EPFO Mileage plus conveyance allowance during COVID-19 Lockdown

Incentive use of own transport, following a mileage allowance, may be given to officers and staffs to make critical services from office in compliance with their controlling officers roster/orders

Employees Provident Fund Organisation MES
(Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. Of India)
Head Office

Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan,
14- Bhikaiji Cama Place,
New Delhi- 110066

HRD/1(71)2014/Misc./Pt. II

Subject: Entitlement of Mileage allowance in addition to Conveyance Allowance during COVID-19 Lockdown - regarding.

As you are aware, the services of EPFO have been brought under the essential services in public interest and it calls for skeletal attendance of officers and staff at various offices for carrying out the requisite functions. As public transport is not available during the lockdown declared by Central Government on account of COVID-19. Officers and staff may be required to use their own vehicles for coming to office to perform essential duties. Accordingly, in order to incentive's usage of own conveyance, following mileage allowance may be provided to officers and staff attending office to render essential services from office in accordance with roster/orders of their controlling officers.

• Mileage allowance will be admissible for Two / Four-wheeler vehicles used and at the corresponding rates (as being used to regulate TA bills) specified by competent Government Authorities where office is located.
• Distance will be counted by shortest route in accordance with Google Maps from office to declared place of residence as per service book of concerned officials multiplied by 2.
• Officials will give only one consolidated self-certified bill for claiming above Mileage allowance within 30 days of lifting of lockdown orders by Government of India.
• Officials using staff car or car hired by office wouldn’t be entitled tor above Mileage Allowance.
• Above mileage allowance will be admissible in addition to Transport Allowance payable under FR&SR.
• Authorities empowered to pass TA Bills as per delegation of financial powers will be competent to pass above bills.

[This issues with the approval of CPFC]

Also check: 7th CPC List of allowances along with modifications as approved by the Government of India: Appendix I of Gazette Notification

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-
(Naveen Juneja)
Regional PF Commissioner (HRD)

Regularization of employee absence due to lockdown w.e.f 25 March 2020

Regularization of employee absence due to lockdown w.e.f 25 March 2020

Officers / Staffs who have not been able to resume duties following the completion of the approved leave period due to the suspension of Train Road Communication during the lockout period shall be treated as Special Casual Leave.

EAST COAST RAILWAY
Office of the Principal Chief Personnel Officer
Rail Sadan, Mad Floor, Bhubancswar-781017

No. ECoR/ Pers/ COVID-19 /Bills

Date: 07.04.2020

All PHODsCHODs
DRM/ECoR- SBP/AVAT/KUR
CAO 'Con/ BBS, CWM'CRW/MCS
All Concerned
East Coast Railway

Sub: Regularization of absence period of officers / staff due to lockdown w.e.f. 25.03.2020.

In view of complete lockdown of 21 days announced by Govt. of India, effective all over India w.e.f. 25.03.2020 on account of spread of pandemic COVID-19, a number of officers / staff of this Railway who proceeded on sanctioned leave/ HQ leave/ Duty may not have been able to return to their respective place of duty owing to interruption of train service and road communication etc.

1. Therefore. in terms of Para 7.9 of Master Circular No. 10 of Railway Board, following instructions are issued for guidance:

TYPES OF LEAVE ADMISSIBLE: Leave Rules - CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972

• Officers staff who could not assume duty after completion of sanctioned leave period, due to suspension of Train Road Communication during the lockdown period, their over-stay is to be treated as Special Casual Leave. Similarly,in case of staff who were on HQ Leave permission as on 25.03.2020, their absence from HQ during lockdown period may be treated as Special Casual Leave.
• Staff who proceeded on duty prior ta 25.3.2020 bur could not return to their respective HQs, due to suspension of Train Road communication during the lockdown period, such forced halts period to be treated as on-duty.

2. Officer Staff who arc above 50 years of age and having underlying conditions i.e. Diabetes, Respiratory problem, Renal Diseases and other life-threatening illness may be granted Commuted leave without insisting on RMC for a period up to 4th April vide Railway Board’s Lr.No. E(P&ADI- 2020 /CPC/LE-3 dated 23.03.2020.

