ACP (Assured Career Progression) Clarification will be expected after 2nd April 2009..!

The Government has ordered three financial upgradations under the ACP Scheme for CG Employees. It has accepted the recommendation of the 6th Pay Commission for granting only the next Grade Pay for such financial up gradation. The up gradation to next pay scale with higher Grade Pay will be available on completion of 10, 20 and 30 years of completion of service. This Scheme will ensure 3 financial upgradations in the entire career for those who could not get their regular promotion.



It is unfortunate that the much awaited modified “Assured Career Progression” for Central Government Employees has not yet announced. In every Departmental JCM meetings, decisions regarding this were in-conclusive till now.


Some informations received says that the government orders regarding the ACP was sent to DOPT from the Finance Ministry. The DOPT will be issuing the orders regarding this very soon.

As such, the National Executive of the Confederation meeting will be held on 2nd April 2009 in New Delhi. In this meeting, the government will be forced to explain the progress of the ACP Scheme and the result is eagerly awaited by the central government employees.

Govt clears further pay hikes for salary PSU officers

Conceding to the demand from officials of public sector undertakings, the government today announced a further hike of up to 20 per cent in pay packets of about four lakh executives.

The improvement is over and above the pay package notified by the government in November last year, which prompted officers, particularly in the oil sector, to take to the streets.The decision for bettering the pay packages just ahead of the general elections was taken after government took the clearance from the Election Commission.

Asked about the total benefits to the officers and non-unionised supervisory staff after the revision, Home Minister P Chidambaram, who briefed on Cabinet decisions, said it would depend on individual PSUs.Excluding superannuation benefits, on a basic salary of Rs 100 an officer will now draw Rs 370.48 as against Rs 351.12 that was approved last year.

Source: PTI

Grant of DR (Dearness Relief) to Central Government Pensioner / Family Pensioners Revised from 1.1.2009 - DOPT order

No. 42/12/2009 - P&PW (G)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market,
New Delhi, the 27th March, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Grant of dearness relief to Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners –
Revised rate effective from 1-1-2009.


1. The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM No. 42/2/2008 P&PW (G) dated 12th September, 2008 and 25-9-08 sanctioning the installment of Dearness Relief (DR) admissible from 1-7-2008 and to say that the President is pleased to decide that DR shall be paid to the Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners to compensate them for the rise in cost living at the rate of 22% w.e.f. 1-1-2009 in suppression of the rate mentioned in the OM dated 12.9.2008 and 25.9.2008 referred to above.


2. These orders apply to
(i) All Civilian Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners
(ii) The Armed Forces Pensioners, Civilian Pensioners paid out of the Defence Service Estimates,
(iii) All India Service Pensioners
(iv) Railway Pensioners and
(v) The Burma Civilian Pensioners/Family Pensioners and pensioners/families of displaced Government pensioners from Pakistan, who are Indian nationals but receiving pension on behalf of Government of Pakistan, who are in receipt of ad-hoc ex-gartia allowance of Rs. 3500 p.m. in terms of this Department’s OM No. 23/1/97 – P&PW (B) dated 23.2.1998 read with this Department’s OM No. 23/3/2008 P&PW (B) dated 15-9-08.


3. Central Government Employees who had drawn lump sum amount on absorption in a PSU/Autonomous body and have become eligible to restoration of 1/3 rd commuted portion of pension as well as revision of the restored amount in terms of this Department’s OM No. 4/59/97 P&PW (D) dated 14-7-1998 will also be entitled to the payment of DR @ 22% w.e.f. 1.1.2009 on full pension i.e. the revised pension which the absorbed employee would have received on the date of restoration had he not drawn lumpsum payment on absorption and Dearness Pension subject to fulfillment of the conditions laid down in para 5 of the OM dated 14.7.1998. In this connection, instructions contained in this Department’s OM No. 4/29/99 P&PW (D) dated 12-7-2000 refers.


4. The surviving CPF beneficiaries who had retired from service between the period 18-11-1960 to 31.12.1985 and are in receipt of Ex-gratia @ Rs.600 p.m. with effect from 1.11.1997 to Dearness Relief @ 54 % w.e.f. 1.7.2008. and @ 64% w.e.f. 1.1.2009.

Bank customers will be able to withdraw money from any bank ATM for free of charge from April 1 - RBI

Any Bank… Any ATM…!

In a significant development Reserve Bank of India announced on Friday that Bank customers will be able to withdraw money from any bank Automated Teller Machines (ATM) for free of charge from April-1.

Last year on March 10, the RBI had come out with guidelines limiting the fee charged by banks for using their ATMs by clients of other lenders to Rs 20.

It had also allowed the use of ATM for purposes like balance enquiry free of any charge. However, banks will have the freedom to fix the service charge on cash withdrawal using credit cards and from ATMs located overseas.

Some banks are already offering this service free of cost. But because they are having a smaller customer base and the volumes of such transactions are quite low, they might not be shelling out huge interchange charges to other banks. At present, at the higher end, the customer is charged anywhere up to Rs 57 for each withdrawal from a third-party ATM, and up to Rs 20 for the balance inquiries. According to the central bank sources as there is no transparency in these charges, and that they vary from bank to bank is a major restriction for customers to use other banks’ ATMs.

Click to view the notification

BSNL Chief General Manager, D. Varadarajan, handing over netPC to the first customer in Madurai on Saturday

Bharath Sanchar Nigam Limited on Saturday launched Nova netPC, a service giving access to Internet and computing applications, without having to shell out a few thousands on a personal computer (PC).

Launching the service in Tamil Nadu circle here on Saturday, the BSNL Chief General Manager, D. Varadarajan, hoped to penetrate rural areas where cost of personal computers was still prohibitive, preventing people from getting broadband connections.

The service would be offered by Novatium Solutions through BSNL’s broadband. “Instead of spending on the central processing unit for the PC, one can get connected to the Internet and other computing applications through the netPC’s central server using broadband connectivity,” said S. Ganapathyraman, of Novatium. The service, called desktop utility delivery model, would provide maintenance-free computing service.

People need not worry about virus, spyware, software upgradation, privacy and maintenance of their hardware, he said. Of course, they need to pay monthly subscription fee, including broadband subscription, starting at Rs. 274 (plus tax).

On payment of Rs. 2,999 (plus taxes), one can buy a sleek processing unit (with Intel Atom) with keyboard, mouse and modem. One can use it with a computer monitor or a television set. The service comes with a processor of 1.6 Ghz speed with Linux operating system. Windows and Mac operating systems are optional. Media player could be operated offline.
“This is a service at an affordable cost for people who use computers only for browsing and related applications,” said Mr. Varadarajan. BSNL Madurai General Manager, V.K. Sanjeevi and GM (Marketing), S. Gunasekaran, were present.

