Grant of Advances 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations - Amendment to rules on House Building Advance (HBA) to Railway servants

  7th CPC

Government of India (Bharat Sarkar)
Ministry of Railways (Rail Mantralaya)
(Railway Board)

No.F(E)Spl./2008/ADV.3/6(7th CPC)
The General Managers and PFAs
All Indian Railways & Production Units
(As per standard list)

New Delhi,
Dated:28.03.2018

Subject: Grant of Advances Seventh Central Pay Commission recommendations - Amendment to rules on House Building Advance (HBA) to Railway servants.

Please refer to this Ministry's letter of even number dated 05.12.2017 on the above cited subject(vide which, the revised provisions relating to the grant of House Building Advance (HBA) as issued by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (Housing III Section) vide their OM No.1.17011/11(4)/2016-H-III dated 09.11.2017 pursuant to acceptance of 7th CPC recommendations, were mutatis-mutandis made applicable to Railway employees.

2. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs vide their OM dated 31.01.2018 (copy enclosed) have now issued clarifications to the fulfillment of extant conditions mentioned in para-2(viii) of their aforesaid OM dated 09.11.2017, which shall be applicable mutatis-mutandis on the Railways.

3. Please acknowledge receipt

4. Hindi version will follow.

S/d,
(G.Priya Sudarsani)
Joint Director Finance (Estt.)
Railway Board

 Source: NFIR
Download Order

Dos and Don'ts concerning Photographs to be submitted with Pension Forms

Dos and Don'ts concerning Photographs to be submitted with Pension Forms
Furnishing three copies of joint photographs (or separate photographs) with wife or husband by the Pensioner to Head of Office while filling up/uploading the pension forms

F.No.4/13/2018-P&PW(D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi

Dated: 06-04-2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Furnishing three copies of joint photographs (or separate photographs) with wife or husband by the Pensioner to Head of Office while filling up/uploading the pension forms-regd.

The undersigned is directed to say that as per CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, the Central Government Civil Pensioner is required to submit-(a) Three copies of joint photograph (or separate photographs) with wife or husband (duly attested by Head of Office) (b) Three copies of passport size photograph of disabled child/siblings/dependent parents, if applicable (duly attested by Head of Office) alongwith Form 5 of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 for affixing on Pension Payment Order. Further, after 1-1-2017, the Central Government Civil Pensioners are required to submit the pension forms through Bhavishya i.e. online pension sanction and payment tracking system.

2. The following guidelines should be strictly followed while filling up/uploading the pension forms in Bhavishya. Details of Dos and Don'ts conceming photographs are as under:

Dos and Don'ts concerning Photographs to be submitted with Pension Forms

3. This issues with the approval of competent authority.

(Sanjay Wadhawan)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India
Tel. No. 24655523

Source: http://www.pensionersportal.gov.in/

One Week IST programme for Officers of IAS officers working under the CSS, officers of CSS and officers of CSSS

One Week IST programme for Officers of IAS officers working under the CSS, officers of CSS and officers of CSSS

No.12017/01/2018- TNP(S)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
[Training Division]

Block-4, Old JNU Campus
New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-67
Dated: April 6, 2018

To,
The Training Institutions (To be uploaded on DoPT's website)

Sub: One Week In-service Training (IST) programme for Officers of All India Service (lAS, IPS & IFoS), officers working under the Central Staffing Scheme, officers of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and officers of Central Secretariat Stenographer Service (CSSS) (DS/Sr. PPS and above level):Inviting proposals from Institutions for In-Service Training during 2018-19.

Sir/Madam,
In continuation of this Department's circular of even number, dated January 9, 2018, Februaryl2113, 2018 and March 16,2018, I am directed to intimate that the last date for receipt of proposals from the training institutions for the above mentioned programme has been extended to April 16, 2018.

2. All training institutes willing to conduct the above mentioned training programme are requested to send their proposals to DoPT, Training Division on or before April 16, 2018.

3. The copy of the earlier circular dated January 9, 2018 giving all the details of the programme is enclosed for ready reference. This circular can also be downloaded from DoPT's website. [http://dopt.gov.in/ --- > About Us --->Circulars ]

4. Those institutions which have already applied to DoPT in response to its circular of even number dated January 9, 2018 need not apply in response to this circular.

(Biswajit Banerjee)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
[Training Division]

Block-4, Old JNU Campus
New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-67
Dated: January 9, 2018

To,
The Institutes (As per list)

Sub: One Week In-service Training (1ST) programme for Officers of All India Service (IAS, IPS & IFoS), officers working under the Central Staffing Scheme, officers of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and officers of Central Secretariat Stenographer Service (CSSS) (DS/Sr. PPS and above level):Inviting proposals from Institutions for In-Service Training during 2018-19.