3. Officer staff who have been advised for quarantine by the competent authority, their salary may be drawn for the period. However, regularization of the said period will be decided later in due course.

4. Keeping in view the present scenario, the following guidelines / instructions are to be followed by all Bill compiling officers / staff of this Railway :

Check this : 7th Pay Commission Leave Rules

• Salary / Stipend for April. 2020 may be drawn for off existing regular Employees / Apprentices Trainees irrespective of their presence / absence on duty during the lockdown period, except those who are unouthorisedly absent from their duties since long (unauthorized absence prior to 25.03.2020). Over-payment found, if any, will be adjusted in the regular salary of May. 2020 or later.
• List of such employees who were on sanctioned leaves/ on duty/ home quarantined / under Quarantine should be prepared by respective Bill sections Unit in charges and should be sent through the Master Roll and also brought to the notice of respective controlling officers.

This order is provisional and subject to further order guidelines of Railway Board that may be issued in this regard.

This has approval of PCPO.

(R.N.A. Parida)
Chairman / RRC-cum- Dy. CPO/ IR&W
For Principal Chief Personnel Officer

Central Government Holiday on 14th April 2020 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's birthday

Latest DoPT Orders 2020

Central Government Holiday on 14.04.2020 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's birthday

F.No. 12/4/2020-JCA2
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance & Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
Establishment (JCA-2)Section

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 08th April, 2020.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Declaration of Holiday on 14thApril, 2020 - Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

It has been decided to declare Tuesday, the 14thApril, 2020, as a Closed Holiday on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar, for all Central Government offices, including Industrial Establishment throughout India.

Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2020

2. The above holiday is also being notified in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881).

3. All Ministries / Departments of Government of India may bring the above decision to the notice of all concerned.

(A. Bhattacharya)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

Download PDF

Extension of tenure of all the officers appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme or through CSB procedure

Latest DoPT Orders 2020

Extension of tenure of all the officers appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme or through CSB procedure

IMMEDIATE

No 36/3/2020-E0(SM-I)
Government of India
Secretariat of the
Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

New Delhi
Dated, the 7th April, 2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Extension of tenure of all the officers working as Deputy Secretary / Director/ Joint Secretary or at equivalent level who have been appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme or through CSB procedure - regarding.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of tenure (except on completion of tenure / extended tenure on superannuation) of all the officers working as Deputy Secretary / Director / Joint Secretary or at equivalent level (appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme CSS or through CSB procedure) and completing their regular extended tenure between the period from 25.03.2020 to 30.04.2020 for a period up to 30.06.2020, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Also check: AICPIN for the month of February, 2020 - Press Release

(Jagannath Srinivasan)
Director

Source: DoPT

CPSEs - Revision of scales of pay w.e.f. 01.01.2017 - Payment of IDA at revised rates

CPSEs - Revision of scales of pay w.e.f. 01.01.2017 - Payment of IDA at revised rates

F.No. W-02/0039/2017-DPE(WC)-GL-V/20
Government of India
Ministry of Heavy Industry & Public Enterprises
Department of Public Enterprises

Public Enterprises Bhawan
Block 14, CGO Complex,
Lodi Road, New Delhi-1 10003
Dated: 3 April, 2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Board level and below Board level posts including Non-unionised Supervisors in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) - Revision of scales of pay w.e.f. 01.01.2017 - Payment of IDA at revised rates - regarding.

---

The undersigned is directed to refer to the para 7 and Annexure-III (B) of DPE’s OM dated 03.08.2017 wherein the rates of DA payable to the Board level and below Board level executives and non-unionized supervisors of CPSEs have been indicated. The next installment for revision of rates of DA is due from 01.04.2020. Accordingly, the rate of DA payable to the executives and non-untonized supervisors of CPSEs is as follows :-

Also check: AICPIN for the month of January 2020 - Expected DA from July 2020 - Central Government Employees News

(a) Date from which payable: 01.04.2020
(b) Average AICPI (2001=100) for the quarter Dec '2019 - Feb '2020

Dec., 2019 330
Jan., 2020 330
Feb., 2019 328

Average of the quarter 329.33
(c) Link Point - 277.33 (as on 01.01.2017)
(d) Increase over link point - 32 (329.33 minus 277.33)
(e) DA Rate w.e.f. 01.04.2020 - 18.7% [52 /277.33) x 100)

2. The.above rate of DA i.e. 18.7% would be applicable in the case of IDA employees who have been allowed revised pay scales (2017) as per DPE O.Ms. dated 03.08.2017, 04.08.2017 & 07.09.2017.
3. All administrative Ministries / Departments of the Government of India are requested to bring the foregoings to the notice of the CPSEs under their administrative control for necessary action at their end.

(Naresh Kumar)
Under Secretary

To
All administrative Ministries / Departments of the Government of India.
Copy to:

1. The Chief Executives of Central Public Sector Enterprises.
2. Financial Advisers in the Administrative Ministries / Departments.
3. Department of Expenditure, E-I] Branch, North Block, New Delhi.
4. The Comptroller & Auditor General of India, 9 Deen Dayal Upadhayay Marg, New Delhi.
5. NIC, DPE with the request to upload this OM on the DPE website.

(Naresh Kumar)
Under Secretary

Source: dpe.gov.in

Pension claim submission during lock-down of Defence civilian

O/o The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension),
Draupadighat, Allahabad - 211014

Circular No.C- 207

No.G1/C/MISC/Vol-X/Tech
O/o the PCDA(P), Allahabad

Dated: 03/04/2020

To,
……………
……………
(All Head of Department under Min. of Defence)

Sub:- Submission of pension claim during lock-down in respect of Defence civilian

Government of India has declared lock-down as a precautionary measure in view of COVID-19. Some Head of office have expressed their inability in forwarding of pension claim in hard copy due to lockdown. Matter has been considered by the competent authority and it has been decided that till then lockdown, superannuation/retiring pension claim whose date of retirement is on or before 30.04.2020 and all death cases pension claim may also be forwarded as a soft copy i.e. scanned copy to PCDA (Pension) Allahabad email address cda-albd@nic.in. This arrangement is optional for those HOO who are not in position to forward pension claim in hard copy. Subject of email should be "Pension claim- G1/Civil".

2. In view of the above, you are requested to issue suitable instructions (along with copy of this circular) to all the head of the Offices under your administrative control to ensure the submission of pension claim as stated above.

(Navpreet Kaur)
Dy.CDA (P)

AIS Conduct Rules 1968 Proposal to amend Rule 11 by inserting a new-sub Rule 4 - DoPT Order 2020

AIS Conduct Rules 1968 Proposal to amend Rule 11 by inserting a new-sub Rule 4 - DoPT Order 2020

Latest DoPT Orders 2020

F.No.14062/01/2020 - AIS-III
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training

North Block, New Delhi
Dated 31st March, 2020

To,
The Chief Secretaries of States/ UTs

Subject: Counting of the limitation period for diverse purposes under various All India Service/ IAS/ IPS/ IFS Rules and Regulations / instructions made under the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the All India Services Act 1951- reg.

Sir / Madam,
The undersigned is directed to refer to All India Services/ IAS/ IPS / IFS Rules, inter-alia. AIS (DCRB) Rules 1958, AIS (D&A) Rules,1969, AIS(Conduct) Rules,1968, Pay Rules for IAS / IPS/ IFS and Regulations/ Instructions issued there-under, prescribing certain time-limits for specific activities /events relating to procedures under the said Rules / Regulations/Instructions. For instance, in the said Rules/ Regulations / Instructions, time-limits have been prescribed for the following:

Also check: AIS Conduct Rules 1968 Proposal to amend Rule 11 by inserting a new-sub Rule 4

• Validity period of suspension including its con?rmation by Central Government, review of order of suspension and communication of
  suspension to Central Government by State Governments, etc. under Rule 3 of AIS (D&A) Rules 1969
• Submission of written statement of defence. completion of Inquiry and submission of report by the Inquiring Authority under AIS (D&A) Rules 1969
• Submission of representation on advice of UPSC under Rule 9 of AIS (D&A) Rules, 1969
• Period of Limitation for appeal under Rule 17 of AIS (D&A) Rules 1969
• Revision and Review under Rule 24 of AIS (D&A) Rules 1969
• Disciplinary proceedings initiated; against a Pensioner as per Rule 6 of AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958
• Acceptance of notice of VRS under Rule 16 of AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958
• Concurrence of vacancy to state Governments Under Respective Pay Rules of IAS/ IPS/ IFS Scanned with CamScanner
• Intimation of Movable / Immovable Property under Rule 16 of AIS (Conduct) Rules,1968 including other time limits prescribed under ibid rules

( The list is only illustrative and not exhaustive )

2. In view of the pandemic caused by spread of COVID-19 and unprecedented nation-wide lockdown, it may not be feasible to carry out time bound activities/events as mentioned above during the lockdown period and to adhere to the prescribed time-lines under various extant Rules, and/or the Regulations / Instructions issued under these Rules. It has accordingly been decided under the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the All India Services Act 1951. that intervening period of lockdown shall be excluded while reckoning the periods towards completion of activities within the time-limits prescribed for the purpose under various All India Service/ IAS/ IPS/ IFS Rules and/or the regulations / instructions there-under. For instance, if the due date for completing an activity / event at the start of lockdown falls after 20 days, then the due date is proposed to be postponed by the number of lockdown days and further that the same number of 20 days be available to complete the task after the lockdown is lifted.

3. Further, it has also been decided that after the lockdown is lifted, a minimum time of 15 days may be given for completing the activity / event, i.e., if the time left to complete any task is less than 15 days after the lockdown is lifted, then the task may be allowed to be completed within 15 days from the date that the lockdown is lifted.

4. The afore-mentioned relaxations in respect of activities / events covered under various All India Service/ IAS/ IPS/ IFS Rules and Regulations / instructions made there-under are applicable only in such cases where there is an intervening lockdown period; and will not be applicable otherwise. Further, these relaxations shall not be applicable also in cases where, in view of the pandemic caused by spread of COVlD-19, speci?c relaxations in timelines have separately been allowed under the relevant A18 and IAS /IPS /IFS Rules etc.

5. This issues with the approval of competent authority.

(Khushboo Chowdhary)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source: DoPT

Apprentices will continue to get their full stipend during COVID-19 Lockdown

Apprentices will continue to get their full stipend during COVID-19 Lockdown

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

31-March, 2020

"Apprentices will continue to get their full stipend during COVID-19 Lockdown": Dr MahendraNathPandey

• All establishments shall pay full stipend as applicable to the apprentices engaged under both designated and optional trade
• Reimbursement of stipend to establishments under NAPS shall be paid by the Government for the lockdown period as per the NAPS guidelines

As a part of the Government’s commitment to fight the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and fully support the public, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) today notified all the establishments under designated and optional trade to pay full stipend to apprentices engaged with them. Additionally, reimbursement of stipend to establishments under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) shall be paid by the Government for the lockdown period as per the NAPS guidelines.

Apprentices Act, 1961 and the Apprenticeship Rules under it state that if a trade apprentice is unable to complete the period of apprenticeship training due to strike or lockout or layoff in an establishment where he is undergoing training and is not instrumental for the same, the period of his apprenticeship training shall be extended for a period equal to the period of strike or lockout or layoff, as the case maybe, and shall be paid stipend during the period of such strike or lockout or layoff or for a maximum period of six months, whichever is less.

Dr.MahendraNathPandey, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurshipexpressed his views and shared, "This is the time when we all need to come forward and support each other completely. Even our honourable Prime Minister, Shri. NarendraModi appealed to businesses to act with empathy. And with this, we have decided that we will not let the morale of the country’s productive youth to be let down and will support them in every way possible. In view of this, we will ensure that apprentices continue to get their stipend during COVID-19 lockdown. I would also like to state that all the establishments have shown full commitment in this regard and are cooperating with the Government for the smooth delivery of services in a critical time like this."