Issue of Individual Plastic Cards to each CGHS Beneficiary

The last date for submission of completed application forms in the Dispensary is 31st March, 2009...


CGHS vide Circular No. Misc.6024/2007/CGHS(HQ)/CGHS (P) dated 17/12/2007 made it mandatory for each CGHS beneficiary to have Individual Plastic Card in place of Index Card for the family. All existing CGHS Card Holders in Delhi/NCR, who have not applied for Plastic Cards so far, may apply immediately.

CGHS Card holders are requested to apply for individual Plastic Cards in the prescribed application form and the duly filled in application form may be deposited to Chief Medical Officer In-Charge of their respective Dispensaries.

The last date for submission of completed application forms in the Dispensary is 31st March, 2009.


The application form can be downloaded click here

Office Memorandum from Finance Ministry regarding HRA...

No.2(19)/E/II(B)/2008

Ministry of Finance

Deptt. of Expenditure

(E.II.(B) Section)

New Delhi, the 26th March, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: HRA at old duty station for civilian employees of the Central Government serving in the State and Union Territoriesof North Eastern Region including Andaman&Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands.


The undersingned is directed to refer to the O.M. of even number dated 2-01-2009 on the above subject and tosay that para 4 of the said Office Memorandum has been amended to read as under:


FOR

"These orders will be applicable to Central Government employees posted to Ladakh on or after 1.9.2008"

READ

"These orders will be applicable to Central Government employees in Ladhakh as on 01-09-2008 or posted to Ladhak on or after 01-09-2008"
All other terms and conditions of the said Office Memorandum remain unchanged.


(R.Prem Anand)

Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

The Negotiation to start next week and will be continued till agreement is reached - BSNL

General Secretary, BSNLEU, Com. V.A.N. Nambooeiri has discussed with Shri. R.K.Batra, Chairman Wage Negotiation Committee and it is decided to start wage negotiation next week and to continue till the agreement is reached.

The sub-committee on wage revision has visited SAI, GAIL, NTPC Head Quarters in Delhi and stuided the Pay scales, allowances, reirement benefits in these PSUs.

Continue reading

Click to view the wep page...

All Pensioners Associations are advised to send their representations relating to alleged anomalies relating to pension to the National Council (JCM)

Subject:- Setting of Anomaly Committee to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendation.

The undersigned is directed to say that a National Anomaly Committee consisting of representatives of the Official Side and the Staff Side has been set up by the Department of Personnel & Training vide their OM. No. 11/2/2008-JCA dated 4.2.2009 read with OM dated 12.1.2009 to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission’s recommendations.

In accordance with DoPT’s OM dated 12.1.2009, the anomaly will include cases where the Official Side and the Staff Side are of the opinion that any recommendations is in contravention of the principle or the policy enunciated by the Sixth Central Pay Commission itself without the Commission assigning any reason.

The Department of Personnel and Training has informed that the said committee will examine all kinds of anomalies which are covered under the definition of anomaly as given in their OM No. 11/2/2008-JCA dated 12.1.2009. If the staff side and the official side agree that a particular issue related to pensions is covered under the definition of anomaly, the same may also be taken up for discussion in the National Anomaly Committee.

The Department of Personnel and Training’s OM No. 11/2/2008-JCA dated 12.1.2009 provides that the Anomaly Committee shall receive anomalies through Secretary, Staff Side up to six months from the date of its constitution. Accordingly, all Pensioners Associations, etc, are advised to send their representations relating to alleged anomalies in the orders of the Government relating to pension to the Secretary, Staff Side, National Council (JCM), 13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001.

(M.P.Singh)

Director (PP)

Telefax No. 24624802

First working day of the year will be treated to have completed 6 months of service on first of July –Order from Finance Ministry

F.No.1/1/2008-IC

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure
Implementation Cell

***********

New Delhi, dated the 13th March, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Date of next increment in cases where Government servants are not able join posts in a particular grade pay on promotion/appointment on 1st of January of a year due to Sunday or Gazetted Holiday – Clarification regarding.

As per the provisions of Rule 10 of CCS (RP) Rules, 2008, w.e.f. 1.1.2006, in the case of all Central Government employees there is a uniform date of increment, i.e. 1st July of every year.

Government servants completing six months and above in the revised pay structure as on 1st of July are eligible to be granted the increment. From the above provision of CCS (RP) Rules it flows that Government servants who have rendered less than 6 months of service as on 1st of July of a year will not be eligible to draw increment on that day and their date of increment will fall 12 months later on the next 1st of July.

Accordingly, all the Government servants who join posts in a particular grade on account of promotion / appointment etc., on 1st of January of a year will be eligible to draw their annual increment on the 1st of July of that year. However, those who join the posts between 2nd January and 30th June, will not be eligible for the same.

In the light of the above position, some administrative departments have sought clarification from this Department regarding date of next increment in cases where Government servants are not able join posts in a particular grade pay on promotion / appointment on 1st of January of a year due to 1st of January falling on a Sunday or Gazetted holiday.

In this connection, it is clarified that in the normal course, if a Government servant was to join post in a grade pay on appointment / promotion on 1st of January of the year happened to be a Sunday or Gazetted holiday, the Government servants who join posts on the 1st working day of the year will be treated to have completed 6 months of service on 1st of July of that year for the purpose of granting them annual increment on that day.


(ALOK SAXENA)

DIRECTOR

SBI employees to go on indefinite strike from April 3

Banking services at the State Bank of India (SBI) are likely to be disrupted from April 3 onwards as the employees and officers of the largest commercial bank of the country are to proceed on an indefinite strike demanding revision in pension scheme.

“More than two lakh employees and officers of the bank will participate in the strike seeking revision in the pension scheme,” All India State Bank Officers’ Association (AISBOA) general secretary, Shantha Raju said on Tuesday.

He added that All India SBI Staff Federation would also join the strike. Elaborating the demand, Mr Raju said that the pension ceiling at the bank had been kept unchanged at Rs 4,250 based on the salary structure of 1992 salary revision.

“We demand pension amount should be hiked at par with other organisations where they pay pensions amounting to 50% of the last salary drawn,” Mr Raju added

New Pension Scheme (NPS) is extend to all citizens from 1.4.2009. Implementation delay due to election...

New Pension Scheme
(Salient Features)

The New Pension Scheme works on defined contribution basis and will have two tiers – Tier-I and II. Contribution to Tier-I is mandatory for all Government servants joining Government service on or after 1-1-2004 (except the armed forces in the first stage), whereas Tier-II will be optional and at the discretion of Government servants.

In Tier-I, a Government servant will have to make a contribution of 10% of his basic pay plus DA, which will be deducted from his salary bill every month by the PAO concerned. The Government will make an equal matching contribution. However, there will be no contribution from the Government in respect of individuals who are not Government employees.

Tier-I contributions (and the investment returns) will be kept in a non-withdraw able Pension Tier-I Account. Tier-II contributions will be kept in a separate account that will be withdraw able at the option of the Government servant. Government will not make any contribution to Tier-II account.

The existing provisions of Defined Benefit Pension and GPF would not be available to the new recruits in the central Government service, i.e. to the Government servants joining Government service on or after 1-1-2004.

In order to implement the Scheme, there will be a Central Record Keeping Agency (CRA) and several Pension Fund Managers (PFM) to offer three categories of Schemes to Government servants, viz., options A,B and C based on the ratio of investment in fixed income instruments and equities. The participating entities (PFMs and CRA) would give out easily understood information about past performance, so that the individual would be able to make informed choices about which scheme to choose.

An independent Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) will regulate and develop the pension market.

As an interim arrangement, till such time the Statutory PFRDA is set up, an interim PFRDA has been appointed by issuing an executive order by M/o Finance (DEA).

Till the regular Central Record Keeping Agency and Pension Fund Managers are appointed and the accumulated balances under each individual account are transferred to them, such amounts representing the contributions made by the Government servants and the matching contribution made by the Government will be kept in the Public Account of India. This will be purely a temporary arrangement as announced by the Government.

Tier-II will not be made operative during the interim period.

A Government servant can exit at or after the age of 60 years from the Tier-I of the Scheme. At exit, it would be mandatory for him to invest 40 per cent of pension wealth to purchase an annuity (from an IRDA-regulated Life Insurance Company) which will provide for pension for the lifetime of the employee and his dependent parents/spouse. He would receive a lump-sum of the remaining pension wealth which he would be free to utilize in any manner. In the case of Government servants who leave the Scheme before attaining the age of 60, the mandatory annuitization would be 80% of the pension wealth.


Notification issued by PFRDA

Press Release on 17.2.09

Press Release on 19.3.09

Report on Effect of Economic Slowdown on Employment in India (January-2009)

Labour Bureau submitted a report on “Effect of Economics slowdown on Employment in India” during October – December, 2008 to the Ministry of Labour & Employment on 30th January, 2009.

Keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue, the Ministry desired a quick assessment of employment situation in the month of January, 2009 for discussion in the forthcoming session of Indian Labour Conference.


Continue reading…

National Executive of confederation will meet on 1.4.2009 at New Delhi

Notice is given through Confederation of Central Government Employees Website by General Secretary of Mr.K.K.N.Kutty, for a meeting of the National Executive of the Confederation on First April, 2009 at Manishinath Bhawan, A/2/95 Rajouri Garden, New Delhi. 110 027.


The meeting will commence at 02.30 PM. The agenda for the meeting is as under:

(a) To consider the resolution on the task and approach of the Central Government employees at the ensuing general election.

(b) Consideration of the anomaly items to be placed at the National Council.

(c) Any other matter with the permission of the Chair.

D.A. for CG employees and Central Autonomous Bodies w.e.f. 1.1.2009

Dearness Allowance w.e.f. 1.7.2008 in respect of employees of Central Government and Autonomous Bodies who continue to draw their pay and allowances in the pre-revised scales of pay were issued.


The rates of DA admissible to above categories of employees of CG and Central Autonomous bodies shall be enhanced from the existing 54% to 64% w.e.f. 1.1.2009. All other conditions as laid down in the O.M. dated 3rd October, 2008 will continue to apply.


The payment of arrears of DA for the months of January and February, 2009 shall not be made before the date of disbursement of salary of March, 2009.


The contents of this O.M. may also be brought to the notice of the organizations under the administrative control of the Ministries/Departments which have adopted the Central Government scales of pay.

The RTI Act, 2005 given more information regarding Compassionate Appointment

COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENT


Objective:- The objective of the scheme is to grant appointment on compassionate grounds to a dependent family member of a Government Servant dying in harness or who is retired on medical grounds, thereby leaving his family in penury and without any means of livelihood, to relieve the family of the Government Servant concerned from financial destitution and to help it get over the emergency.

Read more... Click the link

STATEMENT SHOWING THE FACILITIES/ BENEFITS GIVEN TO SENIOR CITIZENS BY DIFFERENT MINISTRIES/ DEPARTMENTS

Statement showing the facilities benefits given to senior citizens by different Ministries / Departments Sl. No. Name of the Ministry/Department Facilities/Benefits given to Senior Citizens 1 Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is the nodal Ministry responsible for welfare of the Senior Citizens. It has announced the National Policy on Older Persons which seeks to assure older persons that their concerns are national concerns and they will not live unprotected, ignored and marginalized. The National Policy aims to strengthen their legitimate place in the society and to help older people to live the last phase of their life with purpose, dignity and peace. The National Policy on Older Persons inter alia visualizes support for financial security, health care and nutrition, shelter, emphasis upon education, training and information needs, provision of appropriate concessions, rebates and discounts etc. to Senior Citizens and special attention to protect and strengthen their legal rights such as to safeguard their life and property. The National Policy on Older Persons confers the status of senior citizen to a person who has attained the age of 60 years. The Ministry has also written to all the Ministries/State Governments concerned for adopting a uniform age of 60 years for conferring the status of senior citizen to a person and for extending facilites/concessions to them (copy at Annexure I) The Ministry is also implementing following schemes for the benefit of Senior Citizens: The Scheme of Assistance to Panchayati Raj Institutions/Voluntary Organisations/Self Help Groups for Construction of Old Age Homes/multi-service centres for older persons. Under this Scheme, one time construction grant for old age homes/multi-service centre is provided. An Integrated Programme for Older Persons has been formulated by revising the earlier scheme of “Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for Programmes relating to the Welfare of the Aged”. Under this Scheme, financial assistance upto 90% of the project cost is provided to NGOs for establishing and maintaining old age homes, day care centres, mobile medicare units and to provide non-institutional services to older persons. 2. Ministry of Rural Development Under the National Old Age Pension Scheme, Central Assistance of Rs. 75/- p.m. is granted to destitute older persons above 65 years. This Scheme has been transferred to the State Plan w.e.f. 2002-03. Under the Annapurna Scheme, free food grains (wheat or rice) upto 10 kg. per month are provided to destitute older persons 65 years or above who are otherwise eligible for old age pension but are not receiving it. 3 Ministry of Finance Section 88 of Finance Act, 1992, provides income tax rebate of upto Rs. 15,000 or actual tax whichever is less to senior citizens who have attained the age of 65 years at any time during the relevant previous year. Senior Citizens are excluded from “One by Six” scheme for filing the Income Tax Return under proviso Section 139(1). For Senior Citizen, the deduction in respect of medical insurance premia is upto Rs. 15,000/- under Section 80 D. RBI has permitted higher rates of interest on saving schemes of Senior Citizens (persons having the age of 65 years and above). Accordingly, w.e.f. 15.05.01, Banks permitted 0.5 per cent higher rate of interest on fixed deposits. Separate counters are marked for Senior Citizens at the time of filing the Income Tax Returns. Senior Citizens of the age of 65 year and above as on 31st March of the assessment year, must be a pensioner and should come personally, get priority while submitting their Income Tax Returns. Besides, on the spot assessment facility is also provided. 4 Ministry of Health & Family Welfare The Ministry (on request from the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment) has issued instructions to all State Governments to provide for separate queues for older persons in hospitals for registration and clinical examination. 5 Ministry of Railways Indian Railways provide 30% concession in all classes and trains including Rajdhani/Shatabadi trains for both males and females aged 60 years and above. Indian Railways also have the facility of separate counters for Senior Citizens for purchase/booking/cancellation of tickets. 6 Ministry of Civil Aviation Indian Airlines/Jet Airways is providing 50 per cent discount on basic fare for all domestic flights in Economy Class to senior citizens having the age of 65years (men and women) Sahara India Airlines is providing 50 per cent discount on basic fare for all domestic flights in Economy Class to senior citizens having the age of 62years (men and women) 7 Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Reservation of two seats for senior citizens in front row of the buses of the State Road Transport Undertakings (ASTRU). 8 MCD, Delhi MCD, Delhi, has opened a separate counter for senior citizens for submission of property tax 1 9 Miscellaneous Telephone connection is given on priority to senior citizens of age 65 years and above by the Ministry of Telecommunications. On the request of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India has advised Chief Justices of all High Courts in the country to accord priority to cases involving older persons and ensure their expeditious disposal. BACK

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Death and Disability in service - payment of ex-gratia lumpsum compensation to families of CG employees as per 6th CPC

No.45/7/2008-P&PW (F)

Government of India

Department of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions

Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare

***********

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi - 110 003
Dated 16th March, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Implementation of the Government’s decision on the recommendation of the Sixth CPC- Revision of provisions regulating special benefits in the cases of Death and Disability in service – payment of ex-gratia lumpsum compensation to families of central Govt. employees – modification regarding -


1. The undersigned is directed to say that in implementation of the decisions on the recommendation contained in Para 5.1.45 of the Report of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, the rates of ex gratia in cases of death occurring due to accidents in the course of performance of duty, death attributable to acts of violence by terrorists, anti-social elements etc., death occurring due to enemy action in international war or border skirmishes or action against
militants, terrorists, extremists etc. or death on account of natural disasters, extreme weather conditions while on duty in the specified high altitude, inaccessible border posts, etc., have been revised vide this Department’s

O.M. No.38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 2nd September, 2008.



2. In certain cases, relief is also provided to families of deceased Government servants from sundry Government sources, such as the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, etc. In such cases, it should be ensured that the aggregate of the relief/ex gratia compensation paid from different sources does not exceed Rs. 20 lakhs in each individual case. Para 12 of Annexe to this Department’s OM 45/55/97-P&PW(C) dated 11th September, 1998 will stand modified to this extent.



3. All other terms and conditions in the O.M. dated 11th September, 1998 shall remain unchanged.


4. This issues with the concurrence of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure U.O. No.4.2/39/2009-IC dated 11.2.2009.


5. In so far as persons serving in the Indian Audit & Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

(M.P. Singh)

Director (PP)

Tele: 24624802

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited to introduce pay revision for employees

BSNL to introduce pay revision for employees


Despite a decline in its revenue over the past couple of years, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has decided to introduce pay revision across the board.


Owing to stiff competition from the private players in the telecom sector, BSNL had been recording a decline in its revenue over the last couple of years. During the last fiscal, BSNL had suffered a decline of Rs 2,000 crore in its revenue. The figure is likely to go up in the current fiscal.


Amidst this situation, a hike of nearly 50 percent has been effected for BSNL employees, that too with retrospective effect from January 2007. Highly placed sources in BSNL told ‘Express’ that the additional amount required in view of the implementation of the new pay scale was yet to be worked out. Moreover, 40 percent of the arrears will have to be paid during this month. This payment will also cause huge financial burden to the public sector undertaking at the end of the financial year.


The decision to give huge hike to BSNL employees has raised many an eyebrow. “BSNL employees may wholeheartedly welcome the hike. But in the long run, it will weaken the financial position of the organisation,” said a BSNL official.


Many leading companies are now resorting to cost cut measures such as downsizing and slash in wages owing to the global recession. BSNL giving huge hike to the employees at this point reflects its unprofessional management.


However, BSNL employees point out that a pay revision is being implemented after a decade. They said that the pay revision could be treated only as a genuine one.




Source: Express Buzz

Revision of Scale for BSNL Executives w.e.f. 01.01.2007

Revison of Pay Scales of Pay of Board Level and below Board Level Executives of BSNL w.e.f. 1.1.2007.


The arrear from 1.1.2007 to 28.2.2009 will be paid in two installments like the Central Government Employees, 40% in this financial year 2008-09, and the balance of 60% in financial year of 2009-10.


Click to view the O.M.-1
Click to view the O.M.-2

All-India Kendriya Vidyalaya teachers’ plea for salary arrears

Kendriya Vidyalaya teachers are on the warpath against what they describe as the discriminatory treatment being meted out to them.

N. Sadanandan, regional secretary of the All India Kendriya Vidyalaya Teachers Association, said on Friday that the 45,000 teaching and non-teaching staff of around 1,000 Kendriya Vidyalayas under the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan were yet to get salary arrears.

He said that the Central government employees had received 40 per cent of salary arrears in cash as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission and were about to receive the remaining 60 per cent.

The delay in giving 40 per cent of the salary arrears to teachers was a violation of the Centre’s decision to disburse it this financial year itself.



Source: The Hindu

Payment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government Employees – Revised rates effective from 1.1.2009

Office Memorandum from Finance Ministry...


1. Dearness allowance payable to Central Government Employees shall be enhanced from the existing of 16% to 22% with effect from first January, 2009.


2. The payment of arrears of D.A. for the months of January and February, 2009 shall not be made before the date of disbursement of salary of March, 2009.


Click to view the O.M. from Finance Ministry

A national conference-cum-continuing medical education programme of the Indian Railways

National conference on cancer

A national conference-cum-continuing medical education programme of the Indian Railways Cancer Institute and Research Centre-CRICON 2009- would be held at the Cancer Research Institute, Lahartara, on Saturday.

A national conference-cum-continuing medical education (CME) programme of the
Indian Railways Cancer Institute and Research Centre-CRICON 2009-
Would be held at the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), Lahartara, on Saturday.

Giving details at a press conference on Thursday, medical director, CRI, Varanasi (NER),
Dr TP Srivastava said the one-day programme would focus on creating awareness about
early detection of cancer cases in the region.

The programme would also witness discussions on recent developments and advancements in the treatment of cancer, he added.

Chief specialist, CRI, Dr PK Mishra said there would be as many as six technical
sessions on different aspects of cancer, including radiology and nuclear medicine,
cancer of uterine cervix, breast cancer and oral cancer.

Degree and Diploma holders on par for promotions: Supreme Court

There is nothing unconstitutional if the government treats degree and diploma engineers on par for the purpose of promotion to a higher cadre, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Supreme Court A bench of justices R V Raveendran and Markandeya Katju rejected the argument of the degree holders that such a treatment amounts to violation of Article 14 of the Constitution. The degree holders argued that the Article is violated not only by treating "equals as unequals", but also by treating "unequals as equals."

"It is entirely for the authorities to decide whether the degree holders and diploma holders should be treated at par or not for the purpose of promotion from the post of junior engineer to the post of Assistant Engineer," the bench observed while dismissing the special leave petition(SLP) filed by Dilip Kumar Garg and others.

Garg and the other degree holders had challenged the validity of Rule 5 (ii) of the UP Public Works Department Group-B Civil Engineering Rules 2004. Under the said rule, the State Government dispensed with the earlier provision for diploma engineers to either acquire the requisite technical qualification or pass a qualifying examination for promotion as Assistant Engineers.

The Allahabad High Court upheld the validity of the rule, following which the degree holders appealed in the apex court. In the apex court, Garg and his colleagues took the plea that Article 14 is violated not only by treating "equals as unequals", but also by treating "unequals as equals."

Their argument was that as degree holders they were better qualified for the post of Assistant Engineers than the diploma holders. And by treating the degree and diploma holders on par, the State had violated Article 14. However, the apex court rejected the argument and observed, "In our opinion, merely because in the past they have been treated differently does not mean that they cannot be treated identically subsequently.

"In our opinion Article 14 should not be stretched too far, otherwise it will make the functioning of the administration impossible." According to the bench, it is for the administrators to decide the qualifying conditions for promoting an employee.

"The administrative authorities are in the best position to decide the requisite qualification for promotion from junior engineer to assistant engineer, and it is not for this court to sit over their decision like a court of appeal. "The administrative authorities have experience in administration, and the court must respect this and should not interfere readily with administrative decisions," the bench said.

The bench said courts should not ordinarily interfere in policy decisions unless there is clear violation of some Constitutional provision of the statute. "We find no such violation in this case," the court observed.


Zee News

HOLI GREETINGS...!

WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY & COLOURFUL HOLI

Turnover of central PSUs up 36% in April-Sep

The state-owned companies have performed well during the first half of the current fiscal
recording an impressive increase of about 36 per cent in turnover.

"As per the information received from, Central Public Sector Enterprises, the turnover (during April-September 2008-09) is likely to grow by about 36 per cent over the corresponding period last year," according to the minister of heavy industries and public enterprises, Santosh Mohan Dev.

This is significant as the turnover of the CPSEs during the whole of 2007-08 went up by 12.13 per cent to Rs 10.82 lakh crore (Rs 10.82 trillion).

The 36 per cent increase in turnover recorded by the central PSUs during the first half does not reflect the impact of the global financial meltdown on the performance of the state-owned companies. The impact of the financial crisis, which hit the world in mid-September following collapse of iconic investment banker Lehman Brothers will become manifest during the second half of the fiscal.

Describing the performance of the CPSEs encouraging, Dev in his foreword to the Public Enterprises Survey 2007-08, expressed the confidence that "the CPSEs would continue to play an important role in helping the country to achieve a high growth rate in the years to come".
Noting that oil market companies faced a difficult year on account of spike in crude prices in the international market, Dev said, "The share of OMCs in the total turnover of all CPSEs stood at 54 per cent in 2007-08."

The CPSEs, he added, "served well the macro-economic objectives of low and stable prices, high economic growth and regional development."

The minister further said "some of the shell companies, floated by public sector financial companies/CPSEs have been successful in attracting private sector into the ultra mega power projects with investments in the magnitude of more than Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion)."
The CPSEs, the minister said, are implementing 58 mega (investment of more than Rs 1,000 crore or Rs 10 billion) and 32 major projects (investment between Rs 100 crore or Rs 1 billion and Rs 1,000 crore or Rs 10 billion) in the power sector.

While the number of profit making CPSEs went up from 154 in 2006-07 to 159 companies in 2007-08, the number of loss making state-owned companies declined to 54 from 60 during the same period, he added.

The profits of the central PSUs which are not in the red, he said, increased to Rs 91,062 crore (Rs 910.62 billion) during 2007-08 from Rs 89,578 crore (Rs 895.78 billion) in the previous fiscal. The losses of the central PSUs were up at Rs 11,332 crore (Rs 113.32 billion) during the year as compared to Rs 8,457 crore (Rs 84.57 billion) during 2006-07.

Source: PTI


List of Central Public Sector Enterprises :-


Central Public Sector Enterprises, total number of units 189 as follows...

• AIR INDIA LTD.
  
  
• AIRLINE ALLIED SERVICES LTD.
  
  
• AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
  
  
• ANDREW YULE & COMPANY LTD.
  
  
• ANTRIX CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• ARTIFICIAL LIMBS MFG. CORPN. OF INDIA
  
  
• BALMER LAWRIE & CO. LTD.
  
  
• BBJ CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD.
  
  
• BENGAL CHEMICALS & PHARMACEUTICALS LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT BHARI UDYOG NIGAM LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT COKING COAL LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT DYNAMICS LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT EARTH MOVERS LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT ELECTRONICS LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT HEAVY ELECTRICALS LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT HEAVY PLATE & VESSELS LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT PUMPS & COMPRESSORS LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT REFRACTORIES LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LTD.
  
  
• BHARAT YANTRA NIGAM LTD.
  
  
• BHARATIYA NABHIKIYA VIDYUT NIGAM LTD.
  
  
• BIECCO LAWRIE LTD.
  
  
• BONGAIGAON REFINERY & PETROCHEMICALS LTD.
  
  
• BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY FERTILIZER CORPN.
  
  
• BRAITHWAITE & CO. LTD.
  
  
• BRIDGE & ROOF CO.(INDIA) LTD.
  
  
• BROADCAST ENGG.CONSULTANTS INDIA LTD.
  
  
• BURN STANDARD COMPANY LTD.
  
  
• CEMENT CORPN. OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• CENTRAL COALFIELDS LTD.
  
  
• CENTRAL COTTAGE INDUSTRIES CORPN. OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• CENTRAL ELECTRONICS LTD.
  
  
• CENTRAL INLAND WATER TRANSPORT CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• CENTRAL MINE PLANNING & DESIGN INSTITUTE LTD.
  
  
• CENTRAL WAREHOUSING CORPN.
  
  
• CHENNAI PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• COAL INDIA LTD.
  
  
• COCHIN SHIPYARD LTD.
  
  
• CONTAINER CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• COTTON CORPN. OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• DONYI POLO ASHOK HOTEL LTD.
  
  
• DREDGING CORPN.OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS ( INDIA ) LTD.
  
  
• ELECTRONICS CORPN. OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• ENGINEERING PROJECTS(INDIA) LTD.
  
  
• ENGINEERS INDIA LTD.
  
  
• ENNORE PORT LTD.
  
  
• EXPORT CREDIT GUARANTEE CORPN.OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• FCI ARAVALI GYPSUM & MINERALS(INDIA) LTD.
  
  
• FERRO SCRAP NIGAM LTD.
  
  
• FERTILIZER CORPN. OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• FERTILIZERS & CHEMICALS (TRAVANCORE) LTD.
  
  
• FOOD CORPN. OF INDIA
  
  
• GAIL (INDIA) LTD.
  
  
• GARDEN REACH SHIPBUILDERS & ENGINEERS LTD.
  
  
• GOA SHIPYARD LTD.
  
  
• HANDICRAFTS & HANDLOOMS EXPORTS CORP.INDIA LTD.
  
  
• HEAVY ENGINEERING CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN ANTIBIOTICS LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN CABLES LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN COPPER LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN FLUOROCARBONS LIMITED
  
  
• HINDUSTAN INSECTICIDES LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN LATEX LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN NEWSPRINT LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN ORGANIC CHEMICALS LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN PAPER CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN PHOTO FILMS MANUFACTURING CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN PREFAB LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN SALTS LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN SHIPYARD LTD.
  
  
• HINDUSTAN STEEL WORKS COSTN. LTD.
  
  
• HMT ( INTERNATIONAL ) LTD.
  
  
• HMT BEARINGS LTD.
  
  
• HMT CHINAR WATCHES LTD.
  
  
• HMT LTD.
  
  
• HMT MACHINE TOOLS LTD.
  
  
• HMT WATCHES LTD.
  
  
• HOOGHLY DOCK AND PORT ENGINEERS LTD.
  
  
• HOOGHLY PRINTING COMPANY LTD.
  
  
• HOTEL CORPN. OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• HOUSING & URBAN DEV. CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• HSCC (INDIA) LTD.
  
  
• I T I LTD.
  
  
• I.B.P. CO. LTD.
  
  
• INDIA TOURISM DEV. CORPN.LTD.
  
  
• INDIA TRADE PROMOTION ORGANISATION
  
  
• INDIAN AIRLINES LTD.
  
  
• INDIAN IRON & STEEL CO. LTD.
  
  
• INDIAN MEDICINES PHARMACEUTICAL CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• INDIAN OIL TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
  
  
• INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• INDIAN RARE EARTHS LTD.
  
  
• INDIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVT.AGENCY LTD.
  
  
• INSTRUMENTATION LTD.
  
  
• IRCON INTERNATIONAL LTD.
  
  
• JUTE CORPN. OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• KARNATAKA ANTIBIOTICS & PHARMACEUTICALS LTD.
  
  
• KOCHI REFINERIES LTD.
  
  
• KONKAN RAILWAY CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• KUDREMUKH IRON ORE CO.LTD
  
  
• M M T C LTD.
  
  
• M S T C LTD.
  
  
• MADRAS FERTILIZERS LTD.
  
  
• MAHANADI COALFIELDLS LTD.
  
  
• MAHANAGAR TELEPHONE NIGAM LTD.
  
  
• MAHARASHTRA ELEKTROSMELT LTD.
  
  
• MANGANESE ORE(INDIA) LTD.
  
  
• MAZAGON DOCK LTD.
  
  
• MECON LTD.
  
  
• MILLENNIUM TELECOM LTD.
  
  
• MINERAL EXPLORATION CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• MISHRA DHATU NIGAM LTD.
  
  
• MUMBAI RAILWAY VIKAS CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• NARMADA HYDRO ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL ALUMINIUM COMPANY LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL BACKWARD CLASSES FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT CORP.
  
  
• NATIONAL BLDG. CONSTN. CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL FERTILIZERS LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL FILM DEV. CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL HANDICAPPED FINANCE & DEVPT. CORPN.
  
  
• NATIONAL HANDLOOMS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL HYDROELECTRIC POWER CORPN.LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL MINERAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL MINORITIES DEVELOPMENT & FINANCE CORPORATION
  
  
• NATIONAL PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPN. OF INDIA.
  
  
• NATIONAL SAFAI KARAMCHARIS' FINANCE & DEVPT. CORPN.
  
  
• NATIONAL ST FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
  
  
• NATIONAL SC FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
  
  
• NATIONAL SEEDS CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL SMALL INDUSTRIES CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL TEXTILE CORPN. (Holding Co.) LTD.
  
  
• NATIONAL THERMAL POWER CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• NEPA LTD.
  
  
• NEYVELI LIGNITE CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• NORTH EASTERN ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• NORTH EASTERN REGIONAL AGRI. MARKETING CORP.LTD.
  
  
• NORTHERN COAL FIELDS LTD.
  
  
• NTC(DELHI,PUNJAB & RAJASTHAN) LTD.
  
  
• NTC(MAHARASHTRA NORTH)LTD.
  
  
• NTC(SOUTH MAHARASHTRA)LTD.
  
  
• NTC(TAMILNADU & PONDICHERRY) LTD.
  
  
• NTC(UTTAR PRADESH)LTD.
  
  
• NTPC ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY LTD.
  
  
• NTPC HYDRO LTD.
  
  
• NUCLEAR POWER CORPN. OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• NUMALIGARH REFINARY LTD.
  
  
• OIL & NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LTD.
  
  
• OIL INDIA LTD.
  
  
• ONGC VIDESH LTD.
  
  
• P E C LTD.
  
  
• PAWAN HANS HELICOPTERS LTD.
  
  
• PONDICHERRY ASHOK HOTEL CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• POWER FINANCE CORPORATION
  
  
• POWER GRID CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD
  
  
• PRAGA TOOLS LTD.
  
  
• PROJECTS & DEVELOPMENT INDIA LTD.
  
  
• RAIL VIKAS NIGAM LTD.
  
  
• RAILTEL CORPORATION INDIA LTD.
  
  
• RAJASTHAN ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTS LTD.
  
  
• RASHTRIYA CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS LTD.
  
  
• RASHTRIYA ISPAT NIGAM LTD.
  
  
• RICHARDSON & CRUDDAS (1972) LTD.
  
  
• RITES LTD.
  
  
• RURAL ELECTRIFICATION CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• SAMBHAR SALTS LTD.
  
  
• SATLUJ JAL VIDYUT NIGAM LTD.
  
  
• SCOOTERS INDIA LTD.
  
  
• SEMI - CONDUCTOR COMPLEX LTD.
  
  
• SHIPPING CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• SOUTH EASTERN COAL FIELDS LTD.
  
  
• SPICES TRADING CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• SPONGE IRON INDIA LTD.
  
  
• STATE TRADING CORPN. OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• TAMIL NADU TRADE PROMOTION ORGANISATION
  
  
• TEHRI HYDRO DEVELOPMENT CORP. LTD.
  
  
• TELECOMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS (INDIA) LTD.
  
  
• TUNGABHADRA STEEL PRODUCTS LTD.
  
  
• URANIUM CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD.
  
  
• UTKAL ASHOK HOTEL CORPN. LTD.
  
  
• WATER & POWER CONSULTANCY SERVICES (INDIA) LTD.
  
  
• WESTERN COALFIELDS LTD.
  

National Policy on Safety, Health and Enviroment at work place...

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT



NATIONAL POLICY ON SAFETY, HEALTH AND

ENVIRONMENT AT WORK PLACE...



Read More...

Comments on the Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Amendment Bill, 2009

An order has been published from
Directorate General of Employment &Training
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Government of India

Comments on the Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Amendment Bill, 2009 are solicited by 3rd April, 2009.
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INJUSTICE FOR INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE

All Industrial Employees Federations strongly condemned

the non-permission of availing (180 Days) and Child Care Leave (730 Days) to the female Industrial Employees those who are in Central Government Service.



The question arises that why disparity between Industrial and non – Industrial Employees regarding the Maternity and Child Care Leave exists.



There is no reason explained against this privilege. This clearly indicates that each and every privileges have to be obtained only by protesting as in the case encashment of 300 Earned Leave retirement to the Industrial Employees which was only 120 Days.



All Industrail Employees between that this demand regarding Maternity Leave will be put up in the JCM Level Meetings and will be solved.

An order has been published by Central Board of Direct Taxes

Government of India, Ministry of Finance

CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES

Directorate of Income Tax (Human Resource Development)

ICADR Building, Plot No.6, Vasant Kunj Institutional Area Phase-II

New Delhi - 110070. Telefax 26130594, Tel. 26130592

dated 6th March, 2009^th
F.No. HRD/CM/175/15/2008-09/324

Clarification on grant of Grade Pay of Rs. 5400 in PB-2 on non-functional basis to Income Tax Officersof Income Tax Department

To,
All Chief Commissioners of Income Tax (CCA)
All Director Gererals of Income Tax
Sir / Madam,

I am directed to invite your attention to Government of India, Department of Expenditure resolution No. 1/1/2008-1Cdated 29th August 2008 notifying acceptance of recommendations of 6th Central Pay Commission, wherein it was dicidedto grant Grade Pay of Rs. 5400 in PB-2 on non-functional basis to Group B officers of Income Tax Department (i.e. Income Tax Officers) after 4 years of regular service in the grade pay of Rs.4800 in PB-2. The relevant portion of Section II, part C, FirstSchedule of the notification No. GSR 622(E) dated 29th August is reproduced below:-


2. Clarifications have been sought by many field formations, individual officers as well as employees association (ITGOA) on how the period of 4 yesrs is to be counted for this purpose. i.e. whether the period of 4 years of regular service is to be countedfrom the date of promotion in the grade fo Income Tax Officers or from the date when the pay scale of Income Tax Officers was revised from Rs. 6500 - 10500 (pre-revised) to Rs. 7500 - 12000 (pre-revised), i.e., from 21st April 2004.

Post	Present Scale	Reivised Pay Scale	Corresponding Pay Band and Grade Pay
			Pay Band	Grade Pay
Income Tax Officers	7500 - 12000	7500 - 12000 8000 - 13500 (after 4 years)	PB - 2 PB - 2	4800 5400

3. The issue has been examined in the Board. It is hereby clarified that all Income Tax Officers, who have completed 4 yearsor more of regular service in the grade of Income Tax Officers as on 1st January 2006 would be entitled to the grade pay of Rs. 5400 in PB-2 on non-functional basis on 1st January 2006, irrespective of the fact that pay scale of Income Tax Officersstood revised to Rs. 7500 - 12000 from 21st April 2004. Further, after 1st January 2006, grade pay of Rs. 5400 in PB-2 on non-functional basis would be granted to an Income Tax Officers on completion of 4 years of regular service in the grade of Income Tax Officer.

Yours sincerely,


(Praveen Kishore)
Joint Director of Income Tax (HRD) New Delhi

Supreme Court issues notice to UGC to enhance superannuation age from 62 to 65

New Delhi: 23.02.2009

The Supreme Court issued notices to University Grants Commission (UGC) and state of Bihar on a petition filed by Dr B R Ambedkar Bihar University Senior Teachers Association, praying to the court to enhance their age of superannuation from 62 years to 65 years.

A bench comprising Justices Lokeshwar Singh Panta and B Sudarshan Reddy issued notices after hearing senior counsel M N Rao, R S Singh who contended that the age of superannuation for central universities is 65 years and therefore, there should be uniformity in the age of retirement.

They also contended that qualification and other service conditions are the same in case of state university teachers as well as for the teachers of central universities and therefore, there is no justification for discrimination in the age of superannuation.B R Ambedkar University is situated in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar.

Source: UNI

Order from DoP&T

F.No.8/10/2008-JCA

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel P.G. and Pensions

Department of Personnel and Training

JCA Section

North Block,New Delhi

dated 2nd^th
March, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Rates of Daily Allowance for Staff members of the Department / National Council and Third Level / Regional of JCM

The undersigned is directed to saythat consequent upon the revision of daily allowance by the Department of Expenditure vide O.M. No. 19030/3/2008-E.IV dated 23rd September, 2008, the JCM members shall be entitled to Daily Allowance in the following manner w.e.f. 1st September, 2008.

A. (i) National Council / Departmental Council (JCM)
Reimbursement for Hotel accommodation of up to Rs. 3000 per day; reimbursement o non-AC taxi charges of up to 50kms.per diem for travel within the city and reimbursement of food bills not exceeding Rs. 300 per day.

(ii) Regional / Office Council
Reimbursement for Hotel accommodation of up to Rs. 1500 per day; reimbursement of non-AC taxi charges of up to 50 kms.per diem for travel the city and reimbursement of food bills not exceeding Rs. 200 per day.
OR

B. The pre-revised rates as prescribed vide DOPT's O.M. No. 8/4/98-JCA, dated 17.11.1998.
This O.M. issues in consultation with Department of Expenditure vide I.D. No. 66/E.IV/2009 dated 24/2/2009.

(Dinesh Kapila)
Deputy Secretary

INTERNATIONAL WOMENT'S DAY CELEBRATION


The Ministry of Women and Child Development is organizing day-long celebrations on the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8th March. The Ministry will release Gender Development Index and a report on Gender Empowerment Measures in India in a function to be organized at Siri Fort Auditorium. Discussion on various legislative measures including case studies on domestic violence will also be held on the day. The Ministry has also launched awareness campaign for empowerment of women. Several public private partnership initiatives have been made under the campaign. A report on Bell Bajao campaign and on appointment of Protection Officers for the implementation of Child Marriage Act and Prohibition of Domestic Violence Act will also be released on this occasion. Folk dances and songs by women’s group will also be present on the occasion.

Notification of CCS Rules - 2009

The new Notification of CCS Rules - 2009 has been published by Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension today.

G.S.R. 140(E). -- In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution and in supersession of the Central Secretariat Service Rules, 1962, expect as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the President hereby makes the following rules, namely :-

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Pay your insurance premium at Post Offices ...

INDIA POST TIE-UP WITH ICICI PRUDENTIAL

POSTAL GOLD COINS GO TO HARYANA AND UTTAR PRADESH NEXT WEEK



In yet another move to expand its basket of services, India Post has done a tie-up with ICICI Prudential for collection of insurance premium through Post Offices. The service is now available at more than 200 Post offices in Gujarat, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra Postal Circles. Their will be no additional cost involved for the customer.


The premium amount realized will be sent to ICICI Prudential through ePayment system of India Post. The tie-up with ICICI Prudential is a step in the direction to make the Post office a one stop shop for the community. Now, the customers will have the convenience to pay their insurance premium at their neighborhood Post office.


This tie-up is expected to bring the customers closer to Post office. In the service category, insurance is one of the fastest growing industries with a very high potential. The highly popular sale of gold coins by India Post is being opened in Uttar Pradesh & Haryana Postal Circles from next week. The service was taken to post offices in Kerala earlier this week. With this, select Post offices from 14 Postal circles will provide this service to the public. Department of Posts began selling 24 carat ‘Gold Coins’ at 102 Post offices in Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu from 15th October. Later, the service was extended to Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan.


Apart from enhancing the revenue of the Department, this has enabled India Post to usher in a new image of India Post as a modern and relevant organization in all areas of life. Gold is the latest addition to a range of retail activity that India Post has already taken up.


India Post has been selling various products under Retail Post category and there is sustained growth in the revenue from these activities. Post Office sells UPSC applications and university applications, it retails Darjeeling Tea in West Bengal, it markets Aloe Vera products in Gujarat and it takes orders for distribution of Prasadams of various temples in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

Special Class Railway Apprentices’ Examination 2009

The Union Public Service Commission will hold the Special Class Railway Apprentices’ Examination, 2009 on July 26, 2009 for recruitment to the Special Class Apprentices in the Mechanical Department of Indian Railways. The examination will be held at various centers across the country.

The minimum age for eligibility is 17 years and the maximum 21 years as on 1st August 2009, with usual relaxation in the upper age limit for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes and certain other categories of candidates.

The candidate must have passed in the first or second division, the Intermediate or an equivalent Examination of a University or Board approved by the Government of India with Mathematics and at least one of the subjects Physics and Chemistry as subjects of the examination.

The candidates must apply in the Common Application Form devised by the Commission for its examinations, which can be purchased from the designated Head Post Offices/Post Offices throughout the country against cash payment of Rupees Twenty only.

All applications must reach the “Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069” on or before the March 30, 2009. However, in respect of candidates residing abroad or in certain remote areas, the last date for receipt of applications is April 6, 2009.

For details regarding eligibility conditions, the syllabus and scheme of the examination, centres of examination, guidelines for filling up application form etc. aspirants must consult the Detailed Notice of the examination published in the Employment News/Rozgar Samachar dated February 28, 2009 or the UPSC wevsite

http://www.upsc.gov.in.

Rs.800 per month exempt under 10(14) (ii), Income Tax relaxation on Travelling Allowance

Following allowances are exempt under section 10(14) (ii), subject to the limits stated there-against:


i. Special Compensatory Allowance or High Altitude Allowance or Uncongenial Climate Allowance or Snow bound Area Allowance or Avalanche Allowance:

Rs. 800/- common for various areas of North East, Hilly areas of U.P., H.P. and J &K (for specific details about the areas eligible for the allowance, please refer to the section 10(14) if I T Rules 1962) and Rs. 7000/- per month for Siachen area of J & K and Rs. 300/- common for all places at a height of 1000 mts or more other than the above places.

ii. Special Compensatory Allowance in the nature of Border Area Allowance or Remote Locality Allowance or Difficult Area Allowance or Disturbed Area Allowance:

Various amounts ranging from Rs. 200/- per month to Rs. 1300/- per month are exempt for various areas as specified in Rule 2BB.

iii. Special Compensatory (Tribal Area/Scheduled Area/Agency Area Allowance available in M.P., TN, U.P., Karnataka, Tripura, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa:

Rs. 200/- per month.

iv. Any allowance granted to an employee working in any transport system to meet his personal expenditure during duty performed in the course of running of such transport from one place to another:

70% of such allowance upto a maximum of Rs. 6000/- per month.

v. Children Education allowance:

Rs. 100/- per month per child upto a maximum of 2 children.

vi. Allowance granted to meet Hostel Expenditure of children

Rs. 300/- per month per child upto a maximum of two children.

vii. Compensatory Field Area Allowance available in various areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur Nagaland, Sikkim, H.P., U.P. & J&K (for specific details about the areas eligible for the allowance, please refer to the section 10(14) if I T Rules 1962):

Rs. 2600/- per month.

viii. Compensatory Modified Field area Allowance available in specified areas of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, U.P., J&K, H.P. & North East (for specific details about the areas eligible for the allowance, please refer to the section 10(14) if I T Rules 1962):

Rs. 1000/- per month

ix. Counter Insurgency Allowance to members of Armed Forces:

Rs. 3900/- Per month

x. Transport Allowance granted to an employee to meet his expenditure for the purpose of commuting between the place of residence and place of duty:

Rs. 800/- per month

xi. Transport allowance granted to physically disabled (blind or orthopaedically handicapped with disability of lower extremities) employee for the purpose of commuting between place of duty and residence:

Rs. 1600/- per month.

xii. Underground Allowance granted to an employee working in under ground coal mines:

Rs. 800/- per month.

xiii. Special Allowance in the nature of High Altitude Allowance granted to member of the armed forces:

Rs. 1060 p.m. (for altitude of 9000-15000 ft.)

Rs. 1600/- p.m. (for altitudes above 15000 feet.)

xiv. Special allowance granted to members of armed forces in the Highly Active Field Area Allowance

Rs. 4200/- p.m.

xv. Special allowance granted to members of armed forces in the nature of island duty allowance:

Rs. 3,250/- in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Group of Islands.