Sir/Madam,
The Training Division of the Department of Personnel and Training is the nodal agency for training of government functionaries and is primarily responsible for formulating policies with regards to training. With an objective of addressing competency gaps of government employees, the Division also directly implements certain training components. Under the One Week In-Service Training (1ST) Scheme, officers of All India Services (IAS, IPS & IFoS), officers working under Central Staffing Scheme and officers of CSS/CSSS (DS/Sr. PPS and above level) are offered one week training programmes at various reputed institutes in India.

2. This letter is to invite proposals from the interested institutes for conducting one week inservice training programme for 2018-19 in diverse and broad thematic areas, such as, Administrative Law, Agricultural & Rural Development, Climate Change (preparedness), Competition Law (policy formulation), Corruption (eradication strategy), Education (reforms & challenges), E-governance (opportunities & challenges), Environment & Natural Resource (management), Environmental Impact Assessment (development projects), Ethics (Public Governance and Administration), Financial Markets (regulation), Fiscal Policy (Macroeconomic Management), Governance (IT management and improving through accountability), Infrastructure (Finance), Innovations (public service), Land Acquisition (rehabilitation & resettlement), Leadership, Participatory Management (Community Mobilization), PPP (negotiating strategies and urban development), Procurement (procedure & contracting), Project Analysis/Appraisal (risk analysis/management), Public Policy (management/governance), Quantitative Methods (management), Service Delivery (management), Social Policy (Governance), Social Sector financing/marketing), Urban Development, WTO (basic/advance course), Citizen Centric, Cyber Crime, Stress Management, etc.

3. The proposal should include:

(a) A brief about the institute, infrastructure, faculty, core competence, and previous experience in conducting such programmes;
(b) Thematic focus of the course and the course title;
(c) Two suitable dates for each course between July 2018 to February 2019 as in April & May 2018 and March 2019 courses are not scheduled in view of Budget Session of the Parliament;
(d) Name and CV of proposed Course Coordinator along with contact details;
(e) Draft programme design, content and pedagogy, draft time table-starting on Monday and closing on Friday;
(f) A paragraph on how the proposed course will be different from those offered by competing institutions.
(g) Feedback received from participants.

4. Formal proposal may be sent to this Department before 9th February, 2018.

(Biswajit Banerjee)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: DoPT

Promotional Avenue of ESMs in S&T Department

Promotional Avenue of ESMs in S&T Department

RBE No. 48/2018

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.E(NG)I/20 15 /PM 8/ 1
The General Manager (P)
All Zonal Railways & PUs

New Delhi, dated March 26th March, 2018

Sub: Promotional Avenue of ESMs in S&T Department.
The issue regarding promotional avenue of ESMs in the S&T Department has been under consideration of the Railway Board. The matter has been examined in detail in consultation with the concerned technical directorate and both the Federations, and it has been decided as under:

i) Direct Recruitment to the extent of 33-1 / 3% in Signal Maintainer Grade-II to be discontinued subject to 15% Direct Recruitment quota to be introduced in Signal Maintainer Grade-l. The remaining 85% vacancies in Signal Maintainer Grade I is to be filled by promotion·

ii) The revised qualification for ESM Grade-III should be either (a) Matriculation (i.e. 10th Class) and ITI Certificate in Electronic/ Electrical Fitter/ Wireman Trade or (b) Pass in Plus Two stage with Physics and Maths in Higher Secondary or equivalent.

iii) The educational qualification of direct recruiters at Signal maintainer Grade I level should be pass in B.Sc. ·
iv) On one tlme basis to fill up vacancies of Signal Maintainer Grade-III, the residency period for LDCE should be reduced from 3 years to 2 years.
v) The vacancies in Signal Maintainer Grade-Til may be calculated by taking resultant vacancies of higher grade posts of Signal Maintaner.

Please acknowledge receipt.

(D.Joseph)
Joint Director Estt (N)
Railway Board
New Delhi, dated March , 2018

Source: AIRF

5% GST applicable to supply of food and drinks made available in trains, platforms or stations

5% GST to Train Food and Drinks

5% GST applicable to supply of food and drinks made available in trains, platforms or stations

Ministry of Finance
5% Uniform rate of GST to apply in all railway catering services in trains or on stations

With a view to remove any doubt or uncertainty in the matter and bring uniformity in the rate of GST applicable to supply of food and drinks made available in trains, platforms or stations, it has been clarified with the approval of the competent authority that the GST rate on supply of food and drinks by the Indian Railways or Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. or their licensees, whether in trains or at platforms (static units), will be 5% without input tax credit. The copy of letter F.No. 354/03/2018-TRU dated 31.03.2018 (Order No. 2/2018 - GST) issued to the Railway Board is available atwww.cbec.gov.in .

