10 Percent.
• Proposal to increase cess on personal income tax and corporation tax to 4 percent from present 3 percent.
• Proposal to roll out E-assessment across the country to almost eliminate person to person contact leading to greater efficiency and transparency in direct tax collection.
• Proposed changes in customs duty to promote creation of more jobs in the country and also to incentivise domestic value addition and Make in India in sectors such as food processing, electronics, auto components, footwear and furniture.

Source: PIB

Relief to Senior Citizens: Exemption of Interest Income on deposits increased to Rs 50,000

Ministry of Finance

Relief to Senior Citizens: Exemption of Interest Income on deposits increased to Rs 50,000

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana extended up to March 2020

Existed limit on investment under PMVVY enhanced to Rs 15 lakhs

With the objective of providing a dignified life to senior citizens, the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley, announced significant incentives for senior citizens.

Presenting the General Budget 2018-19 in Parliament here today, the Finance Minister said that the exemption of interest income on deposits with banks and post offices to be increased from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 50,000/- and TDS shall not be required to be deducted on such income, under section 194A. This benefit shall be available also for interest from all fixed deposits schemes and recurring deposit schemes.

The Finance Minister also announced raising the limit of deduction for health insurance premium and/ or medical expenditure from Rs. 30,000/- to Rs. 50,000/-, under section 80D. All senior citizens will now be able to claim benefit of deduction up to Rs. 50,000/- per annum in respect of any health insurance premium and/or any general medical expenditure incurred.

Further, the Finance Minister proposed raising the limit of deduction for medical expenditure in respect of certain critical illness from Rs. 60,000/- in case of senior citizens and from Rs. 80,000/- in case of very senior citizens, to Rs. 1 lakh in respect of all senior citizens, under section 80DDB.
These concessions will give extra tax benefit of Rs. 4,000 crores to senior citizens.

In addition to tax concessions, the Finance Minister proposed to extend the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana up to March 2020 under which an assured return of 8% is given by Life Insurance Corporation of India. The existing limit on investment of Rs. 7.5 lakh per senior citizen under this scheme is also being enhanced to Rs. 15 lakh.

PIB

Amendments in the income-tax act proposed to notify a new scheme for assessment in electronic mode

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

01-February-2018 13:20 IST

Amendments in the income-tax act proposed to notify a new scheme for assessment in electronic mode.

E-assessment to be rolled-out across the country to transform age-old assessment procedure

In the General Budget 2018-19 presented in Parliament today, the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley proposed to amend the Income-tax Act to notify a new scheme for assessment. Shri Jaitley said the assessment will be done in electronic mode which will almost eliminate person to person contact leading to greater efficiency and transparency. The Finance Minister added that the e-assessment system was introduced in 2016 on a pilot basis. In 2017, it was extended to 102 cities with the objective of reducing the interface between the department and the taxpayers. "With the experience gained so far, we are now ready to roll out the E-assessment across the country, which will transform the age-old assessment procedure of the income tax department and the manner in which they interact with taxpayers and other stakeholders" Shri Jaitley said.

Creating job opportunities employment generation during last three years

Creating job opportunities employment generation during last three years.

Creating job opportunities and facilitating generation of employment has been at the core of our policy-making. During the last three years, we have taken a number of steps to boost employment generation in the country. These measures include:-

• Contribution of 8.33% of Employee Provident Fund (EPF) for new employees by the Government for three years.
• Contribution of 12% to EPF for new employees for three years by the Government in sectors employing large number of people like textile, leather and footwear.
• Additional deduction to the employees of 30% of the wages paid for new employees under the Income Tax Act.
• Launch of National Apprenticeship Scheme with stipend support and sharing of the cost of basic training by the Government to give training to 50 lakh youth by 2020.
• Introducing system of fixed term employment for apparel and footwear sector.
• Increasing paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, along with provision of creches.

Grant of financial up gradation under MACPS to SSE-Drawing (formerly Diploma Holder Tracers) appointed against DR quota vacancies as Assistant Draftsman

Grant of financial up gradation under MACPS to SSE-Drawing (formerly Diploma Holder Tracers) appointed against DR quota vacancies as Assistant Draftsman

No. IV/MACPS/09/Pt.II

Dated: 29/01/2018

The Secretary (E)
Railway Board
New Delhi

Dear Sir
Sub: Grant of financial up gradation under MACPS to SSE-Drawing (formerly Diploma Holder Tracers) appointed against DR quota vacancies as Assistant Draftsman-reg.
Ref:
(i) NFIR's PNM item No.15/52015
(ii) NFIR's letter No.IV/MACPS/09/Pt.10 dated 7/11/2016.
(iii) Reply receive vide Board's letter No.PC-V/2015/PNM/NFIR/2 dated 30/05/2017 addressed to GS/NFIR
(iv) NFIR's letter No.IV/MACPS/09/Pt. 10 dated 19/06/2017.
(v) PCPO/S.C.Rly's letter No.SCR/P-HQ/510/EE/GM.PNM/SCRES dated 21/11/2017 addressed to Railway Board.

Through the action taken statement provided to the NFIR during the PNM meeting held with the Railway Board on 13/14.11.2017, the Railway Board desired to have copies of NFIR's letters dated 07/11/2016 & 12/04/2017 for further examination of the matter. Accordingly, the NFIR sends herewith copies of its letters dated 7/11/2016 & 12/04/2017 (with enclosures).

Federation re-iterates that pursuant to the demand raised by our affiliate the SCRF Sangh in the GM/PNM meeting, the PCPO, SCRly vide letter dated 21/11/2017 has sent another letter to the Board seeking clarification. A copy of PCPO/S.C.Rly letter dated 21/11/2017 is also enclosed for ready reference.

NFIR once again reiterates following points and facts for taking decision to concede Federation's demand on S.C.Railay's cases.

NFIR once again reiterates following points and facts for taking decision to concede Federation's demand on S.C.Railway's cases.

The panel of Diploma Holder Tracers to the post Asst. Draftsman against 50% DR qutoa was formed and implemented on 20th Jan, 1984. Para 5.3 of Railway Board's letter No.PC III/84/UPG/19 dated 25/06/1985 is not applicable to the candidates as they were the empanelled Asst.Draftsman in the year 1984 itself (against DR quota). This connection of the Federation can be verified from the letter dated 21/11/2017 sent by the South Central Railway to Railway Board.

The group of ten employees selected against DR quota were placed above in the seniority list to those promoted against restructured posts pursuant to Board's destructing decision.

Federation therefore contents that the SSE/Drawing (Former Diploma Holder Tracers) appointed as Asst Draftsman against DR quota vacancies as per Board's orders have been wrongly denied the benefit of 3rd MACP in GP 4800/-.

NFIR therefore urges upon the Railway Board to review the decision and issue instructions to the Zones etc., for allowing MACP benefit (3rd MACP in GP 4800) to the Diploma Holder Tracers appointed as Asst Draftsman aganist 50% DR qutoa vacancies, duly treating their entry as "appointment".  A copy of the instructions issued may be endrosed to the Federation.

DA/As above

Yours faithfully,
S/d,
(Dr M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR