Option for Fixation of Pay on Promotion from the Date of Next Increment - MoD Orders dt.22.3.2018

Option for Fixation of Pay on Promotion from the Date of Next Increment - MoD Orders dt.22.3.2018

Availability of option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in the lower post and method of fixation of pay from DNI, if opted for, in respect of Army Pay Rules 2017, Air Force Pay Rules 2017 and Navy Pay Regulations 2017 in respect of Officers and JCOs/ORequivalent

No.1(20)/2017/D(Pay/Services)

Ministry of Defence

D (Pay/Services)

Sena Bhawan, New Delhi

Dated 22nd, March 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Availability of option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in the lower post and method of fixation of pay from DNI, if opted for, in respect of Army Pay Rules 2017, Air Force Pay Rules 2017 and Navy Pay Regulations 2017 in respect of Officers and JCOs/OR equivalent.

Reference is invited to Special Army Instructions (SAI-2008), Special Air Force Instructions (SAFI-2008), Special Navy Instructions (SNI-2008) dated 11.10.2008 and Army Pay Rules 2017, Air Force Pay Rules 2017 and Navy Pay Regulations 2017 dated 3.5.2017 in respect of Officers and JCOs/OR equivalent.

2. In 6th CPC regime pay fixation on promotion in respect of Defence Services Personnel was governed by provisions contained in SAI-2008, SAFI-2008 and SNI-2008. These provisions regulates pay fixation on promotion, wherein an Officer has an option to get his pay fixed in the higher post either from the date of his promotion or from the date of next increment. Similarly, consequent upon implementation of ih CPC, the pay fixation on promotion from the date of promotion is regulated by Rule 12 of the Army Pay Rules 2017, Air Force Pay Rules 2017 and Navy Pay Regulations 2017 dated 3.5.2017 in respect of Officers and JCOs/OR equivalent. This methodology of fixation of pay on promotion to a post carrying duties and responsibilities of greater importance, of a Defence Services Personnel in case he opts for pay fixation from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) has been considered in this Department.

3. After due consideration in this matter, the following is decided as follows:

(i) A Defence Personnel, who is promoted or upgraded from one rank to another, subject to the fulfilment of the eligibility conditions as prescribed in the relevant Recruitment Rules, to another post carrying duties or responsibilities of greater importance than those attaching to the post held by him/her. Such, Defence Personnel may opt to have his/her pay fixed from the Date of his/her
Next Increment (either 1st July or 1st January, as the case may be) accruing in the Level of the post from which he/she is promoted, except in cases of appointment on deputation basis to an ex-cadre post or on direct recruitment basis or appointment/promotion on ad-hoc basis, as applicable in the Defence Services.

(ii) In case, consequent upon his/her promotion, the Defence Personnel opts to have his/her pay fixed from the date of his/her next increment (either 1st July or 1st January, as the case may be) in the Level of the post from which Defence Personnel is promoted, then, from the date of promotion till his/her  DNI, the Defence Personnel shall be placed at the next higher cell in the level of the post to which he/she is promoted.

Illustration:

1.	Level in the revised pay structure: Level 4		Pay Band	5200 - 20200
2.	Basic Pay in the revised structure: 29600		Grade pay	2000	2400	2800
3.	Granted promotion in Level 5.		Levels	3	4	5
			1	21700	25500	29200
			2	22400	26300	30100
4.	Pay in the upgraded Level i.e., Level 5: 31000 (next higher to 29600 in Level 5)		3	23100	27100	31000
			4	23800	27900	31900
			5	24500	28700	32900
5.	Pay from the date of promotion till DNI: 30100		6	25200	29600	33900
			7	26200	30500	34900
			8	26800	31400	35900
			9	27600	32300	37000
			10	28400	33300	38100

(iii) Subsequently, on DNI in the level of the post to which Defence Personnel is promoted, his/her Pay will be re-fixed and two increments (one accrued on account of annual increment and the second accrued on account of promotion) may be granted in the Level from which the Defence Personnel is promoted and he/she shall be placed, at a Cell equal to the figure so arrived, in the Level of the post to which he/she is promoted; and if no such Cell is available in the Level to which he/she is promoted, he/she shall be placed at the next higher Cell in that Level.

1.	Level in the revised pay structure: Level 4		Pay Band	5200 – 20200
2.	Basic Pay in the revised structure: 29600		Grade pay	2000	2400	2800
3.	Granted promotion in Level 5.		Levels	3	4	5
			1	21700	25500	29200
			2	22400	26300	30100
4.	Pay from the date of Promotion till DNI: 31000		3	23100	27100	31000
			4	23800	27900	31900
			5	24500	28700	32900
5.	Re-Fixation on DNI: Pay after giving two increment in Level 4: 31400		6	25200	29600	33900
			7	26200	30500	34900
			8	26800	31400	35900
			9	27600	32300	37000
6.	Pay in the Upgraded Level i.e., Level 5: 31900 (either equal to or next higher to 31400 in Level 5)		10	28400	33300	38100

Illustration:
(iv) In such cases where Defence Personnel opts to have his/her pay fixed from the date of his/her next increment in the Level of the post from which he/she is promoted, the next increment as well as Date of Next Increment (DNI) will be regulated accordingly.

4. It is further reiterated that in order to enable the officials to exercise the option within the time limit prescribed, the option clause for pay fixation on promotion with effect from date of promotion/ON I shall invariably be incorporated in the promotion/appointment order, as per applicability, so that there are no cases of delay in exercising the options due to administrative lapse.
5. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance vide their 1D No. 4-23/2017-IC/E.III (A) dated 22.3.2018.

sd/-

(Prashant Rastogi)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: https://mod.gov.in/

The Government of India issues clarification regarding requirement for furnishing of Country-by Country Report under Section 286(4) of Income Tax Act, 1961

Ministry of Finance

The Government of India issues clarification regarding requirement for furnishing of Country-by Country Report under Section 286(4) of Income Tax Act, 1961

26 MAR 2018

In keeping with India's commitment to implement the Recommendations of the 2015 Final Report on Action 13, titled “Transfer Pricing Documentation and Country-by-Country Reporting, identified under the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project, Section 286 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’) was inserted vide Finance Act, 2016, which provides for furnishing of a Country-by-Country (CbC) Report in respect of an International Group.

The CbC Report is to be furnished by the ultimate parent entity of an International Group in the country or territory of its residence. As specified under sub- section (2) of Section 286, the said Report is to be furnished on or before the due date specified under Section 139(1) of the Act for furnishing of return of income for the relevant accounting year. The date for furnishing of CbC Report under sub-section (2) of Section 286 for FY 2016-17 was subsequently extended to 31stMarch, 2018 vide CBDT Circular No. 26 of 2017 dated 25th October, 2017.

Sub-section (4) of Section 286 specifies situations in which the said report shall be furnished in India by the constituent entity of an international group, resident in India, namely, those in which there is failure to obtain CbC Report on account of the parent entity being resident of a country or territory with which India does not have an agreement providing for exchange of CbC reports or where there has been a systemic failure of the country or territory and the same has been intimated to such constituent entity.

It has been brought to the notice of the Government that Constituent Entities of International Groups, resident in India, have apprehensions that the due date of furnishing of CbC Report under sub-section (4) of Section 286 is also 31st of March, 2018.

In order to allay the aforesaid apprehensions, it is hereby clarified that the due date of 31st March, 2018 applies for furnishing of CbC Report under sub-section (2) of Section 286 only and not under sub-section (4) of the said Section.

It is further stated that the Finance Bill, 2018 (as passed by the Lok Sabha) has proposed that the due date for furnishing of CbC Report under sub-section (4) of Section 286 shall be as prescribed. Accordingly, the time for furnishing of CbC Report under sub-section (4) of Section 286 of the Act is proposed to be prescribed after the enactment of Finance Bill, 2018.

PIB

Details of Holiday Home/Touring Officers Hostels/Guest House

Details of Holiday Home/Touring Officers Hostels/Guest House

(location/State-wise & capacity)

 

State & No. of Holiday Homes/Touring Officer's Hostels/Guest Houses	Holiday homes (HH)/Touring officers' hostel (TOH)	Location & Address	Capacity (total Rooms	Whether under online booking or not
Uttar Pradesh	HH	Sikandra, Agra	14	Yes
	TOH	Kar-Kunj Agra	4	No
	TOH	Sanjay Place, Agra	3	Yes
	TOH	Mahatma Gandhi Marg Allahabad	4	Yes
	HH	Sector-K, Aliganj, Lucknow	22	Yes
	TOH	Deen Dayal Puram,Bareilly	4	Yes
	TOH	Chandmari, Lamhi, Varanasi	4	Yes
Rajasthan	HH	Agra Gate, Ajmer	42	Yes
	HH	Vidhyadhar Nagar Jaipur	46	Yes
	HH	Bera Road ,Jaisalmer	13	Yes
	TOH	West Patel Nagar, Circuit House Road,Jodhpur	4	Yes
	TOH	Delwara Road,Distt. Sirohi, Mount Abu	4	Yes
	HH	Sector — 14, near C.A. Circle, Udaipur	15	Yes
Goa	HH	Bambolim, Panji Road, Goa	13	Yes
	TOH	Panaji-Madgaon Road Goa	8	Yes
Punjab	TOH	Ram Tirath Nagar,Amritsar	2	No
	TOH	Madhopur	4	Yes
	TOH	Sector 7B Chandigarh	20	Yes
Tamilnadu	HH	Koodalpudur, Anaiyur (PO) Madurai	20	Yes
	HH	Kovalam Road Kanyakumari	22	Yes
	HH	Udagamandalam, Nilgiris Ooty	25	Yes
Madras	TOH	Shashtri Bhawan, Chennai	10	Yes
	TOH	Rajaji Bhawan,Chennai	20	Yes
Karnataka	HH	T. Narasipur Road, Sidhartha Nagar Mysore	44	Yes
Andhra Pradesh	TOH	Domlur,Bangalore	2	No
	TOH	Koramangala, Bangalore	39	Yes
	HH	IS Mahal Road, Nehru Nagar, Tirupati	54	Yes
	TOH	Autonagar , Vijayawada	6	Yes
Telangana	TOH	Koti Nirman Bhawan , Hyderabad	8	Yes
	TOH	Kawadi Guda , Hyderabad	7	Yes
Uttrakhand	HH	Southwood Cottage, ITBP Campus Mussoorie	5	Yes
	TOH	Landaur Bazar , Mussoorie	4	No
	HH	Khurpatal Nainital	13	Yes
	TOH	Subhash Chowk, (Near Clock Tower-Paltan Bazar), Dehradun	12	Yes
Himachal Pradesh	HH	Mall Road, Grand Hotel, Shimla	120	Yes
	TOH	ITBP Camp, Baweli Kullu	3	No
Andaman & Nicobar	HH	Ranchi Basti, Lamba Line Portblair	15	Yes
Kerala	TOH	Pulleppady, Kathrikkadavu Cochin	21	Yes
	TOH	Poonkulam Vellyani , Trivendrum	9	Yes
	TOH	Dutt Saw Mill Road, Kallai (PO), Kozhikode Calicut	5	Yes
Delhi	HH	West Kidwai Nagar, Delhi	20	Yes
	TOH	Curzon Road, Delhi	47	Yes
	TOH	Aliganj, Delhi	20	No
	TOH	HUDCO Place, Delhi	10	Yes
	TOH	Asia House, Delhi	30	Yes
Guj rat	TOH	Sector - 6/D, Near Civil Hospital,Gandhi Nagar	5	Yes
	TOH	Sector - 6/D, Near Civil Hospital,Gandhi Nagar	6	Yes
Sikkim	HH	(Near Zero Point and Vajra Cinema Hall) , Gangtok	15	Yes
	TOH	Near Zero Point, Gangtok	8	No
Assam	TOH	Narangi Road Guwahati (Main Building)	7	Yes
	TOH	Narangi Road Guwahati (Hostel Block)	4	Yes
Meghalaya	TOH	Dhankheti, CPWD, Office Residential Complex	6	Yes
		Shillong
Madhya Pradesh	TOH	City Centre, Gwalior	2	No
	HH	Near Nain Narmada Temple, Amarkantak	70	No
		(at the disposal of MPTDC on lease basis)
	TOH	Daskhina Maidan Neemuch	2	No
J&K	TOH	Satwari Gantt, Jammu	10	Yes
	TOH	Dhar Road,Udhampur	2	No
West Bengal	TOH	Acharya J.C. Bose Road Kolkata	56	Yes
	TOH	Nirman Bhawan,	4	Yes
		Matigara,Siliguri
Maharashtra	TOH	Church Gate Mumbai	11	Yes
	TOH	Hyderabad Estates, Mumbai	36	Yes
	TOH	Antop Hills, Mumbai	5	No
	TOH	Seminary Hills, Bungalow No.3 Nagpur	14	Yes
	TOH	Gandhi Nagar Nasik	4	Yes
	TOH	Mukund Nagar Pune	3	Yes
Bihar	HH	Digha, Patna	28	Yes

Construction Of Holiday Homes

Construction Of Holiday Homes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4107

 TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 20, 2018

CONSTRUCTION OF HOLIDAY HOMES

No. 4107 SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:
DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:
SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:
DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:
SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:
SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:
Will the Minister of State (Independent Charge) HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)the number and details of the holiday homes and touring officers hostels/guest houses in the country along with their capacity, Location/State-wise;

(b)the details of the holiday home and touring officers hostels/guest houses which are covered under online booking, Location and State-wise;

(c)whether the Government proposes to construct more holiday homes for Government employees in various cities in the country;

(d)if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu; and

(e)the steps taken by the Government to provide accommodation facilities to Government officials during their official tour or holiday trip in the cities where holiday homes/guest houses are not available along with the other measures taken by the Government to construct more holiday homes in popular tourist destinations for the Government officials?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

(a)&(b) There are 20 Holiday Homes (HH) and 46 Touring Officers’ Hostels/Guest Houses under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Out of which 19 holiday home and 35 touring officers’ hostels are under online booking. Details of their State-wise location and capacity (including those covered under online booking) is given at Annexure- I.

(c) Yes Madam.

(d)&(e) In principle approval for construction of 19 new holiday homes/touring officers’ hostels/guest houses, including at the places where no holiday home/guest houses are available, has been issued. The details are enclosed at Annexure-II.

Rates of small savings schemes

Rates of small savings schemes

22 Mar,2018

The revised Rates of Interest on various Small Savings Schemes Including Saving Deposits, Public Provident Fund, Kisan Vikas Patra and Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts Scheme for the 4th Quarter of financial year 2017-18 is as below:

Instrument	Rate Of Interest W.E.F. 01.01.2018 To 31.03.2018
Savings Deposit	4.0
1 Year Time Deposit	6.6
2 Year Time Deposit	6.7
3 Year Time Deposit	6.9
5 Year Time Deposit	7.4
5 Year Recurring Deposit	6.9
5 Year Senior Citizen Savings Scheme	8.3
5 Year Monthly Income Account	7.3
5 Year National Savings Certificate	7.6
Public Provident Fund Scheme	7.6
Kisan Vikas Patra	7.3 (will mature in 118 months)
Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme	8.1

This was stated by Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Finance in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Source : PIB

Engagement of workers in Grih Kalyan Kendra New Delhi for gaining work experience

Engagement of workers in Grih Kalyan Kendra New Delhi for gaining work experience.

F.No. 8/08/2016-GKK/110

Grih Kalyan Kendra
A registered Society under the aegis of
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions,
Samaj Sadan, Lodhi Road Complex, New Delhi- 110003.

Subject: Engagement of workers in Grih Kalyan Kendra New Delhi for gaining work experience.

The Grih Kalyan Kendra (GKK) is a registered Society under the Societies Registration Act,1860, functioning under the aegis of Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India. The GKK runs various welfare activities for the benefit of Central Government employees and their dependents.

2. The main objective of the Kendra is to help the needy Central Government employees belonging to lower income groups, who are in genuine financial and psychological need of temporary rehabilitation, by giving them training and experience which would enable them to supplement their domestic income and help them to acquire skill and experience for seeking better avenues of employment elsewhere.

3. They are paid only honorarium and are not entitled to any service benefits. It is expected only to be a stepping stone and training ground for more needy dependants of Central Government employees, but not to give them any regular employment.

4. It is proposed to engage workers for the following posts in Grih Kalyan Kendra at New Delhi from the dependents of Central Government employees / retired Govt. employees having the requisite qualifications etc as given below:-

S.No	Post	Age	Qualification	Honorarium (per month)
1.	Personal Assistant	Not exceeding 35 years on the last date of receipt of applications (relaxable, up to 5 years In the case of candidates possessing higher qualifications/ experience)	Graduate from recognized university or equivalent.Desirable: (i) Should have good command overwritten and spoken English language and good communication skill. (ii) Should have knowledge of Shorthand and good Typing speed in English. And (iii) Should have good knowledge of computer operations.	Rs.12000/- (Consolidated)
2.	Zonal Assistant	Not exceeding 35 years on the last date of receipt of applications (relaxable up to 5 years in the case of candidates possessing higher qualifications! experience) In the case of retired officers age should not be more than 62 years on the last date of receipt of application.	(i) Bachelors Degree of a recognized university or equivalent. (ii) Knowledge of Administration, Establishment and Account matters and Govt. of India Rules and Regulations. Desirable: Working knowledge of computer operation and accountancy.	Rs.12000/- (Consolidated)
3.	Gym Instructor	Not exceeding 30 years on the last date of receipt of applications (relaxable up to 5 years In the case of candidates possessing higher qualifications/ experience)	Bachelors Degree of a recognized university. Desirable: Should have experience of 3 years in a recognized Club / Institute / Organisation.	Rs. 9360/- (Consolidated)
4.	Day Care Attendant (Creche)	Not exceeding 45 years on the last date of receipt of applications (relax able up to 5 years) in the case of candidates possessing higher qualification / experience.	8th passed preference will be given to candidates having past experience In similar work.	Rs. 4800/- (Consolidated)
5.	Nursery Attendant	Not exceeding 45 years on the last date of receipt of applications (relax able up to 5 years) in the case of candidates possessing higher qualification / experience.	8th passed preference will be given to candidates having past experience In similar work.	Rs. 3200/- (Consolidated)
6.	Day Care Teacher (Creche)	Not exceeding 45 years on the last date of receipt of applications (relax able up to 5 years) in the case of candidates possessing higher qualification / experience.	Senior Secondary (10+2) from a recognized Board / University.Desirable: (i) Passed Diploma in Child Care & Development from a recognised Institution (ii) Work experience of one year in some other recognised organization / Institution.	Rs.7200/ (Consolidated)
7.	Booking Clerk	Not exceeding 35 years on the last date of receipt of applications (relaxable up to 5 years III the case of candidates possessing candidates possessing experience)	Senior Secondary (10+2) from a recognized Board / University.Desirable: (i) Should have command over spoken and written English (ii) Should have good communication skill and pleasing personality. (iii) Working knowledge of computer operations.	Rs.9360/- (Consolidated)
8.	Cashier	Not exceeding 35 years on the last date of receipt of applications (relaxable up to 5 years III the case o candidates possessing higher qualifications / experience) In the case of retired officers age should not be more than 62 years on the last date of receipt of application.	Graduate from recognized university or equivalent. Desirable: (i) Preference shall be given to candidates possessing higher educational qualifications / experience. (ii) Knowledge of double entry system of accounting on computers. (iii) Experience handling Cash in an Organization.	Rs.12000/- (Consolidated)

Documents required to be submitted for the above mentioned posts:
(i) Attested copy of CGHS Card or; any other valid proof of dependency, if CGHS Card is not available.
(ii) Latest Salary Slip, if dependent of a Central Government employee.
(iii) Photocopies of Certificates regarding Date of Birth, qualifications and experience.
(iv) Residence proof.