BPMS: Grant of Minimum Guaranteed Pension under NPS

BPMS: Grant of Minimum Guaranteed Pension under NPS

The Central Government had introduced the National Pension System (NPS) with effect from 1 January, 2004 (except for armed forces). During the budget session of 2003-2004 the Government announced introduction of the "New Defined Contribution Pension Scheme" then known as the New Pension Scheme. It was formally notified vide Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs letter dated 22-12-2003. Later, it was adopted by various State Governments and Central and State Public Sector Corporations.

Upto 28.02.2018, the total figure of subscribers of NPS working in Central Government Establishments/ Offices including Public Sector Undertaking has reached to 19,12,871 with a corpus of Rs 61,145.65 crore and in State Governments Establishments/ Offices including respective Public Sector Undertaking, it has reached to 38,21,266 with corpus of Rs. 86,897.31 crore.

The above mentioned Scheme was made operative since 01.01.2004 without any concrete instructions and with passage of time, Govt has been trying to develop a system regarding its functioning. But the future as well as retiremental security (Social Security) of the employees is at stake without guarantee of Minimum Pension under the Scheme.

This Federation has been consistently demanding that Government should frame a policy to ensure that irrespective of the financial/market conditions at the time of Retirement of the subscriber under NPS, he should get a guaranteed minimum pension equivalent to 50% of his last drawn Basic Pay plus Dearness Relief for neutralization of price rise.

A resolution to this effect was also passed in the CEC Meeting held at Hyderabad during September 2015 and subsequently several correspondence have also occurred. However, in spite of lapse of such a large time, no tangible action is seen from the Government side on the issue.

After having deliberated the issue in details, the Central Executive while recording its displeasure over the absence of action on the part of the Government on such an important issue, hereby calls upon the Government to immediately notify the subject issue.

This resolution is being passed in the Central Executive Committee held at Dehu Road (Pune) on 28/03/2018.

Source: BPMS

Minimum Balance Requirements In India Post Accounts and Other Details

Minimum Balance Requirements In India Post Accounts and Other Details

As we know, India Post, under the Department of Posts (DoP), offers a host of services. Besides delivering mails, India Post also offers a range of financial and retail services. These include small savings schemes such as PPF Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC), bill collection and sale of forms. India Post also offers savings accounts. India Post's savings accounts - with or without cheque book - are among the most popular of its products, say financial experts. Post office savings accounts are opened by cash only, according to India Post.

But what is the interest rate offered in post office savings accounts? And what is the minimum balance permitted in these accounts? What are the other services offered by it?

Post office savings accounts interest rate
India Post currently offers an interest rate of 4 per cent on individually or jointly-held post office savings accounts, according to its website - indiapost.gov.in. The interest earned is tax-free up to Rs. 10,000 in a financial year.

Post office savings account minimum balance
The minimum balance required in a post office account without cheque book facility is Rs. 50, according to India Post. For savings accounts with cheque book facility, the minimum balance permitted is Rs. 500.

India Post savings accounts come with an ATM facility.
Among other features, post office savings accounts are opened in two modes - with cheque book facility and without cheque book facility. pls put this as first para under this particular sub head
Those holding a post office savings account without the cheque book facility originally also have the option to upgrade their account to subscribe to the facility. India Post - which has a network of over 1.5 lakh post offices - also offers the facility to transfer savings accounts from one post office branch to another, according to its website. However, only one account can be opened by an individual in one post office.

Minimum balance in other post office accounts

Type of account - Minimum balance
SB(Cheque account) - Rs.500/-
SB(non Cheque account) - Rs.50/-
MIS - Rs.1500/-
TD - Rs.200/-
PPF - Rs.500/-
Senior Citizen - Rs.1000/-

Among other popular instruments, India Post offers PPF at a minimum balance of Rs. 500 and Monthly Investment Scheme (MIS) at a minimum balance of Rs. 1,500. For senior citizen savings scheme, the minimum balance required is Rs. 1,000, according to India Post.
Monthly Income Scheme or MIS is a popular investment scheme wherein an individual invests a particular amount and gets an assured monthly income in the form of interest.

Source: indiapost.gov.in