Apprenticeship has been recognized as an effective way to empower young people to smoothly shift from school and college to work whilst at the same time improving links between industry and training institutions. The National Apprenticeship Programme plays a large part in the task of up-skilling India’s workforce, offering the opportunity to share costs among different parties (employers, individuals and the government) and to involve governments, employers and workers in partnership. Apprenticeship is a win-win situation both for industry and youth in coming together to help make the vision of ‘Skilled India’ a reality in future

Source: PIB

Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes 2020

Interest rates for various Small Savings Schemes for the first quarter of the 2020-21 financial year from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020

F.No.1/4/2019-NS
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Economic Affairs
(Budget Division)

North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 31.03.2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes - reg.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 9(1) of the Government Saving Promotion General Rules 2018, the rates of interest on various Small Savings Schemes for the first quarter of financial year 2020-21 starting from 1st April, 2020 and ending on 30th June 2020 have been revised as indicated below:

Instruments	Rate of interest from 01.01.2020 to 31.03.2020	Rate of interest from 01.04.2020 to 30.06.2020	Compounding frequency *
Savings Deposit	4.0	4.0	Annually
1 Year Time Deposit	6.9	5.5	Quarterly
2 Year Time Deposit	6.9	5.5	Quarterly
3 Year Time Deposit	6.9	5.5	Quarterly
5 Year Time Deposit	7.7	6.7	Quarterly
5 Year Recurring Deposit	7.2	5.8	Quarterly
Senior Citizen Savings Scheme	8.6	7.4	Quarterly and paid
Monthly Income Account	7.6	6.6	Monthly and paid
National Savings Certificate	7.9	6.8	Annually
Public Provident Fund Scheme	7.9	6.8	Annually
Kisan Vikas Patra	7.6 (will mature in 113 months)	6.9 (will mature in 124 months)	Annually
Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme	8.4	7.6	Annually

Also check: Rate of interest on various National Small Savings Schemes with effect from 1st January 2020


2. This has the approval of Finance Minister.

(Rajesh Panwar)
Dy. Direétor (Budget)

PFRDA pledges to contribute to PM-CARES Fund to help fight COVID-19 outbreak

PFRDA
PFRDA pledges to contribute to PM-CARES Fund to help fight COVID-19 outbreak

01 APR 2020

The pension sector regulator Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has pledged to contribute a part of the employee’s salary to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund, instituted recently under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to assist and provide relief measures to the citizens of the country following the global outbreak of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Alike other Government institutions, industry leaders, celebrities, individuals, PFRDA employees have decided to contribute part of their salary and PFRDA is committed to assist the government in its fight against the pandemic in India.

Shri Supratim Bandyopadhyay, Chairman PFRDA said “This is one of the most challenging period that our country is facing today. At this moment what matters most is sharing the responsibility of fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) in every way possible. The PFRDA is perceptive of the implications of this pandemic situation and would like to contribute towards the fight of this crisis”.

About PFRDA

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is the statutory Authority established by an enactment of the Parliament, to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the National Pension System (NPS) and pension schemes to which this Act applies. NPS was initially notified for central government employees joining service on or after 1st Jan 2004 and subsequently adopted by almost all State Governments for its employees. NPS was extended to all Indian citizens (resident/non-resident/overseas) on a voluntary basis and to corporates for its employees.

As on 31st March 2020, the total number of subscribers under NPS and Atal Pension Yojana has crossed 3.45 crores and the Asset under Management (AUM) has grown to Rs 4,17,478 crores. More than 68 lakhs government employees have been enrolled under NPS and 22 lakhs subscribers have subscribed to NPS in the private sector with 7,568 entities registered as corporates. More than 2.11 crores subscribers are presently covered under the GoI guaranteed pension scheme - Atal Pension Yojana.

PIB