5. The workers in GKK are engaged initially for a period of one year. However, the engagement may be extended by the Competent Authority up to a maximum period of five years on year to year basis, subject to satisfactory performance and requirement for continuation of the post. The persons so engaged shall be paid a fixed monthly honorarium as mentioned above or as decided by the GKK Board from time to time.

6. It is requested that wide publicity may kindly be given to this circular amongst the Central Govt employees working in the Ministry / Department including attached and subordinate offices, who may apply as per the enclosed format for the post for which they are eligible. The completed applications along with required documents may be forwarded to Secretary, Grih Kalyan Kendra, Samaj Sadan, Lodhi Road Complex, New Delhi- 110003 within a period of 30 days from the date of issue of this Circular. Applications completed in all respects, shall only be considered. Applications received after the due date and without supporting documents will not be considered.

Source: DoPT

Railway: Relaxation of 3 years above the prescribed upper age limit in open market recruitment to all non-gazetted posts (RBE No. 25/2018)

Railway: Relaxation of 3 years above the prescribed upper age limit in open market recruitment to all non-gazetted posts (RBE No. 25/2018)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR)

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAYA)

(RAILWAY BOARD)

RBE No. 25/2018

No. E(NG)-II/94/RR-1/29/Pt. (3246807)

New Delhi, dated: 21/02/2018

The General Manager (P),
All Zonal Railways/Production Units
Chairman/Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs);
Chairman/Railway Recruitment Cells (RRCs).
(As per standard mailing list)

Sub: Upper age limit for direct recruitment to non-gazetted posts on the Railways.

Attention is invited to this Ministry's instructions issued under RBE No. 45/2015 dated 11.05.2015, withdrawing three years relaxation in the prescribed upper age limit for direct recruitment to all non- gazetted posts.

The matter has since been reviewed and it has now been decided by this Ministry to provide a relaxation of three years above the prescribed upper age limit in open market recruitment to all non- gazetted posts.

These instructions will be effective from the date of issue of this letter. It will also be applicable on recruitment notification published under Centralized Employment Notice Nos. 01/2018 and 02/2018 issued by Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs).

Please acknowledge receipt.

(Ravi Shekhar)

Jt. Director Estt. (N) - II

Railway Board

Source: Indian Railways

Upper Ceiling on Gratuity 20 Lakhs - Gratuity Bill Passed by Parliament

Upper Ceiling on Gratuity 20 Lakhs - Gratuity Bill Passed by Parliament

Ministry of Labour & Employment

Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed by Parliament

The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been passed by parliament today.The bill ensures harmony amongst employees in the private sector and Public Sector Undertakings/Autonomous Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules. These employees will be entitled to receive higher amount of gratuity at par with their counterparts in Government sector. The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha today and the Lok Sabha on 15 March, 2018.

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or more persons. The main purpose for enacting this Act is to provide social security to workman after retirement, whether retirement is a result of superannuation, or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body. Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and establishments.

The present upper ceiling on gratuity amount under the Act is Rs. 10 Lakh. The provisions for Central Government employees under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 with regard to gratuity are also similar. Before implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, the ceiling under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 was Rs. 10 Lakh. However, with implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, in case of Government servants, the ceiling has been raised to Rs. 20 Lakhs.
Therefore, considering the inflation and wage increase even in case of employees engaged in private sector, this Government decided that the entitlement of gratuity should also be revised in respect of employees who are covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. Accordingly, the Government initiated the process for amendment to Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 to increase the maximum limit of gratuity to such amount as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.
In addition, the Bill also envisages to amend the provisions relating to calculation of continuous service for the purpose of gratuity in case of female employees who are on maternity leave from "twelve weeks" to such period as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.
After enactment of the Act, the power to notify the ceiling of the amount of gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 shall stand delegated to the Central Government so that the limit can be revised from time to time keeping in view the increase in wage and inflation and future pay commissions.

Source: PIB

Adhaar is not mandatory to get pension: Dr Jitendra Singh

Aadhaar is not compulsory to get Pension

Dr. Jitendra Singh chairs 30th meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies

Adhaar is not mandatory to get pension: Dr Jitendra Singh

The Union 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 chaired the 30th meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) here today. The SCOVA meeting is organised by the Department of Pensions & Pensioners' Welfare (DoP&PW), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and the last such meeting was held on January 12, 2017.

