Central Government Employees & Employment Corner

The below information was presented as a written reply to a question about the CGHS Cards by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri.Ghulam Nabi Azad in the Parliament on 14th December, 2012 as follows… Government has issued detailed guidelines for issuance of individual plastic cards to CGHS beneficiaries vide Office Memorandum No. S.11012/3/2011-CGHS(P) dated 29th December, 2011 which is available at the CGHS website http://msotransparent.nic.in Total 1,32,909 applications were received for making of CGHS cards in last one year . It is a continuous process.It has since been streamlined and the cards are now sent to the applicants timely by speed post at their home address. There is no pendency in issuance of CGHS cards.

The recent EPFO circular, stating that certain allowances must also be added to the salary while computing the PF contribution, could upset millions of household budgets if it were to be enforced. On the face of it, this looks good for employees because a higher amount will flow into their PF accounts every month. However, the employers, who are supposed to match the contribution, may not want to absorb the rise in the wage bill. They are likely to rejig the compensation structure to ensure that the cost to company doesn’t go up. ET Wealth estimates that the average salaried person could see his take-home pay dip by 6-8% if the revised interpretation of rules is implemented (see graphic).

1. The  Scheme of House Building Advance to Central Government Employees is aimed at providing assistance to the Government employees to construct/acquire house/flats of their own. The scheme was introduced in 1956, as a welfare measure. Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation act as the nodal Ministry for the same. 2. House Building Advance is admissible to all those temporary employees also who have rendered

No. 12012/3/2009-Estt.(L) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and Training  New Delhi, Dated the 28th December 2012 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject:  Extension of the revised orders on encashment of Earned Leave and Half Pay Leave to industrial employees. The undersigned is directed to state that the matter regarding extension of revised orders on encashment of Earned Leave and Half Pay Leave lo industrial employees at par with the non industrial Central Government employees covered by the CCS (Leave) Rules. 1972 has been under consideration of this Department. It has been decided in consultation with the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) to extend the provision of this Department’s OM No.14028/3/2008-Estt (L) dated 25th September 2008, mutatis mutandis to industrial employees of Ministries/Department other than Railways. 

There is any proposal to issue passport to Central Government employees and their family members through their respective departments..!

Latest position of group wise Central Government Civilian Employees working in Central Government Departments as on March 2011. As per the latest information available, the estimated number of Group A, B, C and erstwhile Group D regular Central Government Civilian Employees (including Union Territories) is given below:

Parlimentary Consultative Committee meeting on Comprehensive Amendments in Labour Laws Moots Effective Implementation and speedy Grievance Redressal Members participating in the meeting of Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Comprehensive Amendment in Labour Laws have urged the government for the effective and speedy implementation of labour laws along with the timely redressal of Grievances. In meeting held yesterday the members raised the issue of Child labour Laws alongwith the Contract Labour Law reforms. Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, who chaired the meeting assured the members for due consideration on the issue raised.

Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting on Comprehensive Amendments in Labour Laws Moots Effective Implementation and speedy Grievance Redressal  Members participating in the meeting of Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Comprehensive Amendment in Labour Laws have urged the government for the effective and speedy implementation of labour laws along with the timely redressal of Grievances. In meeting held yesterday the members raised the issue of Child labour Laws alongwith the Contract Labour Law reforms. Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, who chaired the meeting assured the members for due consideration on the issue raised.  Welcoming the members the minister the minister said Labour being a subject in the Concurrent List where both Central and State Governments are competent to enact legislations. Ministry of Labour & Employment is presently administering 44 Labour Laws catering to diverse subjects, namely, occupational h...

The central government should set up the seventh pay commission and pump in Rs 50,000 crore over the next five years to revive the ailing railways. This was among the 38 demands put forth by the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF). AIRF also demanded that over 2.5 lakh posts under various categories in Indian Railways be filled up.

Leave Travel Concession is one of the topics in which Central Government Employees are mainly interested.  Though this topic is not complex as such, many questions and doubts would arise regarding the admissibility of LTC in many practical situations.  Of Course a written law cannot cover all the situations.  So, Government is issuing clarifications on LTC from time to time.  Covering the original orders and those subsequently issued clarifications by DOPT, some time back we had   published a compilation of frequently asked questions relating to Leave Travel Concession (LTC) applicable to Central Government Employees. Now DOPT has come up with a compilation of Frequently Asked Questions on LTC (Leave Travel Concession) same mentioned below.

The Rajya Sabha on Monday (December 17, 2012) passed the Constitution (One Hundred Seventeenth Amendment) Bill, 2012. The Bill proposes to amend the Article 16 (4A) of the Constitution of India. The existing Article 16(4A) provides for reservation in promotion to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) which are not adequately represented in the Govt. services. The proposed amendment would

No.18016/4/2012-Estt.(L) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and Training  New Delhi, the 14th December , 2012 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject: Special concessions/facilities to Central Government Employees working in Kashmir Valley in attached subordinate offices or PSUs falling under the control of Central Government - Clarification. 

Describing the twin tasks of improving the pensionary and medical benefits for ex-servicemen as ‘subjects of prime concern’ and ‘as an ongoing process’, the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today announced that the orders authorizing payment to ex-servicemen and their families accruing from the recent cabinet decisions, hiking pension and other benefits amounting to nearly Rs.2300 crores per annum, would be issued next month. Addressing a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry, here, Shri Antony said this is the third time in the last four years that the Government have systematically improved the post-retirement benefits for ex-servicemen.

No. 18016/4/2012-Estt.(L) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions Department of Personnel & Training ***** New Delhi, 14th December, 2012 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject:- Special concessions/facilities to Central Government Employees working in Kashmir Valley in attached subordinate offices or PSUs falling under the control of Central Government-Clarification. ***** The undersigned is directed to refer to DOPT OM No. 18016/3/2011-Estt.(L) dated 27.6.2012 extending the Special concession/facilities to Central Government Employees working in Kashmir Valley in attached/ subordinate offices or PSUs falling under the control or Central Government for the period with effect from 1.1.2012 to 31.12.2012 and to say that this Department has been receiving references seeking clarifications. The doubts raised are clarified as under:-

The  Rajya   Sabha  will on Monday vote on the controversial Constitution ( 117th  Amendment) Bill 2012 that seeks to provide reservation in government jobs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. While the  Bahujan   Samaj  Party ( BSP ) has been pressing the government to pass the bill, the  Samajwadi  Party ( SP ) has issued veiled threats saying it could reconsider its outside support to the ruling United Progressive Alliance ( UPA ) if the bill is passed. SP  chief  Mulayam  Singh  Yadav  had said in  Lucknow  on Saturday: "If voting is done on the bill in the house, I will reconsider my party's support to the government." BJP  vice-president  Mukhtar  Abbas  Naqvi  told reporters: "The  SP  and  BSP  are hand-in-glove with the Congress. On several occasions, the two have jumped in to save the  UPA  government. The threat by  Mulaya...

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) congratulateD the employees of various central government offices and establishments for their massive countrywide strike action today to press for their burning issues. Lakhs of employees in Postal, Income Tax, Customs, Central Excise, Audit & Accounts, Printing & Stationery, GSI, Survey of India, Indian Bureau of Mines, ground-water-board, Central Water Commission, Central Public Works and various other departments struck work on 12th December 2012 at the call of Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers to press for their 15 point demands. The demands include, inter alia, scrapping of the PFRDA Bill which seeks to drastically curtail the pensionary benefit and allow speculation by private and foreign companies with the pension-fund of the employees, halting contractorisation and privatization of many jobs in various govt departments, regularization of gramin dak-sevaks and other casual workers, setting up of 7th ...

Work in various central government offices including income tax, postal department and railway mail services ( RMS) across the state was hit as thousands of employees joined the one-day nationwide strike called by the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers ( CCGEW). The strike was called to protest against what the confederation dubbed as "anti -labour and anti-employee" policies of the union government.  Though most residents in the capital city were aware of the strike, some did land up at the public dealing counters of the postal department and  income tax  only to witness locked rooms and empty counters. "We totally boycotted work and fully justified the strike call. The central government must amend its employee policies," said  Manoj Kumar  Sharma, regional secretary, income tax gazetted officers association, Chhattisgarh. He said over 200 employees of income tax department were observing the strike. "Though the strike may ...

Clarification issued by DOPT in respect of Proforma Promotion Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) has issued an important clarification Office Memorandum dated 30.11.2012 in the topic of Proforma promotion granted to central government employees in certain cases.

No.11/3/2008-JCA Government of India Ministryof Personnel.Public Grievances& Pensions ( Departmentof Personnel& Training ) North Block, New Delhi Dated the ;?>December, 2008 Subject:- Scheme for Joint Consultative Machinery and Compulsory Arbitration for Centrai Government Employees - Raising the limit of pay from Rs.8900 to Grade Pay of Rs.4200 in Pay Band-2 for eligibility. Ministries/ Departmentsare aware that the Schemeof Joint Consultative Machinery and Compulsory Arbitration for Central Government Employees covers all regular civil employees of the Central Government except inter-aliapersons in industrial establishments, employed mainly in managerial or administrative capacity, and others employed in Supervisory capacity and drawing salary in scales going beyond Rs.8900/-per mensem(vide Clause 1 (c) of the JCM Scheme). 2. With the revision of scales of pay, on the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, the limit of Rs.8900/- referred to i...

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA - MINISTRY OF     FINANCE - LOK SABHA UNSTARRED     QUESTION NO    859 / ANSWERED ON      25.02.2011 DA OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES 859 .    Smt. P. JAYA PRADA NAHATA NEERAJ SHEKHAR YASHVIR SINGH Will the Minister of FINANCE  be pleased to state:- (a) whether Government has plans to increase dearness allowance effective from January,2011 for Central Government employees with a rate that commensurates with the inflationary trends and plights of working class in the past few months;

How to calculate Dearness Allowance for Central Government Staff and Employees… We have been reporting the increase in Dearness allowance every six months, always before official announcement is made. We have not been making predictions or assumptions. Our reporting has always been based on standard calculation used for the purpose. We feel that the visitors also should be aware of the calculation, hence this article.

Is raising retirement age of Central Government Employee a threat for employment prospects of youth ? At the end of Every Year people used to talk about the proposal of raising the retirement age of government servants. Normally the people who are at the verge of retirement from government service are eagerly expecting the government to increase the retirement age. The Government servants especially those who are in the pay structure of Pay band –I will have to face financial burden as the Pension amount they will be paid after commutation will be very meager and it is not sufficient enough to meet their expenses of day to day life. Because the Government employees those who are drawing grade pay of Rs.1800/-, 1900/-, 2000/-, 2400/-and 2800/- will get only around Rs.20000 as the gross salary of every month. It is understood that one cannot lead a financially successful life with this income alone. So many government servants, to run the life, forced to avail loans from where e...

As per the prevailing rates of commodities as on 1.6.2012, Confederation have prepared a comparative chart of the price of 14 commodities, which go into the computation of minimum wage. Placed there-under is the computation of the Minimum wage on the basis of the prices of the requisite articles as in January, 2012.

What is Surplus Cell? Ans. The Section which is looking after the Surplus Staff in the DOPT is called Surplus Cell.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2005 was initially introduced in Lok Sabha in March, 2005 to provide for a statutory PFRDA. However, since the Bill and the official amendments, based on the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Finance, could not be considered by the Lok Sabha, the Bill lapsed on dissolution of the 14th Lok Sabha.

  The New Pension System (NPS) has been implemented for various sectors like Central Government, State Government, Private Sector and NPS-Life.  The status of NPS in these sectors as on 10th November, 2012 is as under:-

PBI Shri Kamal Nath addresses a Press Conference on Winter Session of Parliament Commencing on 22nd November 2012 The Winter Session, 2012 of Parliament (12th Session of Fifteenth Lok Sabha and the 227th Session of the Rajya Sabha) is scheduled to commence on Thursday, the 22nd of November, 2012 and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the Session will conclude on Thursday, the 20th of December, 2012.  The Session will provide 20 sittings spread over a period of 29 days.

FAQ / Refund From which date the refund banker has been implemented? The refund banker has been implemented from January 24, 2007. In which cities the refund banker has been implemented ? The refund banker facility is operational for non-corporate taxpayers assessed all over India.

The All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September 2012 declared by the Ministry of Labour on 31st October 2012 stood at 215 as against 214 for August 2012. Even if the average approximate CPI for October, November & December is taken as 212 consecutively then the Dearness Allowance from January 2013

Recognition of Curie Manavata Cancer Centre, Nashik (Maharashtra) for treatment of Central Government employees under CS(MA) Rules, 1944. In view of the hardship faced by CS(MA) beneficiaries for their own treatment and the treatment of their family members at Nashik (Maharashtra),

Central Government Employees, Pensioners and family Pensioners are likely to get Dearness Allowance of 80% with effect from 1st January 2013 As we are in the last quarter of calculating D.A. effective from 01.01.2013 The AICPI-IW via which the DA is calculated is available for the nine months upto Sep 2012 is published by the labour bureau. And the figures for the three more months are required to calculate the DA hike. Based on current situation, if we assume that inflation will remain same and the next three months figure remains static at 215, the total D.A. will be 80% of pay as on 01.01.2013. If the figure increases 1 point each in the coming three months, the D.A. will still be 8%. If the figure increases 2 point each in the coming three months, the D.A. will then be be 9%, which is not very likely. So we predict a 8% rise in D.A. for Central Govt. employees with effect from January 2013. (See full calculation below) This is the table All India consumer...

Travel entitlements based on grade pay for reimbursing actual cost of journey performed by Central Government Employees by Air and Rail are as follows Journey by Rail / Air 1. Class of accommodation according to grade pay: From 01.09.2008, Central Government Servants are entitled for accommodation as follows.

No.1/20/2011-P&PW (E) (Vol. IV) Government of India MinIstry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare 3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi Dated: 14th November, 2012 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Sub:  Revision of PPOs of pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners use of e-scroll for retrieving information from Banks - reg. The undersigned is directed to state that Annexure III has been used to obtain in formation from Banks for revision of PPOs of pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners. It is seen that getting information from Banks is fraught with difficulties. Secondly, the Annexure III sent by the banks are in many cases incomplete to the extent that the calculation details are not available for evaluation by the PAOs and as such the Annexure is being used largely to confirm the existence of the pensioner/family pensioner and to link him/her with the current paying branch.

D/16/2012 Dated: 10th November, 2012. To The Secretary (Personnel) Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India North Block, New Delhi. 110 001 Dear Sir, Sub:  Revival of the JCM functioning- Departmental level-Regarding  : We solicit your kind reference to the discussions at the National Anomaly Committee meeting held on 17th July, 2012 when the leader and Secretary Staff Side  and other members of the Staff Side brought to your kind notice that the JCM at the Departmental Council level in most of the Ministries other than Railways and Defence have become defunct.

Department of Posts has published a Gazette Notification regarding declaration of simple reversionary  Bonus for the year ending 31-03-2009 on the Rural Postal Life Insurance Policies on their becoming claims, due to death or maturity.  The text of Gazette Notification dated 29-10-2012 is reproduce here:-

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on Leave Travel Concession (LTC) matters – Dopt Establishment division of Department of Personnel & Training has published an another useful ‘Frequently Asked Questions and Answers’ regarding the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) for Central Government employees.

No.11030/23/2008-AIS-11 Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) North Block, New Delhi Dated 07th Nov., 2012 To The Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs, Subject:- Grant of advance increments to IAS officers — reg. Sir, I am directed to say that after the issue of IAS (Pay) 2nd Amendment Rules,  2008 regarding implementation of the recommendations of the 6th CPC, the provisions contained in rule 7 for grant of advance increments to direct recruit IAS officers have been engaging attention of this Department. The amended provisions  of rule 7 are as follows:

16/4/2012-Pay-I Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and Training New Delhi, 5th Nov, 2012 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject:  Transfer to lower post under FR 15(a).    The undersigned is directed to refer to this Deparment’s OM No.16/6/2001-Estt (Pay-I) dated the 14th February, 2006, read with OM of even number dated the 4th Januanry, 2007, which clarified that on transfer to the lower post/scale under FR 15(a), the pay of a Government servant holding a post on regular basis will be fixed at a stage equal to the pay drawn by him in the higher grade.

National Anomaly Committee agenda item 8.3 : Direct Recruits getting more pay than Promotee The General Secretary, NFIR has written a letter to the Secretaries of DOP&T and Ministry of Finance, regarding the status of the decision taken in National Anomaly Committee Meeting, on the issue of Direct Recruit getting more pay than his senior who got promoted to the same grade. As it was agreed by Official Side in National Anomaly Committee Meeting to grant stepping up of Pay for such cases subject to certain conditions, the General Secretary, NFIR  insisted  the DOP&T to issue necessary clarificatory orders at an early date to rectify this anomalous situation. The letter has been uploaded in its official website. We reproduced the same here..

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAILWAY BOARD) RBE No. 124 / 2012  New Delhi, dated 02 .11.2012. No.E(P&A)II-2012/Bonus-1 The General Managers/CAOs (R), All Indian Railways & Production Units. (As per mailing lists No.1 & 2). Subject : -  Grant of ad-hoc bonus for 30 days to the Group 'C' & 'D' RPF/RPSF personnel for the financial year 2011-2012.    The President is pleased to decide that all Group 'C' & 'D' RPF/RPSF personnel, may be  granted ad-hoc bonus equivalent to 30 (thirty) days emoluments for the financial year 2011-2012,  without any eligibility wage ceiling. The calculation ceiling of  `  3500/- will remain unchanged.

Air India has released Air India LTC-80 Fares with effect from 25.10.2012.  LTC-80 fare rates gain significance among central government employees as they are eligible to travel by air only using LTC 80 while they avail LTC. TABLE IV‐ LTC Fares updated as on 25-10-2012

F.No.22034/4/2012 -Estt. (D) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and Training  North Block, New Delhi, Dated the 2nd November, 2012 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject : Comprehensive review of instructions pertaining to vigilance clearance for promotion-regarding.

New e-filing Project Conceptualized to Take the e-Services to the Next Generation;  In Order to Make the New Portal Live, e-filing Services to the Tax Payers Through the Existing Portal will Not be Available from 3rd November to 8th November, 2012. 

 In the morning, home minister  Sushil Shinde  held out hope of "ex-servicemen" status for the country's three lakh-odd retired paramilitary personnel but by evening it had been dashed, leaving the veteran troopers livid. Instead of parity with retired armed forces personnel as demanded, all they had received was an "ex-CAPF (central armed police forces) personnel" tag with little commitment on post-retirement benefits or job and education quotas for their children.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today announced that the government has agreed to grant retired paramilitary and central police forces the status of “ex-central police personnel”, on par with the defence forces’ “ex-servicemen”, thus enabling them to avail of various benefits. Addressing Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at a function today, Shinde said: “I know the kind of difficulties you have to face... I moved a proposal in the cabinet meeting today and everyone approved it with compassion.” A few hours earlier, speaking at the Raising Day function of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Shinde had announced his intention to move a proposal in the Cabinet in this regard. Besides the CRPF and CISF, the beneficiaries will include personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). At present, there are over seven lakh serving personnel in the paramilitary and central police forces. Wi...

The following questions on setting up of Seventh Pay Commission from Shri Balwinder Singh, Member of Parliament was scheduled to answer from Finance Ministry on 9th August is still pending:- (a) whether Government intends to constitute the Seventh Pay Commission for the Central Government employees; (b) if so, by when; (c) whether the Thirteenth Finance Commission has also recommended for an increase in pay of Central Government employees from the future date; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

No.ITD-CGA/07-11/GPF-MIDS/Pt. file III/868-925 Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure Office of the Controller General of Accounts Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market New Delhi —110003 (IT. Division) Office Memorandum Dated October 21, 2012 Reference is invited to this office OM of even no. 673-708 dated 14.09.2012, vide which all the Pr.CCAs/CCAs/CAs were requested to direct all the PAOs under their administrative control to update the General Information (GI) data of all the GPF subscribers in COMPACT with their Date of Birth, Date of Joining Government Service, Date of Superannuation and PAN allotted by Income Tax Department so that the multiple accounts of GPF subscribers could be mapped and Unique IDs could be allotted to all the Account holders. 2. However, on verification from the report available on e-Lekha, It has been observed that the GI data has been updated only by very few PAOs. The multiple accounts of...

(a) As per extant guidelines/rules it is for the concerned Government   Departments to take action regarding filling up vacancies arising within   their departments. If a post is held in abeyance or remains unfilled for   one year or more, it is deemed as abolished. Such vacancies are revived   with the approval of the competent authority. (b) & (c): As per the latest information available, the estimated number   of Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D regular Central Government   Civilian employees (including UTs) during the last three years is as follows; As on A B C D 01.03.2011 87410 205523 2856347 - 01.03.2010 86534 184631 2860477 - 01.03.2009  82008 160126 2135283 786987 After implementation of the 6 CPC, erstwhile Group D posts have   been categorised as Group C. Above information was submitted by the Minister of State in  the Ministry of Finance Shri Namo Narain Mee...