During the meeting, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the SCOVA which was first constituted in July, 1986 would be completing 32 years this year. He said this platform has gone a long way in addressing in a focused manner issues related to Pensioners.

He said that today's interaction was very meaningful and stimulating, thus reflecting on the working of DoP&PW. The Minister while assuring the representatives of pensioners’ Associations said that it was no more mandatory to have one's Adhaar Card to get his/her pension.

The Minister said that the Department of Pensions has brought out a series of OMs to benefit the Pensioners/Family Pensioners in the last 12 months including enhancing of minimum pension from Rs.3500/- to Rs.9000/- per month; the ceiling of gratuity has been increased from the existing Rs.10 lakhs to Rs.20 lakhs; the rates of ex-gratia lump sum compensation being paid to the families of employees who die in performance of duty has been increased from existing Rs. 10-15 lakhs to Rs.25-45 lakhs. He also said that divorced daughter will be eligible for family pension if divorce case has been filed before the death of pensioner/family pensioner, even though the judgement has been passed after the death of the pensioner /family pensioner.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that this Government has given relief to the senior citizens and Pensioners in the Budget 2018-19 by allowing Standard Deduction of Rs. 40,000/- per year to the Pensioners and given exemption on tax on account of interest income from bank savings accounts has been increased to Rs. 50,000/ from Rs. 10,000/- per year. Deduction on account of health insurance premium which was earlier allowed at maximum of Rs.30,000/- has now been increased to Rs. 50,000/- in the case of Senior Citizens/Pensioners.

While addressing the meeting he said that we need to put in place an institutionalized mechanism to make good use of the knowledge, experience and efforts of the retired employees which can help in the value addition to the current scenario. Dr.Jitendra Singh said the retired employees are a healthy and productive workforce for India and we need to streamline and channelize their energies in a productive direction. We should learn from the pensioners’ experience, he added. The Minister also said that the DoP&PW should be reoriented in such a way that pensioners become a part of nation building process.

In the meeting, discussions were held on the action taken report of the 29th SCOVA meeting. Further many issues related to pensioners were discussed threadbare, such as revision of PPOs of pre- 2006 pensioners, Health Insurance Scheme for pensioners including those residing in non-CGHS area, Special "Higher" Family Pension for widows of the war disabled invalidated out of service, Extension of CGHS facilities to P&T pensioners, issue relating to CGHS Wellness Centre, Dehradun

etc. The Minister directed for the prompt and time bound redressal of the grievances of the pensioners and said that we should have sympathetic attitude towards them.

The Secretary, DoP&PW, Shri K.V. Eapen and other senior officers of the department were also present on the occasion. The meeting was also attended by the member Pensioners Associations and senior officers of the important Ministries/Departments of Government of India.

PIB

Major Changes in NPS including Withdrwal Norms

Major Changes in NPS including Withdrwal Norms

Three major changes in the National Pension Scheme (NPS) including withdrawal norms

Relaxation of Norms for NPS

The Government of India has recently made three changes in the National Pension Scheme (NPS) including withdrawal norms.

The details are as under:

Partial withdrawal during the service: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), with an objective to  meet the subscriber's sudden financial requirement enrolled under NPS, has liberalized norms for partial withdrawals which also include reduction of requirement of minimum years of being enrolled under NPS from 10 years to 3 years from the date of joining. Suitable amendments were made through "Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2017 and the same has been notified on 10.08.2017.

Increase in the joining age under NPS: With an objective to allow individuals (under NPS-All Citizen Model and Corporate Sector Model) who are in the age bracket between 60 years and 65 years to join NPS system. Suitable amendments were made through Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2017 and the same has been notified on 06.10.2017.

Exit in case of disability and incapacitation of the subscriber: With an objective of facilitating easy exit & withdrawal in case of disability and incapacitation of the subscriber covered under NPS, PFRDA has made suitable amendments through "Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2018 and the same has been notified on 02.02.2018.

This was stated by Shri Ship Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Finance in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB